The eggs are greenish white, spotted and blotched with reddish brown. The young when first hatched are covered with reddish down, mottled with black and white.
In its winter dress the adult Dunlin is grey above and white below with a whitish bar across the extended wing. In spring the crown of the head is rufous, streaked with black. Mantle black, with broad rufous margins; the neck and throat white, streaked with black, breast black; belly white. The sexes are alike, the female being usually slightly the larger. Length about 7·5 in; bill 1·7 in.; wing 4·5 in. This species, however, varies greatly in size.
The young in autumn have the back nearly black, the feathers having narrow buff and rufous margins; the under parts are white, buff across the breast, and thickly spotted, especially on the lower breast, with black. The amount of spotting, however, as well as the colour of the breast, varies greatly in individuals.
A single example, the first to be recorded in Europe, of this American species, was shot in Kent on the 17th September 1907. In general appearance it resembles a Little Stint, but is rather paler and more sandy in colour, and may easily be recognised by its longer bill and partially webbed toes. Length 5·6 in.; bill 0·85 in.; wing 3·7 in.
This is an American species, and has recently been twice obtained in England.
In winter it closely resembles a Dunlin in general appearance, but is slightly streaked on the back. Its summer plumage is quite distinct. Length about 8 in.; wing 4·7 in.
This, the smallest of our shore-birds, is not a very common species. It occurs yearly on the autumn migration, along our eastern and southern coasts, but on the west it is very irregular in its appearance and decidedly rare. Its breeding-grounds are the tundras of Northern Europe, though it is decidedly scarce as a breeding species in the north-west; it winters in the tropical regions of the Old World.
In its habits and food it closely resembles the Dunlin, but its much smaller size enables it to be easily recognised.
In plumage it is practically a miniature Dunlin, but it lacks the black on the breast, which in the breeding plumage has a reddish tinge. Length 6 in.; bill 0·7 in.; wing 3·55 in.
This species has occurred in this country on two or three occasions. It is practically the counterpart of our species and can only be distinguished by its rather smaller size and darker colour. Length 5·25 in.; wing 3·5 in.
Although nesting much nearer to our shores than the Little Stint, this species is a very rare and irregular visitor to this country. It breeds commonly in Norway as far south as Trondhjem and eastwards across Russia beyond the limit of tree growth. In winter it migrates eastwards as far as India.
In appearance it is not unlike a very small Common Sandpiper, whereas the Little Stint resembles a small Dunlin. It may, however, be further recognised by the shaft of the outer primary being nearly white, and the two outer tail feathers being quite white. Length 5·75 in.; bill 0·6 in.; wing 3·8 in.
This bird arrives on our shores from the middle of August onwards, leaving us again in October, and a few are met with on the return journey in May. Although by no means as numerous as many other shore-frequenting migrants, it is not uncommon on certain parts of the coast, especially on the east and south, but is much rarer in the west. It may be recognised by its white rump and by the partially decurved bill, to which it owes its trivial name.
There is nothing to specially distinguish it in habits from the other species of Waders, and it will generally be found associating with Dunlins.
The breeding-grounds are in Arctic Siberia east of the Yenesei, and it winters in the tropical regions of the Old World.
In autumn the adult is brownish grey on the upper parts, white on the rump and under parts. The young birds may be recognised by the light margins to the feathers of the back and a buffish tint on the chest. In the spring plumage the upper parts are chestnut, streaked with black and grey. The under parts are chestnut, sometimes barred or spotted with brown, the feathers having white margins. Length 8 in.; bill 1·4 in.; wing 5·1 in.
The Purple Sandpiper is a winter resident on our rocky shores, and if somewhat local is nevertheless well distributed wherever suitable localities are found.
