British Birds

Part 1

PLATE I. GOLDEN EAGLE. ⅙ NAT. SIZE.]

BRITISH BIRDS

W. H. HUDSON, C.M.Z.S.

WITH A CHAPTER ON STRUCTURE AND CLASSIFICATION BY FRANK E. BEDDARD, F.R.S.

With 8 Coloured Plates from Original Drawings by A. Thorburn and 8 Plates and 100 Figures in black and white from Original Drawings by G. E. Lodge and 3 Illustrations from Photographs from Nature by R. B. Lodge

NEW IMPRESSION

LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON FOURTH AVENUE & 30TH STREET, NEW YORK BOMBAY, CALCUTTA, AND MADRAS 1921

All rights reserved

CONTENTS.

PAGE

THE ANATOMY OF A BIRD 1

CLASSIFICATION 34

Order PASSERES.

MISSEL-THRUSH. Turdus viscivorus 39

SONG-THRUSH. Turdus musicus 41

REDWING. Turdus iliacus 45

FIELDFARE. Turdus pilaris 46

Black-throated Thrush. Turdus atrigularis 52

White’s Thrush. Turdus varius 52

BLACKBIRD. Turdus merula 49

RING-OUZEL. Turdus torquatus 50

Rock-Thrush. Monticola saxatilis 52

WHEATEAR. Saxicola œnanthe 52

Black-throated Wheatear. Saxicola strapazina 54

Desert Wheatear. Saxicola deserti 54

WHINCHAT. Pratincola rubetra 54

STONECHAT. Pratincola rubicola 56

REDSTART. Ruticilla phœnicurus 57

Part 2

Black Redstart. Ruticilla titys 59

White-spotted Bluethroat. CYANECULA WOLFI 59

Red-spotted Bluethroat. Cyanecula suecica 59

REDBREAST. Erithacus rubecula 59

NIGHTINGALE. Daulias luscinia 62

WHITETHROAT. Sylvia cinerea 64

LESSER WHITETHROAT. Sylvia curruca 66

Orphean Warbler. Sylvia orphea 70

BLACKCAP. Sylvia atricapilla 67

GARDEN WARBLER. Sylvia hortensis 69

Barred Warbler. Sylvia nisoria 70

DARTFORD WARBLER. Melizophilus undatus 70

GOLDCREST. Regulus cristatus 72

Firecrest. Regulus ignicapillus 74

Yellow-browed Warbler. Phylloscopus superciliosus 79

CHIFFCHAFF. Phylloscopus rufus 74

WILLOW-WREN. Phylloscopus trochilus 76

WOOD-WREN. Phylloscopus sibilatrix 78

Icterine Warbler. Hypolaïs icterina 79

Rufous Warbler. Aëdon galectodes 79

REED-WARBLER. Acrocephalus streperus 79

Marsh-Warbler. Acrocephalus palustris 82

Great Reed-Warbler. Acrocephalus turdoïdes 82

Aquatic Warbler. Acrocephalus aquaticus 82

SEDGE-WARBLER. Acrocephalus phragmitis 80

GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. Locustella nævia 82

Savi’s Warbler. Locustella luscinioïdes 84

HEDGE-SPARROW. Accentor modularis 84

Part 3

Alpine Accentor. Accentor collaris 85

DIPPER. Cinclus aquaticus 86

Black-bellied Dipper. Cinclus melanogaster 88

BEARDED TITMOUSE. Panurus biamicus 89

Long-tailed Titmouse. Acredula caudata 90

LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. Acredula rosea 92

GREAT TITMOUSE. Parus major 92

Coal-Titmouse (Continental). Parus ater 94

COAL-TITMOUSE. Parus britannicus 94

MARSH TITMOUSE. Parus palustris 96

BLUE TITMOUSE. Parus cæruleus 97

CRESTED TITMOUSE. Parus cristatus 98

NUTHATCH. Sitta cæsia 99

WREN. Troglodytes parvulus 101

White Wagtail. Motacilla alba 108

PIED WAGTAIL. Motacilla lugubris 104

GREY WAGTAIL. Motacilla melanope 105

Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail. Motacilla flava 108

YELLOW WAGTAIL. Motacilla rayii 107

MEADOW-PIPIT. Anthus pratensis 108

TREE-PIPIT. Anthus trivialis 110

Tawny Pipit. Anthus campestris 113

Richard’s Pipit. Anthus richardi 113

Water Pipit. Anthus spipoletta 113

ROCK-PIPIT. Anthus obscurus 112

