BIRDS WITH LONG, CURVED BILLS. 195 



Distribution. — A few breed in the Orkneys, Shet- 

 lands, and Outer Hebrides ; elsewhere as a spring 

 and autumn migrant, chiefly on the coasts, but plen- 

 tiful on the bogs of Ireland during the spring 



passage. 



The Whimbrel is known also as the ' May ' bird 

 because of its regular appearance as a migrant at the 

 beginning of that month. The birds linger little on 

 the spring passage, but at the return migration from 

 August onwards they are much more numei-ous, and 

 some birds remain with us throughout the winter. 

 They feed as a rule in small flocks on the mud-flats 

 at low tide, as well as on the grass lands inshore when 

 the tide is up. The bird occurs occasionally beside 

 inland waters. In form and colouring the Whimbrel 

 so closely resembles the Curlew that the former is 

 scarcely to be distinguished from the latter unless 

 the pale central band along the dark crown be 

 detected. The shy Whimbrel, however, is hardly 

 likely to permit so close observation. It must, 

 therefore, be noted that it is less solitary in its 

 habits than the Curlew, is quicker in flight, and 

 uses a high note often delivered in series of seven, 

 with a rest after the seventh, which has been 

 well called ' tittering,' the note resemblincr the word 

 ' tetty.' Like the Curlew, the Whimbrel nests on the 

 ground. 



CURLEW — 21-26 inches ; larger ; lighter in upper plum- 

 age ; lacks the broad, pale band along the top of the 

 head. Notes, 'Cour-lip!' and a long series of high, 

 ringing notes resembling ' Toy — toy-toy-toy-oy-oy-oy- 

 oy-oy-oy. A moorland breeder throughout the British 

 Islands, 



Z 



