Birds of North Carolina
their Distribution and Abundance
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
SCOLOPACIDAE Members:
General Comments
In 2026, the AOS split the Willet into a coastal-breeding species -- Saltmarsh Willet (Tringa semipalmata), and an inland-breeding species -- Prairie Willet (Tringa inornata). The Saltmarsh Willet is one of the few shorebirds that nests in North Carolina, and essentially the only one that nests within salt marshes, as opposed to open sand flats and other exposed locations. It is very noisy, large, and conspicuous, especially noisy when defending its nest as it makes passing flights at human intruders. Though other shorebirds and terns that nest along our coast are declining, Willet numbers seem to be holding their own, but admittedly, few surveys have been done to census the nesting population; and because they nest in marshes, mostly singly, a complete statewide survey would be difficult. Saltmarsh Willets are essentially a coastal species in North Carolina, feeding along the ocean beach, as well as at other tidal waters and mudflats, and also in fresh and brackish pools and ponds. In recent years, biologists have learned that this species essentially departs the United States by mid-fall, and nearly all individuals winter around the Caribbean Sea, being replaced along the NC coast from mid-fall into spring by the very similar Prairie Willet. As a result, it is expected that nearly all far inland records in the state, especially in the Mountains and western half of the Piedmont, relate to the Prairie Willet, though some or many inland state reports from the eastern Piedmont and Coastal Plain, especially after strong storms, may well refer to the Saltmarsh Willet.

Birders should familiarize themselves with both species, especially now that the interior taxon has been given full species status in 2026. The Saltmarsh Willet tends to be a somewhat darker gray-plumaged species at all seasons and is browner and more heavily mottled in the breeding season on the back and mantle. It averages very slightly smaller and shorter-billed than the Prairie Willet. Vocalizations are rather similar, however.

Breeding Status
Breeder
NC BRC List
The species' status on the List of Bird Species of North Carolina: either Definitive, Provisional, or Extinct, as administered by the NC Bird Records Committee. The Provisional List contains species for which there are less than three accepted sight (i.e., non-documented) records. Species of unaccepted origin are not included on the List of Bird Species of North Carolina.
Definitive
State Status
none
U.S. Status
Definitive
State Rank
S4B
Global Rank
G5
Coastal Plain
Summer resident, with migratory movements, along the coast, breeding in salt and brackish marshes. Common along the coast from Apr into Sep, but abundance status in Mar and Oct, for example, are unclear, as the Prairie Willet arrives in fall and departs in spring, wintering in sizable numbers along the coast. It is beleived that essntially all Willets along the Atlantic Coast are Prairie Willets, and thus the Saltmarsh Willet now requires confirmation in the winter season. In the Tidewater zone, breeding is uncertain; mostly uncommon, and found mainly in tidal water areas, though it does occur at times in fresh water. Farther inland, probably a very rare to rare migrant, primarily at reservoirs; mainly early May to mid-Jun, and early Aug to mid-Sep; some of the fall records are following hurricanes and other storms and might relate to Saltmarsh Willets being carried inland. Note that many or most inland records might refer to Prairie Willet, especially ones that are not obviously storm-related. Peak counts: 400, Pea Island NWR, 10-24 Jul 1976.
Piedmont
(One or both species, with some records presumed to relate to Prairie Willet and others to Saltmarsh Willet): Transient. Very rare in spring, and rare in fall; quite erratic, and many records in fall are of storm-displaced birds (suggesting that most migrants pass over the province for coastal regions unless forced down by bad weather). Mainly late Apr to mid-May, and early Jul to early Sep (with most records in late Jul and Aug). Two at Falls Lake (Durham) on 10 Jun 2017 were most unusual for that month, as was one at Lake Brandt (Guilford) from 20-26 Jun 2023 and another at Jordan Lake (Chatham) on 18 Jun 2025. Peak counts: 14, Falls Lake, 21 Aug 1996; 11, Jordan Lake, 5 May 2002; 9, Lake James SP, 13 May 2013.
Mountains
Probably casual to very rare transient or vagrant. Assumed that nearly all Mountain records relate to the Prairie Willet, as it is the only species of the two that breeds well inland in the country. Refer to the Prairie Willet species account for the status and records for "Willets".
Finding Tips
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Saltmarsh Willets are noisy and hard to miss along the coast during the breeding season, from Apr into Aug or early Sep.
Distribution
Tringa semipalmata
Breeding Range
Tringa semipalmata