Game Birds and Game Fishes of the Pacific Coast Part 14

Order, LIMICOLAE

Family SCOLOPACIDAE.

Genus Species Common Names Range and Breeding Grounds ------------- --------------- ----------------- -------------------

{Wilson snipe {Throughout the { {marshes of the coast.

Gallinago delicata {Jack snipe {Breeds in the { {mountain valleys.

{Dowitcher {Along the fresh waters { {of the interior Macrorhamphus scolopaceus {Red-breasted {valleys. Breeds in { snipe {British Columbia { {and Alaska.

{ {From the Central {Red-backed {Mexican coast north.

Tringa pacifica {sandpiper {Breeds from { {Was.h.i.+ngton north.

{Marble G.o.dwit {Early and late { {migrant along the Limosa fedoa {Marlin {coast from Mexico {north. Breeds in {the far north.

{Early and late {migrant along the {coast, pa.s.sing the Tota.n.u.s melanoleucus Yellow-legs {winter in Southern {California and Mexico.

{Breeds in the mountain {valleys.

{semipalmata {From Mexico north.

Symphemia {inornata {Western Willet {Breeds throughout {its range.

{Early and late migrant.

{longirostris {Jack curlew {Winters in Southern { {California and Mexico.

{ {Breeds throughout its { {range.

{ Numenius { {Long-billed {Same habits as the { { curlew {long-billed and { { {usually found with it.

{hudsonicus { {But breeds farther {Hudsonian curlew {north.

[Ill.u.s.tration: HUDSONIAN CURLEW LONG-BILLED CURLEW (Numenius hudsonicus) (Numenius longirostris)]

THE LONG-BILLED CURLEW

(Numenius longirostris)

The long-billed curlew, or sickle bill as it is often called, is a plentiful resident in all suitable localities. The young birds mature early and find their way to the marshes during August, when the season for their killing should begin. At this time and even during the month of September they are quite palatable, but later they become strong in flavor. In these months they feed largely upon the seeds and insects to be found on the plains, but later they confine themselves princ.i.p.ally to the marshes. They breed near the mountain lakes and streams and even to considerable extent on the lower grounds. A glance at the accompanying ill.u.s.tration will be sufficient to enable the uninitiated to always know a curlew.

=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 gra.s.s 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Charadrius squatarola)]

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER

(Charadrous squaterola)

The largest of the family =Charadridae= is the black-bellied plover. In its plumage, both summer and winter, it closely resembles the golden plover, as the black on the sides of the head, front of neck, breast and abdomen disappear from both species in their winter plumage. But, notwithstanding this, they can easily be distinguished by the small rudimentary hind toe of the black-bellied species, the other having but three toes. A few specimens of the golden plover have been taken on the Coast, but it is of rare occurrence. The black-bellied plover is reasonably common along the coast line, but it is not seen to any great extent in the interior valleys.

=Color=--Upper plumage, dull brown, mottled with gray, the top of the head being somewhat darker; under parts, nearly white and the sides and breast streaked with brown. In the summer the throat and belly are black.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nest is usually made on the uplands, where four eggs are deposited of a pale olive, spotted with brown.

=Measurements=--Total length, 11 inches; wing, 7-1/2, and bill, 1-1/4 inches.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SNOWY PLOVER MOUNTAIN PLOVER RING-NECK PLOVER (AEgialitis nivosa) (AEgialitis montana) (AEgialitis semipalmata)]

THE MOUNTAIN PLOVER

(AEgialitis montana)

The mountain plover is very plentiful on the plains of southern California during the winter months. This little bird as a table delicacy is not surpa.s.sed by any of the long list of sh.o.r.e birds. In fact it is preferred by many to the far-famed jack snipe. It is an upland bird, feeding largely on insects, and rarely found near the marshes whether salt or fresh-water. In its winter plumage, as seen here, its underparts are white with the breast and upper parts of a brownish gray.

=Color=--Throat, breast and under parts, white; the rest of the plumage, light buffish gray; sometimes the breast will show a slight tinge of buff; axillars, white; bill, black. Three toes without web.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nests are placed on the uplands and contain three grayish eggs, spotted with brown.

=Measurements=--Total length, 8-3/4 inches; wing, 6, and bill, 9/10 of an inch.

THE SNOWY PLOVER

(AEgialitis nivosa)

The snowy plover is quite common from northern California to Mexico.

It is a small bird and, while it is hunted but little, its flesh is quite delicate. In its winter plumage it is much lighter in color than any of the others named.

=Color=--Top of head, back of neck and back, buffish gray; forehead and under parts, white; a patch of dull brown just above the white of the forehead, and another of the same color on each side of the throat. Three toes without web.

=Nest and Eggs=--The nests are found throughout its range; they are nothing more than a depression in the sand and contain four grayish buff eggs, spotted with black.