'Ūlili
Heteroscelus incanus, Wandering Tattler
Kaelepulu Wetlands, O'ahu, Hawai'i


From the US Fish & Wildlife Office: ‘Ūlili are slate-gray in color with greenish-yellow legs. ‘Ūlili are easily recognized because they stand near water and bob their tails up and down. The long black bill is distinctive, nosing in the sand for food. During the winter, they have dark gray feathers on their backs and light gray bellies. As April approaches, these shorebirds begin to molt, shedding their old feathers and replacing them with new ones. The summer or breeding plumage adds striking dark gray feathers that stripe the belly area. With new flight feathers, they begin their migration north.

For more information: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/hawaiian_islands/wildlife_and_habitat/wandering_tattler.html