It has not yet been known to breed within the British area, but it is not unlikely that further investigation may prove that it does so on the Shetlands. Its nearest authenticated breeding-ground is on the Faroes; it breeds also in the north of Norway, Iceland, Greenland, and other circumpolar islands westward to Arctic America, but there is no evidence of its nesting in Siberia. The nest is placed on the sea-shore or on rocky fells near the margin of a lake, and the eggs are usually pale greenish buff, with reddish-brown markings. Both sexes incubate, and the male takes chief care of the brood; if disturbed after the young are hatched, the parent runs about in evident distress, and looks in the low scrub more like a rat than a bird. Their diet consists of insects, crustacea, and other living food, which may be found among the sea-weed growing on rocks; and the most exposed situations are visited as soon as the tide has uncovered the weed.
In summer the adult has the upper parts dark brownish grey, the feathers being spotted with rufous and tipped with whitish. The under parts from the chin to the breast dark grey, with brownish streaks; belly and flanks white, the latter spotted with brown. Three inner secondaries white, showing up conspicuously in flight. In winter the upper parts have a purplish gloss, and the breast is brown, with indistinct mottlings. The young have light margins to the feathers. Length 8·57 in.; bill 1·1 in.; wing 5 in.
The short legs give this bird a “squat” appearance and generally afford a clue to its identity.
In autumn numbers of this species visit our shores, where for a few weeks it is one of the commonest birds, being found on all our coasts except in the west of Scotland. Large numbers leave us again after a few weeks’ sojourn, but a fair number remain with us in wide estuaries or sheltered bays throughout the winter. A return migration takes place in spring, the birds being then in the full red plumage of the breeding season; but these soon pass on and only a few weakly and non-breeding birds are left with us during the summer.
For a long time the breeding home of this bird was unknown, and even though it was discovered breeding over thirty years ago, it is only within the last four or five years that authentic eggs have been obtained and brought home from East Siberia. Its chief breeding-grounds are the Arctic regions of North America and the north of Greenland, and in winter it is found down both sides of the Atlantic.
In its food and habits it does not differ from its congeners, with whom it may often be found associating.
In winter the adult is grey on the upper parts and white below, with a few greyish flecks or bars on the upper breast. The young bird is browner, with light margins to the feathers of the back, the breast pale buff pink, with a few grey flecks. In nuptial plumage the head and neck are reddish brown, streaked with black; upper parts black, the feathers having marginal spots of chestnut and white tips; under parts chestnut, spotted with black; vent and flanks whitish, mottled with black. Length 10 in.; bill 1·5 in.; wing 6·5 in.
From its habit of frequenting sandy stretches along our shores, and less frequently near inland lakes, this species has gained its trivial name. To this country it is only a migrant, young birds arriving from their northerly breeding-grounds as early as the middle of August; the old birds follow a week or so later, many of them still retaining traces of the nuptial plumage. They stay with us only a short time, and early in October the majority have left us to winter on the shores of the Mediterranean, very few remaining behind. In May the return migration commences, but they only stay for a very short time to rest and then continue their journey to the Far North.
Their food consists entirely of marine insects, sand-hoppers, and other crustacea, but at their summer-quarters large quantities of the northern saxifrage are consumed. It is very tame, allowing a close approach as it runs about on the sand, and appears conspicuously white among the Dunlins and other shore-birds with which it consorts. The note is a sharp “wick.”
Its breeding range is entirely circumpolar, and the eggs are greenish, spotted with brown, not unlike miniature Curlew’s.
In its winter plumage, in which it is most commonly met with in this country, the upper parts are pale grey and the under parts white. In its spring plumage the feathers of the back are black, with rufous margins; the chin, throat, and breast chestnut, with a few dark brown spots; vent white. In autumn the rufous edgings on the back of the old birds have almost entirely worn away. Length 8 in.; bill 0·9 in.; wing 4·7 in.
This species may always be distinguished by the absence of the hind toe.
In autumn the young have the back black, spotted with white; the under parts white, with traces of buff on the sides of the breast.
