A small number of us have been carefully identifying Saltmarsh and
Prairie Willets ("Eastern" & "Western") for many years in NH with the
hope that they would be eventually split. And they finally split them!!!!
It appears that eBird chose to split the two species for everyone's
eBird checklists only if you chose to submit them as "Western Willet" or
"Eastern Willet" in eBird. Otherwise, it appears that eBird DID NOT
SPLIT THEM! There are a whole lot of unidentified Prairie/Saltmarsh
Willet records in NH (I have 308!).....as well as everywhere along the
New England coast and into maritime Canada. Almost (or all) of these
sightings north of Massachusetts in April-July are Saltmarsh Willets.
In contrast, it appears that Willets WERE SPLIT based on date. This
doesn't make sense to me.
Based on my experience, I'd say that Prairie Willets are uncommon to
rare in New Hampshire in fall migration (primarily Aug-Oct) only. Most
of what we see are migrating juveniles. Prairie Willets are much more
common as fall migrants and overwintering birds further south.
Saltmarsh Willets are common breeding species along the immediate coast
only from May through August. I've NEVER SEEN ONE on Great Bay, but
there are several records in eBird.
I would say that Prairie Willets are extremely unlikely before mid-July
in NH. I THINK IT IS SAFE FOR ANYONE TO CHANGE THEIR OBSERVATIONS TO
SALTMARSH WILLET for any sightings in April, May, June or early July.
These are the local breeding Saltmarsh Willets. I know of only one
photographic record for Prairie Willet for NH in July, but there are
some other potential sightings. So, no damage in changing any July
records along the immediate coast to Saltmarsh Willet if you like.
In August, you could get either species, but Saltmarsh Willet is still
the most likely species, particularly in early August. Saltmarsh Willets
migrate out of NH early, but late hatching juveniles will linger.
For September most Saltmarsh Willets start to disappear from NH and
Willet sightings (of either species) become rare. There are late records
of Saltmarsh Willet into late September, but it's probably 50/50 for
Saltmarsh/Prairie in September.
After October 1st, the odds are likely that any Willet will be a Prairie
Willet. The latest record for a Willet in NH is November 2, 1971 in Rye
which was presumably a Prairie Willet.
Just my thoughts.....subject to discussion.
Steve Mirick
Bradford, MA
On 11/9/2026 12:07 PM, Pam Hunt wrote:
> Alas, it does appear that many of us will need to change a bunch of
> willets to the expected (but not default) Saltmarsh Willet. It looks
> like eBird was being very conservative here, stating that Prairie
> Willets have occurred in all months in Saltmarsh Range (possibly more
> likely than Saltmarsh in much of August). I have no idea if there'll
> be a large enough outcry to convince them otherwise, but I wouldn't
> bet on it.
>
> And for those who don't know what we're talking about:
> https://science.ebird.org/use-ebird-data/the-ebird-taxonomy/2026-ebird-taxonomy-update#splits > NH Audubon's "Joy of Birding" will have an article about our two
> splits in the near future (once I'm done writing them).
>
> Pam Hunt
> concord
>
>
> On Mon, Nov 9, 2026 at 9:54 AM 'Greg Tillman' via NHBirds
> <nhbirds...> wrote:
>
> Hi all - With the recent split of Willets into Saltmarsh Willet
> and Prairie Willet, are there any wise people who could comment on
> the likelihood of Prairie Willet appearing in New Hampshire from
> May to August?
>
> And any thoughts on doing something with the old (and not so old)
> ebird records that have turned into Prairie/Saltmarsh Willet?
> (Records of Scopoli’s/Cory’s are messy enough that seem like they
> should all be Cory’s are messy enough, but at least they don’t
> apply to a common breeding bird.)
>
> Thanks
>
> -greg tillman
>
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