ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Willet

Willet

Photo by Richard Day/Daybreak Imagery

When flushed, willets sometimes let loose with a salvo of their loud, ringing namesake call -- will-will-willet! Willets are not common here, and they should be watched for particularly in fall migration. Normally they are seen as single birds, but flocks numbering as many as 50 birds have been reported on occasion.

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Willet

Catoptrophorus semipalmatus

At-a-Glance

• Incubation: 22-29 days

• Clutch Size: 4 eggs

• Typical Foods: aquatic invertebrates and fish

Description
At rest, willets resemble nondescript, chunky sandpipers. When they take flight, the bold wing stripe is revealed, making for easy identification.

Habitat and Habits
The willet is very much a species of open mudflats in Ohio, typically near the water's edge. It frequents beaches along coastal wintering areas and Lake Erie.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
Nests are depressions in the ground, often lined with shells or weeds.