Formerly this species used to be a regular summer migrant to our shores, breeding in the fen countries and other suitable places, but now, although a few birds visit this country in spring, and possibly a few may still breed, it is only as an autumn visitor that it will be generally found. Even on passage it can hardly be called common, but on our east and south coasts a good many pass through, halting merely for a few days. On the west and in Ireland it is decidedly rare and irregular in its appearances.
This species differs in its nesting habits from all other Waders. The males, who don a special showy ruff in spring, meet at their breeding-quarters on some raised mound and display their finery to the hens. Apparently they are very pugnacious, as they will often jump up and peck at another male, using their feet also after the manner of a gallinaceous bird, but on close observation it will be seen to be all “show,” and we have never seen a proper fight between two males. On the arrival of a female the males spread out their ruff and remain motionless in front of her, and as she moves away they will jump up, and quivering with suppressed excitement again display their charms, to which she is apparently quite indifferent. Although said to be polygamous, the question is still open to doubt; from among her many admirers the female chooses one, and observations, so far as they go, seem to show that she only pairs with one male. A male, unless chosen, never pursues the female or interferes with her in any way, but trusts merely in his external beauty to attract her attention.
The nest is placed among rough herbage in a fairly damp place. It is a deep cup, well lined with grass and bents. The eggs, usually four but often three in number, are greyish green, blotched and spotted with various shades of brown. Except during the actual pairing the male takes no part in the housekeeping, and when the females are sitting the males may be seen together in flocks. In food and other habits this species resembles the majority of Waders.
In winter the sexes are alike, except that the male is very much larger than the female. The upper parts are of a uniform brownish, and the under parts brownish grey, with white margins to the feathers; belly white. The young resemble the adults but are darker on the back, the feathers of which have rufous or buff margins. The neck and breast are of a pale pinkish buff.
In spring, the male grows a long ruff on the neck and upper breast as well as a backwardly directed ear tuft on each side of the head. This ruff can be raised or depressed at will, and is of a variety of colours, hardly any two being exactly alike. The face also becomes covered with a mass of warty carbuncles. The feathers of the back and flanks are black, mottled, spotted, or barred with chestnut. The female has no ruff, but becomes darker on the back and breast. Length of male 12·5 in.; bill 1·5 in.; wing 7·25 in.: of female 10 in.; wing 6 in.
Several examples of this American species have been obtained on our shores. This bird is somewhat like the preceding species although much smaller, but it may always be recognised by the black markings on both sides of the inner webs of the primaries and secondaries. Length 8 in.; bill 0·9 in.; wing 5·25 in.
This is another North American species, of which some eight or ten examples have been procured in this country.
Its general colour is pale tawny buff, barred and mottled with blackish. For a Sandpiper its tail is distinctly long and barred. Length 11·5 in.; bill 1·2 in.; wing 6·6 in.
[We may note here that the Sandpipers we have hitherto been dealing with have had the tail plain, whereas in the remaining ones, which belong to the genus Totanus, the tail is barred.]
This inland species, which is a summer migrant to our islands, is common and well distributed along the margins of lakes and on the gravel shores of streams and rivers. In the south and east, where suitable localities are scarce, it only occurs on migration, but elsewhere it breeds regularly.
The note is a plaintive “wheet, wheet, wheet,” generally uttered on the wing. It is a very pleasing bird in its actions, running along the margin of the water and moving its body with a peculiar and delicate see-saw motion. When flying it remains fairly low down and follows the course of the stream, generally keeping over the water. Its food consists of worms, flies, and insects. The nest is placed on the ground, usually near the margin of some water, or on a rocky or gravel islet. The spot chosen is sometimes quite bare, or at other times thickly overgrown with brambles and rough vegetation. For a wading-bird it constructs a fairly substantial nest of grass and leaves, etc., and the eggs are of a pale clay buff, spotted with brown. The young when first hatched are greyish green with longitudinal dark stripes.
In August or early in September they begin to leave their summer-quarters and may then often be found in the salt marshes and on tidal ditches near the shore, but they do not remain there long, and by October they have all left, with the possible exception of a few stragglers that spend the winter in some of the south-western counties.
