Part 21

It may be recognised by its short bill and smaller size, and from its having only twelve instead of fourteen tail feathers. Length 7·5 in.; bill 1·5 in.; wing 4·25 in.

THE BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER Limicola platyrhyncha (Temminck)

This species, although it may sometimes have been overlooked, is a very scarce wanderer to our shores. Nesting on the tundras of North Europe, it migrates eastward in winter to the shores of the Levant.

Its general appearance in winter is much like the Dunlin, but its somewhat flattened bill and the small amount of white on the secondaries and upper tail coverts form distinctive characteristics. Length 6·5 in.; bill 1·2 in.; wing 4·25 in.

THE AMERICAN PECTORAL SANDPIPER Tringa maculata, Vieillot

The American Pectoral Sandpiper has occurred more frequently in Great Britain than any other of the American Sandpipers, some thirty or forty examples having been shot, and with two exceptions they have all occurred during the winter months.

Its breeding range is in Arctic America, whence it migrates to the tropics of America for the winter, and presumably those examples that visit us have come _via_ Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroes.

The upper parts are brown, with lighter margins to the feathers; chin and throat whitish; breast buff, streaked with brown. Length 8 in.; bill 1·1 in.; wing 5·3 in.

THE SIBERIAN PECTORAL SANDPIPER Tringa acuminata (Horsfield)

The Siberian Pectoral Sandpiper is very closely allied to the above. It breeds in Eastern Siberia and is found in winter down the Asiatic coast. Two examples have occurred in England.

It differs from the American form in its smaller size and more rufous coloration, while the markings on the breast are arrow-shaped. Length 7·4 in.; wing 5·25 in.

BONAPARTE'S SANDPIPER Tringa fuscicollis, Vieillot

This is an American species, breeding in Arctic regions and migrating in winter along the whole of the Atlantic sea-board of America. About a dozen examples have been procured in England and one in Ireland.

In appearance it is like a small Dunlin, but may be recognised by its smaller size, shorter bill, and white upper tail coverts. Length 7·25 in.; bill 0·9 in.; wing 4·75 in.

THE DUNLIN Tringa alpina, Linnæus

Of all our shore-birds the Dunlin, or, as it is sometimes called, the Ox-bird, is the most numerous. At all times of the year and round all our coasts it may be seen running about and feeding on the animal life to be found among the rocks or in the soft muddy ooze recently left by the ebbing tide. It is almost always found in flocks, which are often made up of thousands of individuals, and when disturbed from one place they may be seen twisting and turning on the wing in graceful flight, preparatory to settling again on some rich feeding-ground. At times it is most absurdly tame, so that it is possible to walk right among a flock, which will continue feeding or resting as though unaware of the presence of a stranger. Suddenly an individual will sound the little alarm-note, and the whole flock will rise as though governed by one mind, even those who were asleep flying off in full possession of their faculties as though they had been on the alert all the time. In summer many leave us to nest in Northern Europe, while others betake themselves to inland moors or salt marshes round the coast on which to breed. It cannot be called a common nesting species with us, but it has been found in suitable places throughout the United Kingdom, becoming more numerous in the north.

The nest is a shallow "scrape" among heather, rough grass, or some other cover, and during the nesting season the male has a pretty little trill, which is generally uttered on the wing as he flies over the nest.

The eggs are greenish white, spotted and blotched with reddish brown. The young when first hatched are covered with reddish down, mottled with black and white.

In its winter dress the adult Dunlin is grey above and white below with a whitish bar across the extended wing. In spring the crown of the head is rufous, streaked with black. Mantle black, with broad rufous margins; the neck and throat white, streaked with black, breast black; belly white. The sexes are alike, the female being usually slightly the larger. Length about 7·5 in; bill 1·7 in.; wing 4·5 in. This species, however, varies greatly in size.

The young in autumn have the back nearly black, the feathers having narrow buff and rufous margins; the under parts are white, buff across the breast, and thickly spotted, especially on the lower breast, with black. The amount of spotting, however, as well as the colour of the breast, varies greatly in individuals.

