Juvenile Prairie Willet Looking For Prey - Mia McPherson's On The Wing Photography

Juvenile Prairie Willet on the shore of the Lower Lake

It won’t be long before I start seeing juvenile Prairie Willets that are about the size of the one pictured here.

This one still has a bit of down left on the back of its upper neck and its bill is slightly shorter than an adult’s.

As I watched this juvenile Prairie Willet at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge I saw it catch 2 dragonfly nymphs and eat them.

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.

By Mia McPherson|June 7th, 2013|Categories: Beaverhead County, Birds, Centennial Valley, Montana, Prairie Willets, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge|Tags: immature, juvenile, lake, lake shore, Prairie Willet, sandpiper, sandpipers, shore, shorebirds, shoreline, Tringa inornata, water, willet, young|6 Comments

6 Comments

M. Firpi June 9, 2013 at 8:40 am

I can still see those downy feathers!
- Mia McPherson June 11, 2013 at 12:01 pm
  
  Thanks Maria.
Sherry in MT June 7, 2013 at 6:07 pm

What a marvelous shot Mia as always! Love the detail and your ids are so spot on you should be publishing a book!
- Mia McPherson June 11, 2013 at 12:02 pm
  
  Thank you Sherry, a book would involve more time than I seem to have free!
Prairie Birder June 7, 2013 at 6:35 am

Great photo, Mia! We have coinciding Willet posts today! http://prairiebirder.wordpress.com/2013/06/07/feathers-on-friday-78/
- Mia McPherson June 11, 2013 at 12:02 pm
  
  I didn’t get to see you post on the Willet until I came home Charlotte, congrats on getting that image!

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