HUDSON IAN GOD WIT 299 



The flight of the species is distinctly " ploverish." The greater contrast, 

 against its white parts, of its darker balance makes it distinguishable at 

 considerable distance from the willet when in flight. They can easily be 

 mistaken for each other if casually observed, especially in the grey plumage of 

 young and fall adults. 



In walking this godwit has much the same attitudes of the marbled, generally 

 very ungraceful and altogether hunched up, neck closely drawn into the body. 

 It is, however, altogether warier than the marbled and carries its neck 

 stretched out more frequently. 



On the whole it is an extremely silent species. I have seen dozens of birds 

 but have only heard a call twice. This sounded like ta-it on both occasions, 

 les," raucous than the marbles call but in general quite reminiscent of it. 



Doctor Wet more (192G) says: 



In plain gray winter plumage this godwit is as inconspicuous and nondescript 

 in appearance as a willet. In general size it suggests a greater yellowlegs, but 

 can be distinguished at any distance by its quiet carriage, for it does not 

 practice the constant tilting that is the habit of the yellowlegs. These godwits 

 sought company with scattered flocks of stilts or smaller shore birds, and in 

 feeding walked rapidly, at times in water nearly to their bodies or again in 

 the shallows. As they moved they probed rapidly and constantly in the mud 

 with a nervous thrusting motion, often with the beak immersed clear to their 

 eyes. Morsels of food that were encountered were passed rapidly up the 

 length of the bill and swallowed. When their movements carried them too 

 near the stilts the latter hustled them about, and made them run rapidly to 

 escape their bills, but in spite of this discouragement the godwits remained 

 in as close proximity as permitted to their belligerent neighbors, perhaps, be- 

 cause of similarity in feeding habit. Some Hudsonian godwit gave a low 

 chattering call when flushed, a low qua qua that resembled one of the notes 

 of L. fedoa. As they extend the wings to fly the dark axillars show as a patch 

 of black and in flight the white tail, with black band across the tip is promi- 

 nent. The birds are hunted to such an extent that they are exceedingly wary. 

 When opportunity offered I took only a few for specimens. 



Kef erring to their habits in Alberta, C. G. Harrold (1923) says: 



The individuals in the parties seen on April 29 were feeding very close to- 

 gether like dowitchers. Not a single bird was seen on dry land and most of 

 them were wading about in water 4 inches to G inches deep, one bird swimming 

 after the manner of a yellowlegs which has waded out of its depth. Although 

 the Hudsonian godwits associate with the marbled, the latter bully them con- 

 siderably, chasing them away if they approach the marbled too closely when 

 feeding. 



Voice. — Mr. Harrold (1923) says that "their call note is a soft 

 chip (very unlike the harsh notes of the vociferous marbled), and 

 when alarmed they utter a low sandpiper-like chattering." They 

 are usually very silent birds. 



Field marks. — In spring plumage the Hudsonian godwit can be 

 recognized easily at almost any distance by the rich brown under- 

 pays, almost black upper parts, white rump, and black tail; at a long 

 distance it looks very black. On the wing in all plumages the white 

 rump and black tail are conspicuous and the wings are diagnostic; 



