Willet is a large shore bird of North and South America. In eastern North America, the willet breeds along the Atlantic Coast and in the West Indies. In winter, it migrates as far south as northern Brazil. In western North America, the willet nests away from the shore, breeding from Manitoba to Nevada. It winters along the Pacific Coast from Oregon to northern Chile.
The willet is about 16 inches (41 centimeters) long and appears almost completely gray. When the bird is in flight, its wings and tail display striking patterns of black and white markings. The willet’s long bill is straight and slender, enabling the bird to search in mud and sand for snails, clams, worms, and small crabs. The willet’s loud cry when startled into flight is considered bothersome by hunters because it alerts nearby birds. For this reason, the willet has earned the nickname “tattler.”
