The created an oddity. I only put the subspecies down when it is
non-typical. With this switch I have Prairie Willets on my life list, but
not Salltmarsh Willet. Everything I now have listed as Prarie/Saltmarsh is
in reality Saltmarsh. Unless there is a way to switch them en masse then
they will remain that way. I now realize why Cory's Shearwater showed up as
new. What other species is this likely to happen with? Should we be listing
all Yellow-rumped Warblers as Myrtle?
Ken Faucher
On Monday, November 9, 2026 at 6:17:32 PM UTC-5 Steve Mirick wrote:
> 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 <
> <nhb......> 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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