HUDSONIAN CUKLEW 119 



Behavior. — Although Hudsonian curlews may fly swiftly at times 

 and probably make good speed when traveling they appear to me to 

 fly rather slowly and heavily, with steady and rather moderate wing 

 beats ; they often set their wings and scale for a long distance. When 

 migrating over land they usually fly high, in flocks, much after the 

 manner of ducks and geese ; but when migrating over water or flying 

 to and from their roosting grounds they often fly in long lines close 

 to the water. Their flight has been said to resemble the flight of 

 gulls when moving in flocks, or to suggest that of herons when flying 

 close to the water, but I could never see any such resemblance. 



Dr. Charles W. Townsend (1905) says: 



They walk and run rapidly, stand still, often with one foot several inches in 

 front of the other, rest occasionally by squatting down, with tarsi flat on the 

 ground, or standing upon one leg, with the other out behind. 



William L. Dawson (1923) writes: 



The curlews deploy, then, upon the dry sands of the upper beach and either 

 potter about on listless lookout for passing insects or else squat upon the sand, 

 tuck bill under wing, and lose themselves in dreams. There is always at least 

 one wary fellow on guard, however, and let but the smallest appearance of 

 motion, be it only a khaki hat, break the purity of the sky line among the 

 attendant sand dunes, and a quaver of warning puts the scattered flock on 

 guard. Sleepy heads are stealthily withdrawn ; the birds rise slowly and 

 begin to creep toward their leader, their neutral-colored bodies scarcely dis- 

 tinguishable against the background of sand; and all meanwhile scanning 

 the horizon for the danger sign. If the alarm spreads, all run down the 

 beach slope for a quick take-off, pass over the surf line, and then parallel 

 the shore with moderate, firm wing strokes until a safe distance has been 

 reached. 



Voice. — John T. Nichols says in his notes: 



The flight note of the Hudsonian curlew in migration resembles somewhat 

 that of the greater yellowlegs, but is easily distinguished therefrom, being less 

 modulated and usually lower pitched. It commonly consists of four short 

 whistles, but is frequently prolonged, sometimes accelerated into a trill. The 

 more prolonged calls are usually the dryer and seem characteristic of the 

 noisiest birds, flyin.s; highest or with most uncertainty. On its northern breed- 

 ing grounds (Nome, July, 1926) this species keeps up a continual vocal protest 

 while an intruder is present. Its note then matches in form the trills which 

 may be heard in migration but is much more musical and varied in quality. 

 It may be described as polysyllabic, rolling, usually 10 syllabled or less ; modu- 

 lated and varied in tone — loud, reedy, sweet, mellow, or liquid. It is the same 

 when the bird is in the air as when it is on the ground. 



Mr. Mackay (18926) says that the rolling note sounds like "that 

 produced by a boy's lead bird whistle filled with water." They also 

 have a soft, musical cur-lew note, more often heard in the spring. 

 Dr. E. K. P. Janvrin says in his notes : " The note uttered during 

 flight, usually just after the birds are put up and apparently an 

 alarm note, sounds like hrek.^ hrek^ kreh., quite loud and rather 

 23ie— 29 9 



