. Birds of Britain . , and upper tail coverts white. In winter theunder parts are very pale in colour, almost white. Thefemale is larger and the young in their first plumage arespotted rather than streaked on the back. Length 21-26in.; bill 4-7-6 in.; wing H5-12-25 in. THE WHIMBREL Numenius pheopus (Linrueus) The Whimbrel only passes through these islands onmigration, though a few pairs breed on the Orkneys andShetlands. The spring passage generally takes place inMay, from which it is known in some countries as theMay-bird In habits and food it closely resembles theCurlew, but its note is very
. Birds of Britain . , and upper tail coverts white. In winter theunder parts are very pale in colour, almost white. Thefemale is larger and the young in their first plumage arespotted rather than streaked on the back. Length 21-26in.; bill 4-7-6 in.; wing H5-12-25 in. THE WHIMBREL Numenius pheopus (Linrueus) The Whimbrel only passes through these islands onmigration, though a few pairs breed on the Orkneys andShetlands. The spring passage generally takes place inMay, from which it is known in some countries as theMay-bird In habits and food it closely resembles theCurlew, but its note is very different, being a rather melodiousrippling whistle, which may be syllabled as telly, telly,telly, tet. The fells of Arctic Europe form its chief nesting-grounds, whence it migrates in winter to the shores of theMediterranean. In plumage it is very similar to the Curlew, but mayalways be distinguished by having the crown of a uniformdark brown with a pale stripe down the centre. It is also 348 CURLEWNumenius arquata. The Whimbrel a much smaller species. Length 175 in.; bill 34 in.;wing 10 in. THE ESKIMO CURLEW Numenius borealis (J. F. Forster) The home of this bird is in Arctic America, and someeight or nine examples have been procured in this country. In appearance it is rather like a small Whimbrel, but itmay be recognised by the absence of barring on the primaries,no white on the rump, transverse arrow-head markings onthe under parts, and the axillaries being chestnut barredwith brown. Length 14 in.; wing 8-25 in. THE BLACK TERN Hydrochelidon nigra (Linnaeus) Up till the middle of last century the Black Tern was aregular summer visitor to our shores, remaining to breed inthe fens and marshes of England. For the last forty years,however, it has only occurred on passage, the adult birdspassing through in April and May, and flocks in immatureplumage being found along the east coast in the the west of England and Scotland it is a very irregularvisitor, and the same ma
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