Part 1
BRITISH BIRDS
BY
W. H. HUDSON, C.M.Z.S.
WITH A CHAPTER ON STRUCTURE AND CLASSIFICATION BY FRANK E. BEDDARD, F.R.S.
_With 8 Coloured Plates from Original Drawings by A. Thorburn and 8 Plates and 100 Figures in black and white from Original Drawings by G. E. Lodge and 3 Illustrations from Photographs from Nature by R. B. Lodge_
NEW IMPRESSION
LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON FOURTH AVENUE & 30TH STREET, NEW YORK BOMBAY, CALCUTTA, AND MADRAS 1921
_All rights reserved_
CONTENTS.
PAGE
THE ANATOMY OF A BIRD 1
CLASSIFICATION 34
_Order_ PASSERES.
MISSEL-THRUSH. _Turdus viscivorus_ 39
SONG-THRUSH. _Turdus musicus_ 41
REDWING. _Turdus iliacus_ 45
FIELDFARE. _Turdus pilaris_ 46
Black-throated Thrush. _Turdus atrigularis_ 52
White’s Thrush. _Turdus varius_ 52
BLACKBIRD. _Turdus merula_ 49
RING-OUZEL. _Turdus torquatus_ 50
Rock-Thrush. _Monticola saxatilis_ 52
WHEATEAR. _Saxicola œnanthe_ 52
Black-throated Wheatear. _Saxicola strapazina_ 54
Desert Wheatear. _Saxicola deserti_ 54
WHINCHAT. _Pratincola rubetra_ 54
STONECHAT. _Pratincola rubicola_ 56
REDSTART. _Ruticilla phœnicurus_ 57
Black Redstart. _Ruticilla titys_ 59
White-spotted Bluethroat. CYANECULA WOLFI 59
Red-spotted Bluethroat. _Cyanecula suecica_ 59
REDBREAST. _Erithacus rubecula_ 59
NIGHTINGALE. _Daulias luscinia_ 62
WHITETHROAT. _Sylvia cinerea_ 64
LESSER WHITETHROAT. _Sylvia curruca_ 66
Orphean Warbler. _Sylvia orphea_ 70
BLACKCAP. _Sylvia atricapilla_ 67
GARDEN WARBLER. _Sylvia hortensis_ 69
Barred Warbler. _Sylvia nisoria_ 70
DARTFORD WARBLER. _Melizophilus undatus_ 70
GOLDCREST. _Regulus cristatus_ 72
Firecrest. _Regulus ignicapillus_ 74
Yellow-browed Warbler. _Phylloscopus superciliosus_ 79
CHIFFCHAFF. _Phylloscopus rufus_ 74
WILLOW-WREN. _Phylloscopus trochilus_ 76
WOOD-WREN. _Phylloscopus sibilatrix_ 78
Icterine Warbler. _Hypolaïs icterina_ 79
Rufous Warbler. _Aëdon galectodes_ 79
REED-WARBLER. _Acrocephalus streperus_ 79
Marsh-Warbler. _Acrocephalus palustris_ 82
Great Reed-Warbler. _Acrocephalus turdoïdes_ 82
Aquatic Warbler. _Acrocephalus aquaticus_ 82
SEDGE-WARBLER. _Acrocephalus phragmitis_ 80
GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. _Locustella nævia_ 82
Savi’s Warbler. _Locustella luscinioïdes_ 84
HEDGE-SPARROW. _Accentor modularis_ 84
Alpine Accentor. _Accentor collaris_ 85
DIPPER. _Cinclus aquaticus_ 86
Black-bellied Dipper. _Cinclus melanogaster_ 88
BEARDED TITMOUSE. _Panurus biamicus_ 89
Long-tailed Titmouse. _Acredula caudata_ 90
LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. _Acredula rosea_ 92
GREAT TITMOUSE. _Parus major_ 92
Coal-Titmouse (Continental). _Parus ater_ 94
COAL-TITMOUSE. _Parus britannicus_ 94
MARSH TITMOUSE. _Parus palustris_ 96
BLUE TITMOUSE. _Parus cæruleus_ 97
CRESTED TITMOUSE. _Parus cristatus_ 98
NUTHATCH. _Sitta cæsia_ 99
WREN. _Troglodytes parvulus_ 101