In summer the upper parts are bronzy brown, irregularly barred and flecked with blackish; sides of the neck and breast grey, with dusky streaks; rest of under parts white. In autumn the upper parts are uniformly brown, or nearly so, and the under parts lighter and with fewer streaks. The young have buff margins to the feathers of the back and lack the dark streaks on the throat. Length 8 in.; bill 1 in.; wing 4·25 in.
This American species has been recorded on several occasions in these islands. It is closely allied to the Common Sandpiper and resembles it in plumage, but in the spring dress it is more spotted on the under parts, and in autumn it is greyer above, and lacks the bronzy tint of our native bird. All the secondaries are barred with ash brown, whereas in the Common Sandpipers the eighth and ninth are nearly white. Length 7 in.; wing 4·2 in.
This species is a regular but somewhat scarce visitor to our shores on migration. In Ireland and the west it is extremely rare, but in the south-east corner of England it occurs in small numbers yearly, especially in autumn. Formerly a few pairs used to nest in one or two suitable localities, but they have long ceased to do so. In the west of Europe it does not breed south of the Baltic, but in the east it breeds in the valley of the Danube and also possibly in Northern Italy.
The nest is placed on the ground in a marshy spot, and when they have eggs or young the birds are extremely noisy if their haunts are invaded. In this country it is generally found on salt marshes near the sea and very rarely inland.
The sexes are alike: the back brown, spotted with white; upper tail coverts white; shafts of the quills dusky, except that of the outermost one, which is white. Under parts white, streaked with brown on the throat and breast, the flanks being barred with the same colour. Axillaries white. The young bird is similar, but the white spots are larger and more elongated, and the outer tail feathers are barred on both webs instead of on the outer one only. Length 8·5 in.; bill 1·1 in.; wing 5 in.
This is a much commoner species than the last, and haunts inland streams, especially in the neighbourhood of trees and woods. It is most numerous during the autumn migration, but many pass the winter with us, and it has been suspected of breeding on more than one occasion, but positive proof of this has not been forthcoming.
In the north and west of Scotland it is scarce, but otherwise it is widely distributed throughout the country. On the Continent it nests in marshy woods from the Arctic Circle southwards to Central Russia, Poland, and East Germany, its migrations extending to Africa in the winter.
In its nesting habits it differs from all others Sandpipers, for it lays its eggs in the deserted nest of some other bird, generally that of a Thrush, Blackbird, or Jay. The eggs are greenish grey, with small brownish spots. Its food consists of worms and insects.
In plumage it very closely resembles the preceding species, but the back is darker and the spots much more minute. It may, however, always be distinguished by the dusky shaft of the outermost primary and the brownish black axillaries. In young birds the spots on the back are less plentiful and of a more buffish tint. Length 9·5 in.; wing 5·5 in.
This is an American species, which, like so many of its New World congeners, has occasionally and at long intervals straggled to these islands.
Its nearest ally is the preceding species, from which it may be recognised by having all the tail feathers, except the central pair, boldly barred with black. Length 8·25 in.; wing 5·2 in.
Two examples of this American species have been obtained, the first near Nottingham and the second at Marazion in Cornwall.
In general appearance it is not unlike a young Redshank, but the legs are longer and more slender, and the axillaries are barred and not white. Length 10·75 in.; wing 6 in.
A solitary example of this species was shot on the 16th September 1906 at Tresco in the Scilly Islands. It is an American species and is not unlike a very large Redshank, but the legs are longer in proportion and yellow in colour. Length 12·15 in.; bill 2 in.; wing 8 in.
The Redshank is a common breeding species in suitable localities throughout our islands.
In winter it occurs abundantly round all our coasts and causes much annoyance to shooters from its habit of flying up on the least alarm and warning all the other less wary fowl, with its shrill “tui too too.”
