LONG-BILLED CURLEW 
264. Numenius americanus. 23 in. 
Bill much decurved and very long (4 to 8 in.), the 
longest of any of our shore birds. Plumage variegated 
with rufous and blackish above; bright buffy or rufous 
below, streaked on neck and breast, and barred on the 
sides with blackish. ‘* Sickle-bills,” as these birds are 
often called, are the largest of our shore birds. They 
are very conspicuous either when flying or walking on 
the marshes or sandbars, their size appearing gigantic 
when they are in a flock of smaller plover, as sometimes 
happens. They fly in compact flocks, evidently led by 
one individual, for they wheel and circle in_ perfect 
unison, sailing up in the wind on outspread wings, when 
about to alight. 
Notes.—A flute-like whistle, ‘‘ ker-loo.” 
Nest.—On the ground; eggs greenish-buil, with small 
black spots over the whole surface (2.50 x 1.80). 
Range.—Breeds in the Upper Miss. Valley, north to 
Manitoba; winters in the Gulf States, and southward; 
formerly bred on the South Atlantic coast: strays to 
New England and New Brunswick in the fall. 
