248 The Hudsonian Curlew 



raense flocks, sometimes numbering several thousand, where they feed 

 about the shores of the islands off the coast, roosting on the outer sand- 

 bars, and flying to and from their feeding-grounds in dense flocks, often 

 close to the water. On the New England coast, they 

 seldom fly in large flocks, and are often seen singly, 

 circling high in the air, and responding readily to an 

 imitation of their whistle. 



It is useless to attempt to stalk the adult birds, and they will not 

 ccme to the decoys unless the blind is well concealed in the beach-grass 

 or among bushes. Young birds, on the contrary, are quite unsuspicious 

 and will decoy well. When coming to the decoys, they set their wings 

 and scale for a long distance, in open formation and scanning the ground 

 carefully. Their keen eyes will detect the slightest movement, or the 

 presence of any unusual object, which will cause them to wheel or 

 spring into the air and fly away. 



Their loud, whistling notes are characteristic and easily imitated. Mr. 



Mackay has well described them as follows : "They make two notes, 



one a very clear, penetrating, staccato whistle, repeated four or five times 



in quick succession, and which is very far-reaching. It is given when 



flying, also when alarmed, and on taking flight. The other consists of 



two low, straight whistles, or notes, when a flock is 



Notes alighting. Flocks also make a rolling note, lasting 



as long as it would take to count six or seven. The 



sound is similar to that produced by a boy's lead bird-whistle filled with 



water. It is uttered when the birds approach, and are over a marsh or 



feeding-ground, at an altitude of sixty or seventy yards. I have never 



heard of its being made by single birds." They also have a soft musical 



curlew note, more often heard in the spring. 



Classification and Distribution 



The Hudsonian Curlew belongs to the Order Limicolce, the Family Scolopacidcc, 

 and the Genus Numenius. Its scientific name is Numenius hudsonicus. It ranges 

 throughout both North America and the northern half of South America, mainly 

 near the coasts, and winters in tropical America. 



This and other Educational Leaflets are for sale, at 5 cents each, by the National Association of 

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