534 THE LONG-BILLED CURLEW. 



No. 249. 



LONG-BILLED CURLEW. 



A. O. U. No. 264. Numenius longirostris Wils. 



Synonym. SICKLE-BILL. 



Description. Adult : General color ochraceous-buff to pale cinnamon- 

 rufous ; upper parts varied with dusky, in broad streaks on crown, in narrow^ 

 streaks on sides of head and neck, in heavy, central, "herring-bone," connected bars 

 on back and tertials, and so variously mottled throughout, only the outer webs of 

 outer primaries being of solid color, -dusky ; below sharply streaked on breast 

 and sides, sometimes sparingly barred with blackish, the ground color reaching 

 its greatest purity and intensity on axillars ; bill very long, considerably decurved 

 toward tip ; the culmen brownish dusky, the lower mandible yellow at base and 

 darkening toward tip ; feet and legs stout, dark ; claws short and broad. Length 

 20.00-26.00 (5o8.-66o.4) ; wing 10.75 (273- 1 ) 5 tail 4- IQ ( l 4- 1 ) J bill up to 8.50 

 (215.9) av - about 6.50 (165.1) ; tarsus 3.15 (80.). 



Recognition Marks. About Crow size, making some allowance for bill ; 

 pale cinnamon coloration ; long decurved bill distinctive. Has a quavering cry 

 somewhat like that of the Bartramian Sandpiper. 



Nesting. Not known to breed in Ohio. Eggs, 4, ashy brown or clay-color, 

 spotted and blotched with chocolate. Av. size, 2.58 x 1.82 (65.5 x 46.2). 



General Range. Temperate North America, migrating south to Guatemala, 

 Cuba and Jamaica. Breeds in the South Atlantic States and in the interior through 

 most of its North American range. 



Range in Ohio. Formerly common migrant, and perhaps summer resident; 

 now rare migrant. 



A bird of such extraordinary appearance as the Sickle-bill would attract 

 attention anywhere, but especially in our section of the country, where it is 

 no longer common. Its peculiarly developed mandibles are well calculated 

 to reap a harvest not only of slugs and aquatic molecules, but of insects and 

 berries as well. Tho once not uncommon throughout the United States, 

 the bird is ill-adapted to the devious ways of our shot-gun civilization, and 

 is now to be found in any considerable numbers only on the prairies and 

 barren foot-hills of the West. Whenever found on the Atlantic Coast, the 

 Curlew frequents marshes or sandy shores much after the fashion of its kind, 

 but in the West it is by no means attached to the vicinity of water. 



During migration the Curlews move in small wedge-shaped companies 

 with leisurely flapping wings. A quavering whistle from the leader pro- 

 claims their progress, and a ready hunter may call them down to decoys 

 by a skillful imitation of their cry. If successfully diverted from their course, 

 the birds approach the ground with a majestic slow sail and present an easy 

 mark. If allowed to alight they touch the ground lightly, with wings up- 

 raised, and the sun reveals the beauty of the delicate cinnamon linings of 

 the wings before these members are gently folded. 