White Wagtail. _Motacilla alba_ 108
PIED WAGTAIL. _Motacilla lugubris_ 104
GREY WAGTAIL. _Motacilla melanope_ 105
Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail. _Motacilla flava_ 108
YELLOW WAGTAIL. _Motacilla rayii_ 107
MEADOW-PIPIT. _Anthus pratensis_ 108
TREE-PIPIT. _Anthus trivialis_ 110
Tawny Pipit. _Anthus campestris_ 113
Richard’s Pipit. _Anthus richardi_ 113
Water Pipit. _Anthus spipoletta_ 113
ROCK-PIPIT. _Anthus obscurus_ 112
Golden Oriole. _Oriolus galbulus_ 114
Great Grey Shrike. _Lanius excubitor_ 116
Pallas’s Great Grey Shrike. _Lanius major_ 116
Lesser Grey Shrike. _Lanius minor_ 116
RED-BACKED SHRIKE. _Lanius collurio_ 114
Woodchat. _Lanius pomeranus_ 116
Waxwing. _Ampelis garrulus_ 114
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. _Muscicapa grisola_ 116
PIED FLYCATCHER. _Muscicapa atricapilla_ 118
Red-breasted Flycatcher. _Muscicapa parva_ 118
SWALLOW. _Hirundo rustica_ 118
MARTIN. _Chelidon urbica_ 121
SAND-MARTIN. _Cotile riparia_ 122
TREE-CREEPER. _Certhia familiaris_ 124
GOLDFINCH. _Carduelis elegans_ 126
SISKIN. _Chrysometris spinus_ 127
Serin. _Serinus hortulanus_ 128
GREENFINCH. _Ligurinus chloris_ 128
HAWFINCH. _Coccothraustes vulgaris_ 130
HOUSE-SPARROW. _Passer domesticus_ 132
TREE-SPARROW. _Passer montanus_ 133
CHAFFINCH. _Fringilla cœlebs_ 134
BRAMBLING. _Fringilla montifringilla_ 137
LINNET. _Linota cannabina_ 138
Mealy Redpoll. _Linota linaria_ 140
LESSER REDPOLL. _Linota rufescens_ 139
Greenland Redpoll. _Linota hornemanni_ 140
TWITE. _Linota flavirostris_ 141
Rosy Bullfinch. _Carpodacus erythrinus_ 144
BULLFINCH. _Pyrrhula europæa_ 142
Pine Grossbeak. _Pinicola enucleator_ 144
Parrot Crossbill. _Loxia pittyopsittacus_ 145
CROSSBILL. _Loxia curvirostra_ 144
White-winged Crossbill. _Loxia leucoptera_ 145
Two-barred Crossbill. _Loxia bifasciata_ 145
Black-headed Bunting. _Emberiza melanocephala_ 154
CORN-BUNTING. _Emberiza miliaria_ 146
YELLOWHAMMER. _Emberiza citrinella_ 148
CIRL BUNTING. _Emberiza cirlus_ 150
Ortolan Bunting. _Emberiza hortulana_ 154
Rustic Bunting. _Emberiza rustica_ 154
Little Bunting. _Emberiza pusilla_ 154
REED-BUNTING. _Emberiza schœniclus_ 151
Lapland Bunting. _Calcarius lapponica_ 154
SNOW-BUNTING. _Plectrophanes nivalis_ 152
STARLING. _Sturnus vulgaris_ 154
Rose-coloured Pastor. _Pastor roseus_ 156
CHOUGH. _Pyrrhocorax graculus_ 157
Nutcracker. _Nucifraga caryocatactes_ 174
JAY. _Garrulus glandarius_ 158
MAGPIE. _Pica rustica_ 160
JACKDAW. _Corvus monedula_ 163
CARRION CROW. _Corvus corone_ 166
HOODED CROW. _Corvus cornix_ 167
ROOK. _Corvus frugilegus_ 168
RAVEN. _Corvus corax_ 172
SKYLARK. _Alauda arvensis_ 174
WOODLARK. _Alauda arborea_ 176
Crested Lark. _Alauda cristata_ 178
Short-toed Lark. _Calendrella brachydactyla_ 178
White-winged Lark. _Melanocorypha sibirica_ 178
Shore Lark. _Otocorys alpestris_ 178
_Order_ PICARIÆ.
