Willet

Willet calling with its wings raised at the edge of a wetland

The willet is a large, sturdy shorebird that looks plain grey-brown at rest, until it opens its wings to show a bold black-and-white pattern.

It nests on prairie wetlands and marsh edges, and its loud “pill-will-willet” call is where it gets its name.

The moment a willet opens its wings is my favourite part, because a plain grey-brown shorebird suddenly flashes bold black and white.

To learn more about the willet and its habitat, visit its species page at All About Birds.

Willet Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the willet in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Map of Manitoba showing where the willet nests, with major cities and lakes
Where to look for the willet in Manitoba through the seasons: nesting in the Boreal Plains and the Prairies (gold). Habitat regions: National Ecological Framework for Canada. Boundaries: Statistics Canada. Lakes: Natural Earth.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.

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