BtJFP-BEEASTED SANDPIPER 71 



Courtship. — Professor Kowan (1927) has given us the most elabo- 

 rate account of the nuptial display of the buff-breasted sandpiper, 

 as follows: 



As we have noted it annually, there are several distinct stages to the display, 

 but the males do not appear to be concerned in the least with the females at 

 any time. Nor have I ever seen a female take the slightest notice of any of 

 the displays. Nelson comments on the fact that Murdoch frequently saw 

 solitary males displaying, yet he was observing them on the actual breeding 

 grounds. 



Probably the most frequent performance is the raising of one wing only 

 (eitiier one), but this has various phases. A, the wing is spread and held 

 steadily for a few moments with the primaries horizontal and is then closed 

 again. B, the wing is spread with the primaries nearly perpendicular and 

 waved round in an elipse, the bird standing still. C, the wing is spread while 

 the bird runs round in circles. D, the wing is held aloft while the owner runs 

 after another bird, always, so far as I have seen, another male, which instantly 

 raises one wing also and starts zigzagging through the grass, the first bird 

 giving chase. They may thus cover many yards before one suddenly collapses 

 his wing and halts, the second immediately following suit. All these single- 

 wing performances seem to be carried out in silence. 



Both wings together are used for another set of actions. E, the wings are 

 raised similarly to a bird alighting on or arising from the ground, the body 

 horizontal. In this attitude one bird sometimes chases another. F is a double 

 version of B, both wings being raised high and waved round and round. 

 G, both wings are spread, undersurfaces forward, primaries horizontal, after 

 the manner of the American eagle, the body being almost perpendicular. This 

 may be accomplished by a rapid tick tick tick many times repeated. Two birds 

 may do it simultaneously standing opposite to each other with the tips of the 

 wings practically touching. H is the most characteristic of all and the most 

 amusing to watch. Both wings are raised with the undersurfaces facing to 

 the front as in G, but with the primaries perpendicular, tips practically touch- 

 ing each, other over the bird's head. The body is held absolutely vertical and 

 the legs stretched to capacity (I am not sure that the birds do not stand 

 partially on tiptoe), tail cocked out horizontally behind, while the individual 

 " ticks " at top speed for about a second. Each " tick " is accompanied with 

 a rapid jerk of the whole body. The bird then relaxes momentarily, turns 

 through an angle of 40 to 50 degrees, repeats the performance to a fresh audi- 

 ence (if there is one, for I have seen isolated birds doing this), relaxes to 

 switch round again, and so on perhaps half a dozen times. This may also be 

 done simultaneously by two birds, face to face, and standing so close that the 

 wing tips appear to touch over their heads. It may then be repeated without 

 any change of direction in the intervals. But it always seems to be done in 

 spasms. Display is evidently infectious, particularly in fine weather, for no 

 sooner does one start than a dozen may be at it in a moment. But it is curious 

 to see a bird suddenly stop in its hunt for food in order to go through one of 

 these acts and then proceed as though it never had anything else in mind, 

 particularly if it is by itself. It seems so irrational. Occasional bickering occurs, 

 but we have never seen serious flights or even suggestion of anything serious. 



Murdoch (1885) has also observed that — 



Two will occasionally meet and spar like fighting cocks for a few miuut.es 

 and then rise together like towering birds, with legs hanging loose, for about 30 



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