SWIFT. _Cypselus apus_ 178
White-bellied Swift. _Cypselus melba_ 179
Needle-tailed Swift. _Acanthyllis caudacuta_ 179
NIGHTJAR. _Caprimulgus europæus_ 179
Red-necked Nightjar. _Caprimulgus ruficollis_ 181
Egyptian Nightjar. _Caprimulgus ægyptius_ 181
SPOTTED WOODPECKER. _Dendrocopus major_ 181
BARRED WOODPECKER. _Dendrocopus minor_ 183
GREEN WOODPECKER. _Gecinus viridis_ 184
WRYNECK. _Iẏnx torquilla_ 186
KINGFISHER. _Alcedo ispida_ 188
Belted Kingfisher. _Ceryle alcyon_ 189
Roller. _Coracius garrula_ 190
Bee-eater. _Merops apiaster_ 190
Hoopoe. _Upupa epops_ 190
CUCKOO. _Cuculus canorus_ 190
Great Spotted Cuckoo. _Coccystes glandarius_ 193
Yellow-billed Cuckoo. _Coccyzus americanus_ 193
Black-billed Cuckoo. _Coccyzus erythrophthalmus_ 193
_Order_ STRIGES.
BARN-OWL. _Strix flammea_ 193
LONG-EARED OWL. _Asio otus_ 196
SHORT-EARED OWL. _Asio brachyotus_ 197
TAWNY OWL. _Syrnium aluco_ 198
Snowy Owl. _Nyctea scandiaca_ 199
European Hawk-Owl. _Surnia ulula_ 199
American Hawk-Owl. _Surnia funeria_ 199
Tengmalm’s Owl. _Nyctala tengmalmi_ 199
Scops Owl. _Scops giu_ 199
Eagle Owl. _Bubo ignavus_ 199
Little Owl. _Athene noctua_ 199
_Order_ ACCIPITRES.
Griffon Vulture. _Gyps fulvus_ 216
Egyptian Vulture. _Neophron percnopterus_ 216
Marsh-Harrier. _Circus æruginosus_ 216
HEN HARRIER. _Circus cyaneus_ 199
MONTAGU’S HARRIER. _Circus cineraceus_ 201
BUZZARD. _Buteo vulgaris_ 202
Rough-legged Buzzard. _Archibuteo lagopus_ 216
Spotted Eagle. _Aquila clanga_ 216
GOLDEN EAGLE. _Aquila chrysaëtus_ 204
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE. _Haliaëtus albicilla_ 205
Goshawk. _Astur palumbarius_ 216
American Goshawk. _Astur atricapilla_ 216
SPARROW-HAWK. _Accipiter nisus_ 206
KITE. _Milvus ictinus_ 207
Black Kite. _Milvus nigrans_ 216
Swallow-tailed Kite. _Elanoïdes furcatus_ 217
Honey-Buzzard. _Pernis apivorus_ 217
Gyrfalcon. _Hierofalco gyrfalco_ 217
Greenland Falcon. _Hierofalco candicans_ 217
Iceland Falcon. _Hierofalco islandicus_ 217
PEREGRINE FALCON. _Falco peregrinus_ 208
HOBBY. _Falco subbuteo_ 210
MERLIN. _Falco æsalon_ 211
Red-footed Falcon. _Tinnunculus vespertinus_ 217
KESTREL. _Tinnunculus alaudarius_ 212
Lesser Kestrel. _Tinnunculus cenchris_ 217
OSPREY. _Pandion haliaëtus_ 215
_Order_ STEGANOPODES.
CORMORANT. _Phalacrocorax carbo_ 218
SHAG. _Phalacrocorax graculus_ 220
GANNET. _Sula bassana_ 221
_Order_ HERODIONES.
