The Willet is a large, stocky shorebird that appears plain and gray at rest but explodes into a striking black-and-white wing pattern when it takes flight, accompanied by a piercing 'pill-will-willet' call. The eastern and western subspecies are sometimes considered separate species. It is common on Atlantic and Gulf Coast beaches year-round and breeds on interior prairies in the West.
Best time to see a Willet
The best time to see a Willet is January–July, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 62,694 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Willet? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Willet sightings near you
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Spotted a Willet?
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