THE SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER Tringa pusilla, Linnæus

A single example, the first to be recorded in Europe, of this American species, was shot in Kent on the 17th September 1907. In general appearance it resembles a Little Stint, but is rather paler and more sandy in colour, and may easily be recognised by its longer bill and partially webbed toes. Length 5·6 in.; bill 0·85 in.; wing 3·7 in.

BAIRD'S SANDPIPER Tringa bardi (Coues)

This is an American species, and has recently been twice obtained in England.

In winter it closely resembles a Dunlin in general appearance, but is slightly streaked on the back. Its summer plumage is quite distinct. Length about 8 in.; wing 4·7 in.

THE LITTLE STINT Tringa minuta, Leisler

This, the smallest of our shore-birds, is not a very common species. It occurs yearly on the autumn migration, along our eastern and southern coasts, but on the west it is very irregular in its appearance and decidedly rare. Its breeding-grounds are the tundras of Northern Europe, though it is decidedly scarce as a breeding species in the north-west; it winters in the tropical regions of the Old World.

In its habits and food it closely resembles the Dunlin, but its much smaller size enables it to be easily recognised.

In plumage it is practically a miniature Dunlin, but it lacks the black on the breast, which in the breeding plumage has a reddish tinge. Length 6 in.; bill 0·7 in.; wing 3·55 in.

THE AMERICAN STINT Tringa minutilla, Vieillot

This species has occurred in this country on two or three occasions. It is practically the counterpart of our species and can only be distinguished by its rather smaller size and darker colour. Length 5·25 in.; wing 3·5 in.

TEMMINCK'S STINT Tringa temmincki, Leisler

Although nesting much nearer to our shores than the Little Stint, this species is a very rare and irregular visitor to this country. It breeds commonly in Norway as far south as Trondhjem and eastwards across Russia beyond the limit of tree growth. In winter it migrates eastwards as far as India.

In appearance it is not unlike a very small Common Sandpiper, whereas the Little Stint resembles a small Dunlin. It may, however, be further recognised by the shaft of the outer primary being nearly white, and the two outer tail feathers being quite white. Length 5·75 in.; bill 0·6 in.; wing 3·8 in.

THE CURLEW SANDPIPER Tringa subarquata (Güldenstädt)

This bird arrives on our shores from the middle of August onwards, leaving us again in October, and a few are met with on the return journey in May. Although by no means as numerous as many other shore-frequenting migrants, it is not uncommon on certain parts of the coast, especially on the east and south, but is much rarer in the west. It may be recognised by its white rump and by the partially decurved bill, to which it owes its trivial name.

There is nothing to specially distinguish it in habits from the other species of Waders, and it will generally be found associating with Dunlins.

The breeding-grounds are in Arctic Siberia east of the Yenesei, and it winters in the tropical regions of the Old World.

In autumn the adult is brownish grey on the upper parts, white on the rump and under parts. The young birds may be recognised by the light margins to the feathers of the back and a buffish tint on the chest. In the spring plumage the upper parts are chestnut, streaked with black and grey. The under parts are chestnut, sometimes barred or spotted with brown, the feathers having white margins. Length 8 in.; bill 1·4 in.; wing 5·1 in.

THE PURPLE SANDPIPER Tringa striata, Linnæus

The Purple Sandpiper is a winter resident on our rocky shores, and if somewhat local is nevertheless well distributed wherever suitable localities are found.

It has not yet been known to breed within the British area, but it is not unlikely that further investigation may prove that it does so on the Shetlands. Its nearest authenticated breeding-ground is on the Faroes; it breeds also in the north of Norway, Iceland, Greenland, and other circumpolar islands westward to Arctic America, but there is no evidence of its nesting in Siberia. The nest is placed on the sea-shore or on rocky fells near the margin of a lake, and the eggs are usually pale greenish buff, with reddish-brown markings. Both sexes incubate, and the male takes chief care of the brood; if disturbed after the young are hatched, the parent runs about in evident distress, and looks in the low scrub more like a rat than a bird. Their diet consists of insects, crustacea, and other living food, which may be found among the sea-weed growing on rocks; and the most exposed situations are visited as soon as the tide has uncovered the weed.