HERON. _Ardea cinerea_ 223
Purple Heron. _Ardea purpurea_ 226
Great White Heron. _Ardea alba_ 226
Little Egret. _Ardea gazetta_ 226
Buff-backed Heron. _Ardea bubulcus_ 226
Squacco Heron. _Ardea ralloïdes_ 226
LITTLE BITTERN. _Ardetta minuta_ 226
Night Heron. _Nycticorax griseus_ 226
BITTERN. _Botaurus stellaris_ 224
American Bittern. _Botaurus lentiginosus_ 226
White Stork. _Ciconia alba_ 226
Black Stork. _Ciconia nigra_ 226
Spoonbill. _Platalea leucorodia_ 226
Glossy Ibis. _Plegadis falcinellus_ 226
_Order_ ANSERES.
GREY LAG GOOSE. _Anser cinereus_ 227
BEAN-GOOSE. _Anser segetum_ 228
PINK-FOOTED GOOSE. _Anser brachyrhynchus_ 229
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. _Anser albifrons_ 230
Cassins Snow Goose. _Chen albatus_ 227
BRENT GOOSE. _Bernicla brenta_ 230
BARNACLE GOOSE. _Bernicla leucopsis_ 232
Red-breasted Goose. _Bernicla ruficollis_ 227
MUTE SWAN. _Cygnus olor_ 233
Polish Swan. _Cygnus immutabilis_ 233
WHOOPER SWAN. _Cygnus musicus_ 234
Bewick’s Swan. _Cygnus bewickii_ 234
COMMON SHELDRAKE. _Tadorna cornuta_ 235
Ruddy Sheldrake. _Tadorna casarca_ 236
WIGEON. _Mareca penelope_ 237
American Wigeon. _Mareca americana_ 238
PINTAIL. _Dafila acuta_ 238
MALLARD. _Anas boscas_ 239
GADWELL. _Chaulelasmus streperus_ 241
GARGANEY. _Querquedula circia_ 243
Blue-winged Teal. _Querquedula discors_ 244
COMMON TEAL. _Querquedula crecca_ 244
American Green-winged Teal. _Querquedula carolinensis_ 244
SHOVELER. _Spatula clypeata_ 245
Red-Crested Pochard. _Fuligula rufina_ 246
TUFTED DUCK. _Fuligula cristata_ 246
SCAUP. _Fuligula marila_ 247
POCHARD. _Fuligula ferina_ 248
White-eyed Duck. _Nyroca ferruginea_ 246
GOLDENEYE. _Clangula glaucion_ 249
Barrow’s Goldeneye. _Clangula islandica_ 246
Buffel-headed Duck. _Clangula albeola_ 246
Harlequin Duck. _Cosmonetta histrionica_ 246
LONG-TAILED DUCK. _Harelda glacialis_ 250
Steller’s Duck. _Heniconetta stelleri_ 246
EIDER DUCK. _Somateria mollissima_ 251
King Eider. _Somateria spectabilis_ 246
COMMON SCOTER. _Œdemia nigra_ 253
VELVET SCOTER. _Œdemia fusca_ 54
Surf-Scoter. _Œdemia perspicillata_ 246
GOOSANDER. _Mergus merganser_ 255
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. _Mergus serrator_ 256
Hooded Merganser. _Mergus cucullatus_ 246
SMEW. _Mergus albellus_ 258
_Order_ COLUMBÆ.
WOOD-PIGEON. _Columba palumbus_ 258
STOCK-DOVE. _Columba œnas_ 261
ROCK-DOVE. _Columba livia_ 261
TURTLE-DOVE. _Turtur communis_ 262
Passenger Pigeon. _Ectopistes migratorius_ 264
_Order_ PTEROCLETES.
Pallas’s Sand-Grouse. _Syrrhaptes paradoxus_ 264
_Order_ GALLINÆ.
PHEASANT. _Phasianus colchicus_ 264
RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE. _Caccabis rufa_ 265
Barbary Partridge. _Caccabis petrosa_ 266
PARTRIDGE. _Perdix cinerea_ 267
QUAIL. _Coturnix communis_ 269
PTARMIGAN. _Lagopus mutus_ 270
RED GROUSE. _Lagopus scoticus_ 272
BLACK GROUSE. _Tetrao tetrix_ 273
CAPERCAILLIE. _Tetrao urogallus_ 275
_Order_ FULICARIÆ.
