If you've ever walked along a beach and heard an explosive WILL-WILL-WILL-WILL! cutting through the sea breeze, congratulations—you've just been announced by the Willet. This bold, sturdy shorebird may look unassuming at rest, but once it opens its wings or its mouth, subtlety goes straight out the window.
Habitat & Lifestyle
Willets are shoreline connoisseurs, favoring beaches, tidal flats, marsh edges, and coastal lagoons. They forage with deliberate, purposeful steps—picking crabs, mollusks, insects, and the occasional small fish from wet sand or shallow water. In breeding season, inland populations head to prairies and wetlands, where their territorial calls echo like alarms set by nature itself.
How to Identify One
At first glance, a Willet is a study in elegant understatement: grayish-brown above, pale below, long legs, and a straight, sturdy bill perfect for probing mud. But wait for the wings—because in flight, Willets reveal bold black-and-white stripes that transform them from muted to magnificent in a split second. Their posture is upright, confident, and occasionally a bit sassy, especially when defending feeding grounds.
Where & When to Spot One
Your best chance is along ocean or bay shorelines during calm mornings or golden evenings. Watch the edges of surf lines, mudflats, or salt marshes. If you hear that sharp, ringing call, stop and scan—Willets often stand motionless before suddenly darting after prey. Their steady presence makes them one of the most recognizable silhouettes in coastal habitats.
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