In summer the adult has the upper parts dark brownish grey, the feathers being spotted with rufous and tipped with whitish. The under parts from the chin to the breast dark grey, with brownish streaks; belly and flanks white, the latter spotted with brown. Three inner secondaries white, showing up conspicuously in flight. In winter the upper parts have a purplish gloss, and the breast is brown, with indistinct mottlings. The young have light margins to the feathers. Length 8·57 in.; bill 1·1 in.; wing 5 in.

The short legs give this bird a "squat" appearance and generally afford a clue to its identity.

KNOT Tringa canutus, Linnæus

In autumn numbers of this species visit our shores, where for a few weeks it is one of the commonest birds, being found on all our coasts except in the west of Scotland. Large numbers leave us again after a few weeks' sojourn, but a fair number remain with us in wide estuaries or sheltered bays throughout the winter. A return migration takes place in spring, the birds being then in the full red plumage of the breeding season; but these soon pass on and only a few weakly and non-breeding birds are left with us during the summer.

For a long time the breeding home of this bird was unknown, and even though it was discovered breeding over thirty years ago, it is only within the last four or five years that authentic eggs have been obtained and brought home from East Siberia. Its chief breeding-grounds are the Arctic regions of North America and the north of Greenland, and in winter it is found down both sides of the Atlantic.

In its food and habits it does not differ from its congeners, with whom it may often be found associating.

In winter the adult is grey on the upper parts and white below, with a few greyish flecks or bars on the upper breast. The young bird is browner, with light margins to the feathers of the back, the breast pale buff pink, with a few grey flecks. In nuptial plumage the head and neck are reddish brown, streaked with black; upper parts black, the feathers having marginal spots of chestnut and white tips; under parts chestnut, spotted with black; vent and flanks whitish, mottled with black. Length 10 in.; bill 1·5 in.; wing 6·5 in.

THE SANDERLING Calidris arenaria (Linnæus)

From its habit of frequenting sandy stretches along our shores, and less frequently near inland lakes, this species has gained its trivial name. To this country it is only a migrant, young birds arriving from their northerly breeding-grounds as early as the middle of August; the old birds follow a week or so later, many of them still retaining traces of the nuptial plumage. They stay with us only a short time, and early in October the majority have left us to winter on the shores of the Mediterranean, very few remaining behind. In May the return migration commences, but they only stay for a very short time to rest and then continue their journey to the Far North.

Their food consists entirely of marine insects, sand-hoppers, and other crustacea, but at their summer-quarters large quantities of the northern saxifrage are consumed. It is very tame, allowing a close approach as it runs about on the sand, and appears conspicuously white among the Dunlins and other shore-birds with which it consorts. The note is a sharp "wick."

Its breeding range is entirely circumpolar, and the eggs are greenish, spotted with brown, not unlike miniature Curlew's.

In its winter plumage, in which it is most commonly met with in this country, the upper parts are pale grey and the under parts white. In its spring plumage the feathers of the back are black, with rufous margins; the chin, throat, and breast chestnut, with a few dark brown spots; vent white. In autumn the rufous edgings on the back of the old birds have almost entirely worn away. Length 8 in.; bill 0·9 in.; wing 4·7 in.

This species may always be distinguished by the absence of the hind toe.

In autumn the young have the back black, spotted with white; the under parts white, with traces of buff on the sides of the breast.

THE RUFF Machetes pugnax (Linnæus)

Formerly this species used to be a regular summer migrant to our shores, breeding in the fen countries and other suitable places, but now, although a few birds visit this country in spring, and possibly a few may still breed, it is only as an autumn visitor that it will be generally found. Even on passage it can hardly be called common, but on our east and south coasts a good many pass through, halting merely for a few days. On the west and in Ireland it is decidedly rare and irregular in its appearances.