The nest is usually situated on some inland marsh or low-lying grass field intersected with ditches. It is a very slight structure of grass and bents well concealed in a tussock of grass or tuft of rushes. The four eggs are of a pale stone colour, mottled and blotched with rich reddish brown. During the nesting season this bird becomes very noisy, and if the nesting site be approached, especially after the young are hatched, they fly round the intruder or sit on some bank, calling out vigorously all the time. It is a most interesting sight to take a sporting dog to where they have young and watch the way in which time after time these birds will decoy the dog away by fluttering under his very nose until they have led him to what they consider a safe distance, when they will spring in the air and with a cheery note return to their brood. This habit is common to many species and orders of ground-nesting birds, but unless we take a keen hunting dog with us we shall fail to realise what an excellent device it is for safeguarding the young from mammalian vermin. The food and habits of this species call for no special comment, as it does not greatly differ from its congeners.
In winter the adult is greyish brown on the back; secondaries nearly white; rump and under parts white, with a few dark streaks on the neck and breast. Bill black with a red tip; legs red.
In summer the upper parts are yellowish brown barred and spotted with blackish, the under parts white, profusely streaked on the neck and sides of the breast with ash brown, the flanks being barred with the same colour. Length 11 in.; bill 1·8; wing 6·25 in.
The female resembles the male, and the young may be recognised by the feathers of the mantle having buff spots and the legs being yellow.
The white secondaries are very conspicuous in flight.
The Spotted Redshank is a rare migrant on both the spring and autumn migrations. In Scotland, Ireland, and the west of England it is almost unknown, but in the eastern counties a few probably occur every year on passage, but their stay is of such short duration that they are often unnoticed.
It breeds in the north of Scandinavia and Russia, laying its eggs in very dry situations at a considerable distance from its marshy feeding-ground. The young are, however, taken to the marsh as soon as they are hatched.
In summer the male has the upper parts black mottled with white, except the rump, and upper tail coverts, which are white, barred with black. Under parts black. Bill black, red at base of lower mandible; legs and feet deep red. The female at this season often has a white chin. In autumn the upper parts and neck are ashy brown mottled with white; under parts white. The young differ from the autumn plumage of the adults in having the chin white and the rest of the under parts thickly barred with ash brown. Length 13 in.; wing 6·6 in. This species lacks the white wing bar.
REDSHANK
Totanus calidris
Adult, summer (right)
SPOTTED REDSHANK
Totanus fuscus (Linnæus)
Young in autumn (left)
In a few places in Scotland where large tracts of pine forest exist some small boggy swamps varying in size from two or three acres to perhaps half an acre, may be found situated in the midst of the woods. These swamps form the summer home of the few Greenshanks that nest with us. The eggs are placed on a tussock in the centre of one of these bogs, so that to reach them is by no means an easy matter, and so cunning are these birds that they are seldom seen feeding on the swamp where they nest, but prefer to dine elsewhere. The eggs are generally of a light stone colour, boldly blotched and marked with darker brown. As soon as the young are hatched the parents remain in constant attendance, and should any one disturb the peace of their solitude, fly round, calling out incessantly. Amid such surroundings, therefore, be it in Scotland, Sweden, Finland, or elsewhere, the Greenshank is born, but as soon as he is able to fly at about five weeks old he departs with his parents for the nearest sea-shore where the mud-flats exposed at each tide afford him abundant nourishment. He is a wild and restless bird, and continually utters his clear “tui-tui” when on the wing. As a rule he is more partial to ditches filled and emptied at every tide than a broad flat expanse of mud, and by walking quickly along a ditch he may often be closely approached and watched as he probes the soft ooze for worms, shrimps, sand-hoppers, or anything that may come handy. At the least sign of danger, however, he is off, calling out as he rises and displaying a very conspicuous white rump. Although liking to associate with others of his kind, his wild flight soon breaks up the family party, so that by the time he reaches our shores in August and September it is generally in twos and threes. The abundance of food on the shore has not been without its effect, and he is at this time of year exceedingly fat, doubtless a wise provision, as both old and young are moulting and migrating, which must be a serious tax on their system. They stay but a short time with us, and by the beginning of October the last of them has gone and their ringing “tui-tui” no longer enlivens the shore. In April they will return, but they are then anxious to reach their summer home, and brief as is their passage in autumn it is still shorter in spring, and if we wish to see them then it must be at their home in Scotland or farther north.
