Prairie Willet calling on a rabbitbrush – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 350mm, natural light
Prairie Willets have returned to Utah, on the causeway to Antelope Island hundreds of them can be seen in the shallow water. They seem to spend some time there fattening up after migration before they get down to the serious business of mating and rearing their young.
In Utah I see Prairie Willets in much different habitats than I saw them in Florida. Here they stand on rocks, perch precariously on shrubs, and forage in grasslands.
I found and pointed out this willet perched on a rabbitbrush as the breeze made the bird and the bush dance on Antelope Island State Park this week.
Prairie Willet in seafoam on the Gulf of Mexico – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 200, Nikkor 70-300mm VR at 300mm, natural light
In Florida I would see Prairie Willets on sandy beaches, foraging in tidal lagoons, in Spartina marshes and in the waves of the Gulf of Mexico. This willet was in sea foam with gorgeous turquoise water in the background on Fort De Soto’s north beach.
Prairie Willet stretching in the grasses – Nikon D200, f5.6, 1/1000, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Prairie Willets do call in Florida but not as frequently as they do here in Utah. This Prairie Willet was perched on a rock among the grasses on a hillside on Antelope Island State Park and stretched its wings.
Prairie Willet with waves at sunrise at Fort De Soto – Nikon D200, handheld, 5.6, 1/800, ISO 320, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light
I enjoy seeing and photographing Prairie Willets where ever I find them, they are beautiful shorebirds.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Prairie Willet photos plus facts and information about this species.
Update: Willets were split into two species in October 2026, Eastern willets are now Saltmarsh Willets, Tringa semipalmata. Western willets are now Prairie Willets, Tringa inornata. This post has been updated to reflect those changes.
I like the different environments you have provided in this series. Excellently executed, as usual! 🙂
Julie, thanks. Willets do have very different environments during breeding season than nonbreeding season.
Gorgeous images, Mia.
Thank you Scott, Willets are neat birds.
Great Willet photos! They are all beautiful, but I especially love the photo with the turquoise background!!
Thanks Tammy, I appreciate your comment!
I love Willets, too. They were the first shorebird I learned to recognize because of those vivid wings. It’s so peaceful sitting alongside the Shorebird Nation, isn’t it?
Ingrid, I love the term “Shorebird Nation”, it made me smile to read it. Yes, it is very peaceful to be in their Nation to watch them, see thier habits and photograph them. As soon as I’d flop down onto the sand, slither through mud or immerse myself in the water near them I could forget all the stress I would feel from life and feel it flow away from me, a very wonderful feeling.
Willets are lovely birds. It is so very interesting to see them in the different settings. Your photographs are spectacular! I’ve only seen Willets walking along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline in Florida. Your exceptional images illustrate how getting down low when capturing a shot, really enhances the quality.
Julie, thanks so much for your comments on these Willet images, even while working the photos up to add to the post I found enjoyment in comparing the different settings I photographed them in.
That first image Mia, OMG. The light is gorgeous in it. I love it. That’s not to say those other images aren’t beautiful, they are. But the lighting is especially soft and lovely in that first. Carol
Thank you Carol, I loved the light in that first image too plus the soft greens and tans of the vegetation.
There’s something so calming, so serene about the Willets. It’s lovely how they keep that wonderful wing pattern hidden most of the time, but then all of the sudden they spread them to fly and flash black and white with such brilliance.
Laurence, most of the time I think of Willets as calming & serene to look at but when they are having territorial encounters it can get down right violent plus they can get quite defensive (and loud) if you accidentally get near their nearly invisible chicks. I love it when they flash that black & white wing pattern! Thanks for your comment.
I agree with you that Willets are very neat. Your photos are so beautiful, Mia! They are one of the earliest shorebirds to arrive, but I haven’t seen one yet this year.
Thanks PrairieBirder, I appreciate your comments on my images. Willets arrive here after the Long-billed Curlews and it is such fun to see the two species in the same locations. Hope your Willets arrive very soon.