Color—Head, back of neck and back, dark brown, mottled with buff; throat and under parts, pale buff, the feathers on the breast being streaked with brown; axillars, reddish brown.
Nest and Eggs—The nest is usually made on the ground in tall grass and back some distance from the marsh. The eggs are about four and of an olive gray, spotted with brown.
Measurements—Total length, without the bill, which varies very much, about 20 inches; wing, 9 to 11; bill, from four to eight inches, and bent downwards, with nearly as much curve as a sickle; in most specimens the bill will be about six inches in length.
THE HUDSONIAN CURLEW
(Numenius hudsonicus)
The Hudsonian curlew, or jack curlew, by which name it is also known, is also a common visitor to our hunting grounds. It is often seen mixed with flocks of the preceding species, which leads many to suppose that they are the younger birds of that species. Unlike the long-billed, the Hudsonian curlew is not a resident species, or, at least, not to so great an extent, although it makes its appearance on our marshes quite early in the season, even as far south as central California. In markings the two species are almost identical, with the exception that the Hudsonian is somewhat paler in shade. Any doubt arising as to which species a specimen may belong can easily be settled by an examination of the axillar plumes. If a long-bill, these feathers will be a solid reddish-brown, but if a Hudsonian, they will be of a pale buff color barred with a dull-brown, the buff and brown being nearly of the same width. Both species become less common north of southern California during the late winter months.
Color—Same as the long-billed curlew, except that it is a little paler on the under parts, and the mottling shows more distinctly on the back. The axillars are pale buff, distinctly barred with light brown.
Nest and Eggs—The same as the long-billed curlew.
Measurements—Total length, including bill, which varies but little in this species, about 17 inches; wing, 9, and bill about 3 1/2 inches.