In summer the back is nearly black, each feather being margined with white; rump white; head white streaked with dark brown. Under parts white with a few blackish streaks on the throat and upper breast. In winter the back is greyer and the under parts are pure white. The sexes are alike. The young are browner on the back, and have buffish margins to the feathers. Length 14 in.; wing 7·25 in.
Some half-dozen examples of this American species have been met with in England, all of them during the autumn months.
At this time of year, except in size, it resembles a Dunlin; but in spring the under parts are chestnut, spotted on the breast, and barred on the flanks with dark brown. The feathers of the back are black, edged and barred with rufous. Rump and upper tail coverts white barred with black. The shaft of the outermost primary is pure white. Length 10 in.; wing 5·5 in.
On migration this species visits us in fair numbers, being found on low sandy shores and sheltered estuaries. A few remain throughout the winter, but by far the larger number pass on to Africa after a short sojourn. In May there is a return migration, especially along the east coast, the birds being then in full nuptial plumage.
It breeds in the northern portions of Europe, and in winter it is found throughout Southern Europe as well as in Africa. The note is a loud “louey, louey.”
In autumn the sexes are alike, and the general colour is brownish grey above and white below. The tail feathers are brown with no bars, but the tail coverts are barred at all seasons.
The young have a shorter beak than the adults, and are brown chequered with buffish above and dull buff below. The tail feathers are broadly barred.
In spring the male has the back blackish with tawny markings, the head and neck chestnut with dark streaks. Whole of the under parts deep chestnut, the sides of the breast spotted with brownish black. Rump white. Tail whitish with brown bars. Length 15·5 in.; bill 2·25 in.; wing 8 in. The female is much larger and has very little of the ruddy tint.
During the first half of last century this species used to nest in small but diminishing numbers in the fens and marshes of Lincolnshire and East Anglia. It is now only met with on passage, and even at such times it is by no means common, and in Scotland and Ireland it is scarce and its visits very irregular. On the Continent it breeds in South Scandinavia, Central Russia, Poland, North Germany, Denmark, and Holland, migrating during August to the Mediterranean basin.
Their food consists of insects and worms, which in this country are chiefly sought for in marshes near the shore. In the autumn plumage the general colour is ash brown above and greyish below. There is a conspicuous white wing bar, and the tail feathers are mostly black with white bases. In spring they have the mantle brown, mottled with black; head, neck and breast pale chestnut, the latter being barred with black. The female is considerably larger and rather duller than the male. The young in their first autumn resemble their parents, but have the neck and upper breast tinged with buff. Length 16 in.; wing 9 in.
The Curlew is an abundant resident throughout the United Kingdom. In the winter it is essentially a shore-bird, moving about in large flocks, which may be found in the meadows and pasture-lands near the coast; these flocks journey to the shore twice daily to feed on the mud or rocks left bare by the ebbing tide. In April it leaves the coast to nest on the heath-covered moors, and though it breeds in larger numbers in Scotland it is well distributed in the north and west of England and Ireland.
The nest is a shallow “scrape” with hardly any lining, and is placed among the heather or in a grass field. The four eggs are very pyriform in shape and are olive green in colour blotched with brown; the duties of incubation are undertaken by both sexes. It is extremely wary, rising on wing at the least alarm and calling out its loud “cour lie,” which may be heard a considerable way off. Its food consists of worms, slugs, snails, and other insects, and when on the shore, small fish and crustacea are added to the bill of fare.
