Migration

Short to medium-distance continental migrant from U.S. to Mexico and Central America. Migrants stop for prolonged periods at intermediate sites throughout the migratory period (Robinson and Oring 1996, C. Marn unpubl. data). In the western U.S., greatest migration concentration through central California, Salton Sea, CA, and Great Salt Lake, UT. Greater use of intermountain area of U.S. (Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and w. Montana) than Great Plains (Skagen and Knopf 1993). Migration in Mexico, Central and South America unstudied. Resident in Mexico, Central America, South America, Hawaiian Is., and Galapagos Is. Many authors suggest seasonal movements within the resident zone.

Sex ratios of marked migrant stilts in Tulare Basin (central California) were skewed toward females (10:7; p = 0.067 different from 1:1; Robinson and Oring 1996). However, previously mated pairs and groups of siblings also were seen together in the Tulare Basin (Robinson and Oring 1996), suggesting some family groups might migrate together.

Spring

Northbound movement from Apr to May, as early as mid-Mar and as late as Jul.

Pacific Coast and Interior. Departs lower Colorado River Valley (Arizona and California) mid-Mar to mid-May (evenly throughout the period; Rosenberg et al. 1991). Departs coastal Oregon mid-Apr, but as early as early Apr and as late as mid-May (Paulson 1993). Vagrants appear in British Columbia from late Apr to mid-May (Campbell et al. 1990).

In interior, arrives nw. Nevada mid-Apr and as early as Mar (Alcorn 1988). Migration pulse through ne. California is late Mar–Apr (JAR and LWO). Arrives in e. Oregon late Mar to mid-Apr; sw. Idaho and interior Washington in mid-Apr; interior British Columbia in late Apr (Paulson 1993). Often vagrant throughout western coastal Oregon and inland valleys in Apr and May (Gilligan et al. 1994). Arrives n. Utah late Mar (Sordahl 1981, 1996b). Earliest arrivals in Kansas mid-Mar (Thompson and Ely 1989). Dates of spring vagrants: Oklahoma, Apr to May (Baumgartner and Baumgartner 1992); Indiana, early May (Mills 1990); Ohio, May and Jul (Peterjohn 1989); Iowa, Apr to May (Dinsmore et al. 1984, Kent and Dinsmore 1996); S. Dakota, May (S. Dakota Ornithol. Union 1991).

Atlantic Coast, Florida, West Indies. Arrival in Florida (Orlando, Kissimmee, Key Largo) mid-Feb, and in Pensacola as early as early Mar and as late as early Jun (Stevenson and Anderson 1994). Usually seen north of Florida during spring migration only. Atlantic Coast arrivals S. Carolina, early Apr (Post and Gauthreaux 1989); Virginia, mid-Apr (Kain 1987); Delaware, mid-Mar to mid-Apr (breeding; Hess et al. 1998); Maryland, 7 Apr to 1 Jun (Davidson 1996); New Jersey, Apr to May (Leck 1984); Massachusetts, May and Jun (Veit and Petersen 1993). New Jersey and Massachusetts records probably represent overshoots north of regular breeding areas. Vagrant in Bermuda, almost always in spring (mid-Apr to late Jun; Amos 1991). Arrives Bahamas in Apr (Brudenell-Bruce 1975), Puerto Rico and Virgin Is. in Mar (Raffaele 1989).

Mexico and Western Gulf of Mexico. Departs Sonora in Apr, interior Mexico in Mar (Howell and Webb 1995). Passes through Texas mid-Mar to mid-May (Oberholser 1974).

Fall

Southbound movement from Aug to Sep, as early as Jun and as late as Oct.

Pacific Coast and Interior. Passes through coastal Washington in early Aug and coastal Oregon mid-Aug to early Sep (Paulson 1993). Seen as a vagrant in w. Oregon less often than in spring (Gilligan et al. 1994). Pass through Lower Colorado River Valley from early Jul to mid-Sep, with peak from late Jul to end of Aug (Rosenberg et al. 1991).

Accumulates in e. Oregon in early Aug (Paulson 1993), departs in Aug and early Sep and as late as mid-Oct (Gilligan et al. 1994). Migration pulse through ne. California begins in late Jul; last departures in late Sep (JAR and LWO). Departs nw. Nevada in Aug, as late as early Sep (Alcorn 1988). Departs n. Utah by early Oct (Sordahl 1981). Latest departure from Kansas in early Sep (Thompson and Ely 1989). Vagrant fall sightings: South Dakota, Jul–Sep (S. Dakota Ornithol. Union 1991); w. Missouri, late Aug to Oct (Robbins and Easterla 1992).

Atlantic Coast, Florida, West Indies. Departs Dela–ware by mid-Sep (Hess et al. 1998); Maryland during late Aug (Davidson 1996); S. Carolina beginning in mid-Aug (Post and Gauthreaux 1989). Arrival in Florida from mid-Aug to late Oct, as early as Jul and as late as Nov (Stevenson and Anderson 1994). Departs Bahamas in early Sep and as late as early Nov (Brudenell-Bruce 1975), Puerto Rico and Virgin Is. in Oct (Raffaele 1989).

Mexico and Western Gulf of Mexico. Pass through Texas from late Jul to mid-Oct, as late as Dec (Oberholser 1974). Migrants arrive in both Sonora and interior Mexico beginning in Aug (Howell and Webb 1995).

Routes

No systematic information available. Pacific Coast stilts presumably move along the coast. Stilts from western interior move through San Joaquin Valley. Stilts banded at Honey Lake, Lassen Co., ne. California, were resighted at migration stopovers in inland central California (Tulare Basin; Robinson and Oring 1996). Birds banded at Honey Lake also wintered in central California (Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge [NWR], Grasslands Water District; JAR and LWO).

There is evidence that the migration routes of stilts from Great Salt Lake lead them to the same wintering areas as stilts from the w. Great Basin. A hatch-year stilt banded in Utah was recovered in winter near Navojoa, Sonora, and a 2-yr-old stilt from Utah was seen in the Tulare Basin in Sep 1993 (Robinson and Oring 1996).

Hawaiian Stilt migrates between Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau Is. in response to seasonal changes in water availability (Munro 1939, Telfer 1971, Telfer 1974, Engilis and Pratt 1993).

See above.

No information available.