396 



Dixon, The Spoon-billed Sandpiper. 



TAuk 



Loct. 



by the male. Upon approaching the nest site, while we were yet 

 afar off, we were greeted by the male in full song. This song, 

 ventriloquial, pulsating, and cicada-like in quality, seemed to come 

 first from one and then from another point in the heaven above. 

 Sometimes we searched the sky altogether in vain, but usually the 

 bird was discovered in rapid flight at an altitude of two or three 

 hundred feet above the earth. 



^ 



,, Nest site 

 jX\ on tundra 



%, 



# 



a / , 



br- 



Fig. 3. Diagrams of the nuptial flight of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Upper figure 

 represents the flight as viewed from above. Lower figure depicts one half of the same 

 evolution as seen from one side. (s) start, (a) Poise or hover accompanied by song, (b) 

 short dip (no song), (c) rapid sweep down over nest site, ending in new position, (rf) gentle 

 glide to earth, (X) nest site on tundra. Flight e to e' in upper figure is represented by the 

 broken line e to e' in the lower figure. 