The general colour is a pale brown, with dark streaks; rump, vent, and upper tail coverts white. In winter the under parts are very pale in colour, almost white. The female is larger and the young in their first plumage are spotted rather than streaked on the back. Length 21-26 in.; bill 4·7-6 in.; wing 11·5-12·25 in.
The Whimbrel only passes through these islands on migration, though a few pairs breed on the Orkneys and Shetlands. The spring passage generally takes place in May, from which it is known in some countries as the May-bird. In habits and food it closely resembles the Curlew, but its note is very different, being a rather melodious rippling 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 the Mediterranean.
In plumage it is very similar to the Curlew, but may always be distinguished by having the crown of a uniform dark brown with a pale stripe down the centre. It is also a much smaller species. Length 17·5 in.; bill 3·4 in.; wing 10 in.
CURLEW
Numenius arquata
The home of this bird is in Arctic America, and some eight or nine examples have been procured in this country.
In appearance it is rather like a small Whimbrel, but it may be recognised by the absence of barring on the primaries, no white on the rump, transverse arrow-head markings on the under parts, and the axillaries being chestnut barred with brown. Length 14 in.; wing 8·25 in.
Up till the middle of last century the Black Tern was a regular summer visitor to our shores, remaining to breed in the fens and marshes of England. For the last forty years, however, it has only occurred on passage, the adult birds passing through in April and May, and flocks in immature plumage being found along the east coast in the autumn. To the west of England and Scotland it is a very irregular visitor, and the same may be said of Ireland.
It nests in colonies on inland marshes, the nest being an accumulation of decaying vegetation floating on the surface of the water. The eggs, three in number, are olive green blotched with dark brown. Its food consists largely of aquatic insects and their larvæ, dragon-flies and such like, but it also feeds readily on small fish.
South of the Baltic it breeds in suitable localities throughout Europe, migrating from its more northerly summer quarters to Africa.
The adult in summer has the head, neck, and under parts dark greyish black, the rest of the plumage slate grey, except the vent and under tail coverts, which are white. Bill black. In winter the forehead, nape, chin, throat, and under parts are white. The young resemble the adults in winter, but the upper tail coverts are lighter and the back and wing coverts are greyish mottled with brown. Length 10 in.; wing 8·5 in.
This species, which is nearly allied to the preceding, breeds in the marshes of Central and South-eastern Europe. It is a very scarce and irregular visitor to our eastern and south-eastern shores, especially in spring.
In habits it resembles the Black Tern, from which it may be distinguished in summer by its red bill, white tail and tail coverts, and whitish wing coverts. The young may be distinguished from those of H. nigra by their longer toes and much paler rump and tail. Length 9·5 in.; wing 8·25 in.
This is a more southern species than its congeners, breeding in Spain, on the delta of the Rhone, and eastwards in Turkey, Greece, and South Russia. To our shores it is a very rare visitor, some half-a-dozen specimens only having been obtained.
In summer it is not unlike the Black Tern, but it may be recognised by the bill, which is stouter and red; the black of the head and nape is sharply contrasted with the grey of the back. A broad white stripe runs backwards from the base of the bill. Chin and throat grey, shading to black on the belly. In winter the forehead and under parts are white. Length 11·5 in.; wing 9·25 in.
With this species we come to the true Terns or Sea-Swallows, the preceding species being known as Marsh Terns. The Gull-billed Tern is only a very scarce straggler to our shores, being a southern European species though occurring yearly as far north as Denmark.
In habits there is nothing to distinguish it from our commoner species.
In summer the adult has the whole of the upper parts, including the tail, pearl grey; head and nape dense velvety black; primaries blackish. Under parts pure white; bill and legs black. In winter the head is white streaked with black. Length 15·5 in.; wing 13 in.
This large Tern is, like the preceding, only a rare straggler to our shores. It nests in Denmark and various islands on the Baltic, as well as in the Mediterranean basin eastwards to the Aralo-Caspian area.
Plumage much as in preceding species, but the tail nearly white. Bill vermilion red; legs black. Length 20 in.; wing 16 in.
