190 
CH ARADRI I FORMES 
The entire call lasts about three seconds of time. As these birds alight they 
run along the ground a few yards, with their ample wings still raised straight 
over their backs, uttering their long whistle. Like the godwit they build 
their nests on the uplands at some distance from water and it is not until 
the young are hatched that they seek the edges of the pools and resume 
wader-like habits. 
Whether we can retain such a large and conspicuous bird in settled 
country remains to be seen; this rests largely with the popular feeling of 
the communities they inhabit. Much said on this subject under the head- 
ings Avocet, Godwit, and Willet applies equally well to the curlew. 
267. Whimbrel. le courlis corlieu. Phaeopus phaeopus. L, 17. A curlew 
much like the Hudsonian, but more heavily striped and with a white rump. Axillars 
barred, but with white and brown instead of buffy and brown. 
Distribution. Eastern Hemisphere. It has occurred, probably in territorial waters, 
near Sable Island, Nova Scotia. 
Figure 271 
Specific details of Hudsonian Curlew; scale, 
a, barred axillars; b, median crown stripe; 
c, profile of head; d, tooth-marked first primary. 
265. Hudsonian Curlew, le courlis hudsonien. Phaeopus hudsonicus. L, 17* 
A smaller curlew than the last, but a larger one than the next. A very large shore bird of 
general buffy colour with long, decurved bill. It varies considerably in over-all length, 
owing to growth of bill. Buffy below, creamy rather than pinkish, whitening on throat 
and face. Above, rather faded brown, more or less intermixed with the buffy of below. 
Brown barring the flanks and striping the breast up the neck to face. 
Distinctions. With the Eskimo Curlew superficially distinguished from the Long- 
billed by being more olivaceous than pinkish in general cast and more heavily striped on 
breast and throat. The Hudsonian Curlew has saw-tooth markings on the primaries like 
the Long-billed; barred axillars like the Eskimo, but with a pronounced light median 
crown stripe, absent in either of the others (Figure 271, compare with 270 and 272). This 
combination of characters is always determinative. A curlew with bill under 4 and over 
2 • 4 is likely to be this species. 
Field Marks. Large size, buffy colour, and long, decurved bill for a curlew. Owing to 
distribution not likely to be mistaken for any other species, as it does not occur commonly 
in Canada where Long-billed may be expected. It is, however, a smaller bird than that 