WATER-RAIL. _Rallus aquaticus_ 277
SPOTTED CRAKE. _Porzana maruetta_ 277
Baillon’s Crake. _Porzana bailloni_ 278
Little Crake. _Porzana parva_ 278
CORNCRAKE. _Crex pratensis_ 278
MOORHEN. _Gallinula chloropus_ 279
COOT. _Fulica atra_ 280
_Order_ ALECTORIDES.
Crane. _Grus communis_ 281
Great Bustard. _Otis tarda_ 281
Little Bustard. _Otis tetrax_ 281
Macqueen’s Bustard. _Otis macqueeni_ 281
_Order_ LIMICOLÆ.
STONE-CURLEW. _Œdicnemus scolopax_ 282
Collared Pratincole. _Glareola pratincola_ 284
Cream-coloured Courser. _Cursorius gallicus_ 284
GOLDEN PLOVER. _Charadrius pluvialis_ 284
Eastern Golden Plover. _Charadrius fulvus_ 286
GREY PLOVER. _Squatarola helvetica_ 286
KENTISH PLOVER. _Ægialitis cantiana_ 287
Little Ringed Plover. _Ægialitis curonica_ 288
RINGED PLOVER. _Ægialitis hiaticula_ 287
Killdeer Plover. _Ægialitis vocifera_ 288
DOTTEREL. _Endromias morinellus_ 289
LAPWING. _Vanellus vulgaris_ 290
TURNSTONE. _Strepsilus interpres_ 292
OYSTER-CATCHER. _Hæmatopus ostralegus_ 293
Avocet. _Recurvirostra avocetta_ 316
Black-winged Stilt. _Himantopus candidus_ 316
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. _Phalaropus hyperboreus_ 294
Grey Phalarope. _Phalaropus fulicarius_ 295
WOODCOCK. _Scolopax rusticula_ 296
GREAT SNIPE. _Gallinago major_ 298
COMMON SNIPE. _Gallinago cælestis_ 299
JACK-SNIPE. _Limnocryptes gallinula_ 300
Broad-billed Sandpiper. _Limicola platyrhyncha_ 317
Pectoral Sandpiper. _Tringa maculata_ 317
Bonaparte’s Sandpiper. _Tringa fuscicollis_ 317
DUNLIN. _Tringa alpina_ 300
LITTLE STINT. _Tringa minuta_ 302
Temminck’s Stint. _Tringa temmincki_ 303
American Stint. _Tringa minutilla_ 317
CURLEW-SANDPIPER. _Tringa subarquata_ 303
PURPLE SANDPIPER. _Tringa striata_ 304
KNOT. _Tringa canutus_ 304
RUFF and REEVE. _Machetes pugnax_ 306
SANDERLING. _Calidris arenaria_ 308
Buff-breasted Sandpiper. _Tryngites rufescens_ 317
Bartram’s Sandpiper. _Actiturus longicauda_ 317
COMMON SANDPIPER. _Tringoïdes hypoleucus_ 309
GREEN SANDPIPER. _Helodromus ochropus_ 310
Wood-Sandpiper. _Totanus glareola_ 316
REDSHANK. _Totanus calidris_ 310
Spotted Redshank. _Totanus fuscus_ 316
GREENSHANK. _Totanus canescens_ 312
Red-breasted Snipe. _Macroramphus griseus_ 317
Bar-tailed Godwit. _Limosa lapponica_ 316
Black-tailed Godwit. _Limosa melanura_ 316
Esquimaux Curlew. _Numenius borealis_ 317
WHIMBREL. _Numenius phæopus_ 313
CURLEW. _Numenius arquata_ 314
_Order_ GAVLÆ.
ARCTIC TERN. _Sterna macrura_ 317
COMMON TERN. _Sterna fluviatilis_ 319
ROSEATE TERN. _Sterna dougalli_ 320
LITTLE TERN. _Sterna minuta_ 320
Caspian Tern. _Sterna caspia_ 323
Gull-billed Tern. _Sterna anglica_ 323
SANDWICH TERN. _Sterna cantiaca_ 322
Sooty Tern. _Sterna fuliginosa_ 323
Scopoli’s Sooty Tern. _Sterna anæstheta_ 323