This species differs in its nesting habits from all other Waders. The males, who don a special showy ruff in spring, meet at their breeding-quarters on some raised mound and display their finery to the hens. Apparently they are very pugnacious, as they will often jump up and peck at another male, using their feet also after the manner of a gallinaceous bird, but on close observation it will be seen to be all "show," and we have never seen a proper fight between two males. On the arrival of a female the males spread out their ruff and remain motionless in front of her, and as she moves away they will jump up, and quivering with suppressed excitement again display their charms, to which she is apparently quite indifferent. Although said to be polygamous, the question is still open to doubt; from among her many admirers the female chooses one, and observations, so far as they go, seem to show that she only pairs with one male. A male, unless chosen, never pursues the female or interferes with her in any way, but trusts merely in his external beauty to attract her attention.

The nest is placed among rough herbage in a fairly damp place. It is a deep cup, well lined with grass and bents. The eggs, usually four but often three in number, are greyish green, blotched and spotted with various shades of brown. Except during the actual pairing the male takes no part in the housekeeping, and when the females are sitting the males may be seen together in flocks. In food and other habits this species resembles the majority of Waders.

In winter the sexes are alike, except that the male is very much larger than the female. The upper parts are of a uniform brownish, and the under parts brownish grey, with white margins to the feathers; belly white. The young resemble the adults but are darker on the back, the feathers of which have rufous or buff margins. The neck and breast are of a pale pinkish buff.

In spring, the male grows a long ruff on the neck and upper breast as well as a backwardly directed ear tuft on each side of the head. This ruff can be raised or depressed at will, and is of a variety of colours, hardly any two being exactly alike. The face also becomes covered with a mass of warty carbuncles. The feathers of the back and flanks are black, mottled, spotted, or barred with chestnut. The female has no ruff, but becomes darker on the back and breast. Length of male 12·5 in.; bill 1·5 in.; wing 7·25 in.: of female 10 in.; wing 6 in.

THE BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER Tringites rufescens (Vieillot)

Several examples of this American species have been obtained on our shores. This bird is somewhat like the preceding species although much smaller, but it may always be recognised by the black markings on both sides of the inner webs of the primaries and secondaries. Length 8 in.; bill 0·9 in.; wing 5·25 in.

BARTRAM'S SANDPIPER Bartramia longicauda (Bechstein)

This is another North American species, of which some eight or ten examples have been procured in this country.

Its general colour is pale tawny buff, barred and mottled with blackish. For a Sandpiper its tail is distinctly long and barred. Length 11·5 in.; bill 1·2 in.; wing 6·6 in.

[We may note here that the Sandpipers we have hitherto been dealing with have had the tail plain, whereas in the remaining ones, which belong to the genus _Totanus_, the tail is barred.]

THE COMMON SANDPIPER Totanus hypoleucus (Linnæus)

This inland species, which is a summer migrant to our islands, is common and well distributed along the margins of lakes and on the gravel shores of streams and rivers. In the south and east, where suitable localities are scarce, it only occurs on migration, but elsewhere it breeds regularly.

The note is a plaintive "wheet, wheet, wheet," generally uttered on the wing. It is a very pleasing bird in its actions, running along the margin of the water and moving its body with a peculiar and delicate see-saw motion. When flying it remains fairly low down and follows the course of the stream, generally keeping over the water. Its food consists of worms, flies, and insects. The nest is placed on the ground, usually near the margin of some water, or on a rocky or gravel islet. The spot chosen is sometimes quite bare, or at other times thickly overgrown with brambles and rough vegetation. For a wading-bird it constructs a fairly substantial nest of grass and leaves, etc., and the eggs are of a pale clay buff, spotted with brown. The young when first hatched are greyish green with longitudinal dark stripes.

