The Bird Book Part 31

Range.--Whole of North America from Hudson Bay southward, breeding throughout its range.

A small wader about 7.5 inches in length, with brownish gray upper parts, and white underparts thickly spotted with blackish, especially on the breast and flanks. This is the most abundant of all the sh.o.r.e birds, and its "peet-weet" is a familiar sound to every country boy. It has a peculiar habit of continually moving its tail up and down, when at rest on a stone or when running along the sh.o.r.e; from these characteristic actions it has received the very common names of "Teeter-tail" and "Tip-up." They build their nests on the ground near ponds, brooks or marshes, generally concealing it in a tuft of gra.s.s or weeds on the sh.o.r.e or in the high gra.s.s at the edge of the meadows. The eggs number from three to five and are of a grayish buff color, spotted and blotched with blackish brown. The young, like those of all the sh.o.r.e birds, are hatched covered with down, and run about as soon as born. They are anxiously attended by the parents and at the least sign of danger, conceal themselves beneath a tuft of gra.s.s or behind a small stone, where they remain perfectly motionless until called by the old birds.

The adults frequently attempt to lead an enemy away from the young by feigning a broken wing, or lameness. Size of eggs 1.35 .90.

Data.--Parker County, Ind., May 22, 1901. Nest about six yards from bank of creek, among weeds on a sand bar; a hollow in the sand lined with weeds. Collector, Winfield S. Catlin.

[Ill.u.s.tration 160: Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Spotted Sandpiper.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Grayish white.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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264. LONG-BILLED CURLEW. _Numenius america.n.u.s._

Range.--Breeds in the South Atlantic states and northward in the interior to Manitoba and British Columbia.

This is the largest of the family of sh.o.r.e birds, having a length of about 24 inches. Its plumage is of a buffy color, much variegated above with black and brown; the bill is strongly curved downward and is from four to eight inches in length. Their nests are located on the ground in meadows or on the prairies, and three or four eggs are laid, of a buff or greenish buff color, covered with numerous spots of brownish black.

Eggs of the common Curlew of Europe, have been very frequently used as belonging to this species, but the eggs of our species have a lighter and more greenish ground, and the spots are smaller and more numerous.

Size, 2.50 1.80.

265. HUDSONIAN CURLEW. _Numenius hudsonicus._

Range.--Whole of North America, breeding in the Arctic regions and wintering south of the United States.

This species is smaller (length 17 inches), darker, more grayish and has a shorter bill than the preceding species. It also has white median and lateral stripes on the top of the head. The nesting habits are the same as those of the Long-billed species; the three or four eggs have a brownish buff ground color and are blotched with blackish brown. Size 2.25 1.60. Data.--McKenzie River, Arctic America. Nest a pile of gra.s.s, moss and weeds on an island in the river.

[Ill.u.s.tration 161: Greenish buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Long-billed Curlew. Hudsonian Curlew.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Brownish buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

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266. ESKIMO CURLEW. _Numenius borealis._

Range.--Eastern North America, breeding in the Arctic regions and wintering in South America; migrating through the eastern half of the United States, more abundantly in the interior than on the coast.

A still smaller species than the last (length 14 inches) and very similar to it. A few years ago this was considered the most abundant of the curlews, but so persistently have they been hunted that they are now practically exterminated. They were the most unsuspicious of the sh.o.r.e birds, and would allow the near approach of the gunner, and the penalty may now be seen. Only a short while ago they were very often found, during migration, in company with other waders such as the Golden or Black-bellied Plovers. Their nests are simply hollows in the plains, lined with a few gra.s.ses, dried leaves, or moss. The three or four eggs are the same as the last for color but are smaller; size 2.00 1.45.

267. WHIMBREL. _Numenius phaeopus._

A European species casually appearing in Greenland; very similar to the Hudsonian Curlew, but with the rump white.

This species is known as the Jack Curlew in England and Scotland, where it is very abundant, and is a favorite game bird. It breeds in the northern parts of Europe and Asia, and in the extreme north of Scotland and on the Shetland Islands. The eggs are laid in hollows on the ground on higher parts of the marshes. The three or four eggs have an olive or greenish brown color and are blotched with dark brown. Size 2.30 1.60.

Data.--Native, Iceland, May 29, 1900. Six eggs. Nest a depression in the ground, lined with dried gra.s.s.

268. BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW. _Numenius tahitiensis._

Range.--Islands and coast on the Asiatic side of the Pacific; casually found in Alaska. A very peculiar species with many of the feathers on the flanks terminating in long bristles.

[Ill.u.s.tration 162: Eskimo Curlew.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Olive brown.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

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PLOVERS. Family CHARADRIIDae

Plovers are stouter built birds than those of the previous family, have larger head, shorter necks and but three toes, the bill also is much harder and shorter.

269. LAPWING. _Vanellus vanellus._

An abundant European species accidentally occurring on the Atlantic coast. It may readily be recognized by its long black crest, black chin and throat, and white under parts. It breeds throughout temperate Europe, laying its eggs in hollows on the ground. The eggs have a dark grayish buff ground and are spotted with black. Size 1.85 1.30.

269.1. DOTTEREL. _Eudromias morinellus._

A European bird supposed to have been accidentally taken on the Atlantic coast.

270. BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. _Squatarola squatarola._

Range.--Northern Hemisphere, breeding in the Arctic regions and wintering from the Gulf States to northern South America.

This is a remarkably handsome species when in the summer dress. The upper parts are largely white with black spots and bars on the back, wings and tail; the throat, sides of head, breast and fore under parts, black. In winter, brownish-black, somewhat mottled, above; below, dull white. Young similar to winter adults, but the back is spotted with yellowish-white. While these handsome plover migrate to some extent, and sometimes in large flocks, through the interior of the United States, they are chiefly and most abundantly found on the coast. This species has a very small hind toe. It is a very familiar bird to sportsmen and gunners, to whom it is generally known by the names of "Bull-head," or "Beetle-head Plover." They are very numerous in the fall, during which season the underparts are entirely white. The eggs are either laid upon the bare ground or upon a slight lining of gra.s.ses or dead leaves. They are three or four in number, brownish or greenish buff in color and boldly marked with black. Size 2.00 1.40. Data.--Point Barrow, Alaska, June, 1900. Nest a small hollow on side of hillock, lined with dry gra.s.s.

[Ill.u.s.tration 163: Grayish.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Greenish buff.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

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[Ill.u.s.tration 164: BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.]

Page 163

272. EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER. _Charadrius apricarius._

A European bird, similar to the next, casually found in Greenland.

It is a very abundant bird throughout Europe, breeding in the northern parts. Its habits, nests and eggs are the same as those of the American bird.

272. GOLDEN PLOVER. _Charadrius dominicus dominicus._