248 
The Hudsonian Curlew 
Manner of 
Flight 
mense 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, ofter 
close to the water. On the New England coast, the} 
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 
come 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 wheni! 
flying, also when alarmed, and on taking flight. The other consists of>l 
two low, straight whistles, or notes, when a flock isi| 
Notes alighting. Flocks also make a rolling note, lasting,j| 
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 on 
feeding-ground, at an altitude of sixty or seventy yards. I have never i 
heard of its being made by single birds.” They also have a soft musical i 
curlew note, more often heard in the spring. 
Classification and Distribution 
The Hudsonian Curlew belongs to the Order Limicolce, the Family Scolopacidce,\ 
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 
Audubon Societies, 1974 Broadway, New York City. Lists given on request. 
