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 the coastal-breeding Saltmarsh Willet (Tringa semipalmata) and the far inland-breeding Prairie Willet. In recent decades, biologist have learned that the Prairie Willet is the sole species of the pair that winters regularly along the Atlantic Coast, with the Saltmarsh Willet departing for the Caribbean Sea region in early to mid-fall. There is certainly some period in spring and fall where both species can be seen "together" (though not necessarily side-by-side in the same habitat), but much is to be learned about how many weeks such overlap occurs in NC. As the Prairie Willet is the only member of the pair that nests inland (in the Prairie Pothole region from the Dakotas to California), it is assumed that most of the many inland records of "Willets" in the state refer to this species, especially in the Piedmont and certainly in the Mountains. Along the coast, this "new" species is common and conspicuous from about Oct into Mar or Apr, both on beaches, at impoundments, and at tidal mudflats. It tends to be a paler gray-plumaged species at all seasons, and is less brown and heavily mottled in the breeding season on the back and mantle. It averages very slightly larger and longer billed than the Saltmarsh Willet. Vocalizations are rather similar, however.

Breeding Status

Nonbreeder

NC BRC List

Definitive

State Status

none

U.S. Status

Definitive

State Rank

S4N

Global Rank

Coastal Plain

Common migrant and winter resident along the coast and in tidal habitats. Less numerous elsewhere in the Tidewater section. Status away from tidal water is unclear at the present time, but it (one or both species) is a very rare to rare migrant farther inland, mainly early May to mid-Jun, and early Aug to mid-Sep. In midwinter, somewhat less common in the northern portions, though still fairly common to at times common, along the coast. Peak counts: 523, Clam Shoal (Dare), 10 Oct 2001; 490, Oregon Inlet, 29 Sep 1991; 480, Bodie-Pea Is. CBC, 29 Dec 1994.

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

(Status for both species combined, but most likely almost all now refer to Prairie Willet): Transient, nearly all records at low elevations in the southern mountains; very rare in both spring and fall. In the spring, there are about 21 records: 1, Lake Junaluska (Haywood), 26 Apr 2004 (photograph); 1, Hooper Lane (Henderson), 28-30 Apr 2006; 1, Pisgah Forest (Transylvania), 9 May 2008; 1, Lake Junaluska (Haywood), 8 May 2011; 7 at the water treatment plant (Henderson), 26 Apr 2012; a surprising 18 at Lake Julian (Buncombe) on 25 Apr 2015, with 12 remaining to 1 May 2015; an excellent 15 video-recorded along the French Broad River at Hot Springs (Madison), 28 Apr 2016; and 9 along Wilson Road near Brevard (Transylvania) on 16 May 2018. There were four records in spring 2020, including the first for the northern half of the mountains -- 5 along the Watauga River (Watauga) on 26 Apr. Two records in spring 2021 were 3 at Lake Junaluska on 30 Apr, and one at Nantahala Lake (Macon) on 30 Apr. In spring 2025, there was a remarkable flurry of records, mostly owing to bad weather: 16-17 at a water treatment plant (Henderson) on 25 Apr; 15 were at Lake Junaluska on 26 Apr; 5 were at Lake Emory (Macon) on 15 Apr; and one was at Ecusta Pond (Transylvania) on 13 May. Spring 2026 saw a few more reports -- five at Biltmore Estate (Buncombe) on 28 Apr, a remarkable 14 in Swain on 30 Apr, and three at Chatuge Lake (Clay) on 24 Apr. In "fall", there are only about 14 records: five records in Jul, eight in Aug, and one on 9 Sep 2004 (associated with Tropical Storm Frances). Peak counts: 30, Lake Junaluska, 23 Apr 2020; 18, Lake Julian, 25 Apr 2015; 16-17, Henderson, 25 Apr 2025; 15, Hot Springs, 28 Apr 2016; 15, Lake Junaluska, 26 Apr 2025.

Finding Tips

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Should be easy to find along the coast, especially right at the ocean's edge on the beach, from Oct into perhaps Mar. To be looked for well inland in migration.

Distribution