In August or early in September they begin to leave their summer-quarters and may then often be found in the salt marshes and on tidal ditches near the shore, but they do not remain there long, and by October they have all left, with the possible exception of a few stragglers that spend the winter in some of the south-western counties.

In summer the upper parts are bronzy brown, irregularly barred and flecked with blackish; sides of the neck and breast grey, with dusky streaks; rest of under parts white. In autumn the upper parts are uniformly brown, or nearly so, and the under parts lighter and with fewer streaks. The young have buff margins to the feathers of the back and lack the dark streaks on the throat. Length 8 in.; bill 1 in.; wing 4·25 in.

THE SPOTTED SANDPIPER Totanus macularius (Linnæus)

This American species has been recorded on several occasions in these islands. It is closely allied to the Common Sandpiper and resembles it in plumage, but in the spring dress it is more spotted on the under parts, and in autumn it is greyer above, and lacks the bronzy tint of our native bird. All the secondaries are barred with ash brown, whereas in the Common Sandpipers the eighth and ninth are nearly white. Length 7 in.; wing 4·2 in.

THE WOOD SANDPIPER Totanus glareola (J. F. Gmelin)

This species is a regular but somewhat scarce visitor to our shores on migration. In Ireland and the west it is extremely rare, but in the south-east corner of England it occurs in small numbers yearly, especially in autumn. Formerly a few pairs used to nest in one or two suitable localities, but they have long ceased to do so. In the west of Europe it does not breed south of the Baltic, but in the east it breeds in the valley of the Danube and also possibly in Northern Italy.

The nest is placed on the ground in a marshy spot, and when they have eggs or young the birds are extremely noisy if their haunts are invaded. In this country it is generally found on salt marshes near the sea and very rarely inland.

The sexes are alike: the back brown, spotted with white; upper tail coverts white; shafts of the quills dusky, except that of the _outermost one_, which is _white_. Under parts white, streaked with brown on the throat and breast, the flanks being barred with the same colour. Axillaries white. The young bird is similar, but the white spots are larger and more elongated, and the outer tail feathers are barred on both webs instead of on the outer one only. Length 8·5 in.; bill 1·1 in.; wing 5 in.

GREEN SANDPIPER Totanus ochropus (Linnæus)

This is a much commoner species than the last, and haunts inland streams, especially in the neighbourhood of trees and woods. It is most numerous during the autumn migration, but many pass the winter with us, and it has been suspected of breeding on more than one occasion, but positive proof of this has not been forthcoming.

In the north and west of Scotland it is scarce, but otherwise it is widely distributed throughout the country. On the Continent it nests in marshy woods from the Arctic Circle southwards to Central Russia, Poland, and East Germany, its migrations extending to Africa in the winter.

In its nesting habits it differs from all others Sandpipers, for it lays its eggs in the deserted nest of some other bird, generally that of a Thrush, Blackbird, or Jay. The eggs are greenish grey, with small brownish spots. Its food consists of worms and insects.

In plumage it very closely resembles the preceding species, but the back is darker and the spots much more minute. It may, however, always be distinguished by the _dusky_ shaft of the _outermost_ primary and the brownish black axillaries. In young birds the spots on the back are less plentiful and of a more buffish tint. Length 9·5 in.; wing 5·5 in.

THE SOLITARY SANDPIPER Totanus solitarius (Wilson)

This is an American species, which, like so many of its New World congeners, has occasionally and at long intervals straggled to these islands.

Its nearest ally is the preceding species, from which it may be recognised by having _all_ the tail feathers, except the central pair, boldly barred with black. Length 8·25 in.; wing 5·2 in.

THE YELLOWSHANK Totanus flavipes (J. F. Gmelin)

Two examples of this American species have been obtained, the first near Nottingham and the second at Marazion in Cornwall.

In general appearance it is not unlike a young Redshank, but the legs are longer and more slender, and the axillaries are _barred_ and not white. Length 10·75 in.; wing 6 in.

THE GREATER YELLOWSHANK Totanus melanoleucus (Gmelin)