Habitat

Western

On the prairies, uses short, sparse cover in wetlands and grasslands (Page and Gill 1994). Breeds on semiarid plains near bodies of water (e. Oregon; Mendenhall 1970), in grasslands associated with shallow wetlands (s. Alberta; Gratto-Trevor 1999), in native grasslands and to a lesser extent croplands (N. Dakota; Kantrud and Higgins 1992), in uplands near brackish or saline wetlands (Bent 1929, Higgins et al. 1979), and less frequently on alkali flats (Utah; Wolfe 1931) and lakes in forested mountain areas (Van Denburgh 1919, Kirscher 1954). Broods found in short grass beside shallow nonalkaline water (Grinnell et al. 1918, Willett 1919, Mendenhall 1970), in spikerush (Eleocharis sp.), or in shallow wetlands (CLG-T). Surveys in n. Great Plains show 90% of breeding Willets and 70% of broods found within or immediately adjacent to wetlands, although authors noted difficulty of locating broods in uplands during surveys (Ryan and Renken 1987). Ephemeral, temporary, seasonal, and alkali wetlands preferred over semipermanent and permanent wetlands (Ryan and Renken 1987). Prefers wetlands with greater proportions of more open, lightly vegetated cover types; prefers upland sites dominated by short (<15 cm) native grass cover and tends to avoid tilled land (Ryan and Renken 1987). Uses cultivated fields more than Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa), but nests later than godwits when cereal crops are growing (Higgins et al. 1979). In e. Oregon, perches on exposed rocks, sagebrush, or fence posts, rarely on ground; young hide in patches of reeds (Mendenhall 1970).

Eastern

Breeds most commonly on salt marshes, barrier islands, and barrier beaches (Bent 1929, Burger and Shisler 1978, Howe 1982); also pastures and farmlands in Nova Scotia (Tufts 1986); and in 1 instance, a sphagnum bog (Wells and Vickery 1990). Along Atlantic Coast of Florida, breeds only near coastal salt marshes (Douglas 1996). In Mid-Atlantic states, found in raised marsh habitat mosaic of shallow puddles and salt pans with cordgrass (Spartina patens and S. alterniflora; Douglas 1996). Eastern Willets only rarely found in freshwater habitats during breeding season (Douglas 1996) and may actually avoid such sites (Tomkins 1965). Hiatus in breeding distribution occurs along New Brunswick coast from Bouctouche to Baie des Chaleurs (160 km; Erskine 1992) coincident with acidic peat substrates (Douglas 1996).

In Saskatchewan, Western Willets foraged most during spring in smaller marsh habitats, rather than large lake shorelines; during fall, more often along lake shorelines (Alexander and Gratto-Trevor 1997).

During nonbreeding season, found in diverse California coastal types: mudflat, marsh, sandy beach, and rocky coast (Mendenhall 1970). In South America, associated with mangrove coastlines with extensive intertidal areas of mudflats and mudbanks (McNeil 1970, Morrison and Ross 1989, McNeil et al. 1990). In Mexico, seen in most nearshore and intertidal habitats; roosting on rocky shore, mudflat, Salicornia marsh, old road dikes, sea beach; foraging on rocky shore, mudflat (usually following receding tide), beach wrack, throughout Salicornia marshes, tide pools, marsh channels, sandy beaches on outer coast, swampy margins of coastal rivers, exposed eelgrass (Zostera spp.) beds; also observed in desert scrub and salt ponds adjacent to lagoons, usually at high tide; often roosts with Marbled Godwits (L. Tibbitts pers. comm.).