This species arrives on our coasts about the middle of April and at once repairs to its breeding-stations. In England these are very few in number and mostly in the north, but occurring equally on the east and west coasts. In Scotland the colonies are rather more numerous, while Ireland can only boast of one in the north.
It nests on the bare shingle, the nests being usually placed quite close to each other. Two or three eggs of a pale stone colour, spotted and blotched with reddish brown and black, form the clutch.
Like all Terns, this bird is a powerful flier, and seizes the fish on which it feeds by plunging into the water with considerable force. Its note is a loud and harsh “kirhitt,” which may be heard some way off and often enables this species to be detected when among other Terns. It leaves our shores as soon as the young are well on the wing, and though a few stragglers may occur on the coast during the autumn it is by no means a common species, and needs all the protection it can get, if it is to remain an annual summer visitor to our shores.
The adult male in summer has the crown of the head black; the rest of the upper parts pearl grey; rump, tail, and under parts white, the breast being suffused with a delicate rose tint which soon fades after death. Bill black with a yellow tip. Legs black. The female is similar but slightly smaller. In autumn the back of the head and nape are white, the latter being lightly mottled. In the young the head is white mottled with black. The feathers of the back and wing coverts have black and brownish crescentic markings and white tips. The tail is also marked with angular lines of black, the outer feather being almost entirely greyish. Length 16 in.; bill 2·5 in.; wing 12 in.
This Tern still nests in small numbers round our shores, but it is extremely scarce and somewhat erratic in its choice of breeding-quarters, which often vary from year to year. It arrives very late in May, and leaves our shores as soon as the young can fly, so that it is not often met with on migration. It breeds sparingly on the coast of France, but its chief breeding-quarters are along the Atlantic coast of the United States.
In general habits it resembles its congeners, but it is an exclusively sea Tern, obtaining most of its food some distance out at sea.
In plumage it is almost indistinguishable from the two following species, but it may be recognised at all ages by the white inner margins to the primaries reaching the tip and even some little way up the outer web. The bill in the breeding season is black; legs and feet red. Length 15·5 in.; wing 9 in.
This species arrives in May and nests in colonies round the whole of the coast as well as on some inland waters. In England it is the commonest Tern, but in Scotland and Ireland the Arctic Tern is almost if not quite as numerous, and both species may often be found nesting on the same island or beach.
Its food consists of small fish and crustacea, which it catches after the manner of all Terns by dropping down on them with closed wings from a moderate height.
COMMON TERN
Sterna fluviatilis
Summer. Young flying
They nest in colonies on rocks, shingle beaches, or near the margins of large inland waters, and very little attempt at a nest is made, though this species almost invariably gathers a few bents together. The eggs are usually three in number, often only two, and are very variable in colour, being as a rule greenish or stone buff, with brown and grey spots and markings.
The note is a sharp “kik-kik,” but during the nesting season they utter a loud “ee-arre,” which is rather characteristic of this species.
The young are covered with pale brown down mottled with black, and leave the nest as soon as they are hatched, but they remain near the spot until they are fully fledged and well able to fly, as they are during that period entirely dependent on their parents for food.
Soon after the young can fly, old and young gradually disperse along the coast, slowly working southwards till by the beginning of October the last straggler has left for its winter quarters in Africa.
In summer the adult has the crown of the head and nape black, the rest of the back pearl-grey; rump white; tail feathers white with greyish outer webs. Under parts white tinged with grey. Bill orange red with horn-coloured tip; legs coral red. The sexes are alike. In winter the forehead is sprinkled with white and the under parts nearly pure white. The young in its first plumage has the head white; spotted with blackish brown, the feathers of the back pale pearl-grey barred with buff or brown and tipped with white; by late autumn, however, the back is pure grey with the exception of a dark band along the carpal joint. Bill and legs yellowish. Length 14·25 in.; bill 1·7 in.; tail 6·5 in.; wing 10·5 in.