Golden Oriole. Oriolus galbulus 114

Great Grey Shrike. Lanius excubitor 116

Pallas’s Great Grey Shrike. Lanius major 116

Part 4

Lesser Grey Shrike. Lanius minor 116

RED-BACKED SHRIKE. Lanius collurio 114

Woodchat. Lanius pomeranus 116

Waxwing. Ampelis garrulus 114

SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. Muscicapa grisola 116

PIED FLYCATCHER. Muscicapa atricapilla 118

Red-breasted Flycatcher. Muscicapa parva 118

SWALLOW. Hirundo rustica 118

MARTIN. Chelidon urbica 121

SAND-MARTIN. Cotile riparia 122

TREE-CREEPER. Certhia familiaris 124

GOLDFINCH. Carduelis elegans 126

SISKIN. Chrysometris spinus 127

Serin. Serinus hortulanus 128

GREENFINCH. Ligurinus chloris 128

HAWFINCH. Coccothraustes vulgaris 130

HOUSE-SPARROW. Passer domesticus 132

TREE-SPARROW. Passer montanus 133

CHAFFINCH. Fringilla cœlebs 134

BRAMBLING. Fringilla montifringilla 137

LINNET. Linota cannabina 138

Mealy Redpoll. Linota linaria 140

LESSER REDPOLL. Linota rufescens 139

Greenland Redpoll. Linota hornemanni 140

TWITE. Linota flavirostris 141

Rosy Bullfinch. Carpodacus erythrinus 144

BULLFINCH. Pyrrhula europæa 142

Pine Grossbeak. Pinicola enucleator 144

Part 5

Parrot Crossbill. Loxia pittyopsittacus 145

CROSSBILL. Loxia curvirostra 144

White-winged Crossbill. Loxia leucoptera 145

Two-barred Crossbill. Loxia bifasciata 145

Black-headed Bunting. Emberiza melanocephala 154

CORN-BUNTING. Emberiza miliaria 146

YELLOWHAMMER. Emberiza citrinella 148

CIRL BUNTING. Emberiza cirlus 150

Ortolan Bunting. Emberiza hortulana 154

Rustic Bunting. Emberiza rustica 154

Little Bunting. Emberiza pusilla 154

REED-BUNTING. Emberiza schœniclus 151

Lapland Bunting. Calcarius lapponica 154

SNOW-BUNTING. Plectrophanes nivalis 152

STARLING. Sturnus vulgaris 154

Rose-coloured Pastor. Pastor roseus 156

CHOUGH. Pyrrhocorax graculus 157

Nutcracker. Nucifraga caryocatactes 174

JAY. Garrulus glandarius 158

MAGPIE. Pica rustica 160

JACKDAW. Corvus monedula 163

CARRION CROW. Corvus corone 166

HOODED CROW. Corvus cornix 167

ROOK. Corvus frugilegus 168

RAVEN. Corvus corax 172

SKYLARK. Alauda arvensis 174

WOODLARK. Alauda arborea 176

Crested Lark. Alauda cristata 178

Part 6

Short-toed Lark. Calendrella brachydactyla 178

White-winged Lark. Melanocorypha sibirica 178

Shore Lark. Otocorys alpestris 178

Order PICARIÆ.

SWIFT. Cypselus apus 178

White-bellied Swift. Cypselus melba 179

Needle-tailed Swift. Acanthyllis caudacuta 179

NIGHTJAR. Caprimulgus europæus 179

Red-necked Nightjar. Caprimulgus ruficollis 181

Egyptian Nightjar. Caprimulgus ægyptius 181

SPOTTED WOODPECKER. Dendrocopus major 181

BARRED WOODPECKER. Dendrocopus minor 183

GREEN WOODPECKER. Gecinus viridis 184

WRYNECK. Iẏnx torquilla 186

KINGFISHER. Alcedo ispida 188

Belted Kingfisher. Ceryle alcyon 189

Roller. Coracius garrula 190

Bee-eater. Merops apiaster 190

Hoopoe. Upupa epops 190

CUCKOO. Cuculus canorus 190

Great Spotted Cuckoo. Coccystes glandarius 193

Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Coccyzus americanus 193

Black-billed Cuckoo. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus 193

Order STRIGES.

BARN-OWL. Strix flammea 193

LONG-EARED OWL. Asio otus 196

SHORT-EARED OWL. Asio brachyotus 197

TAWNY OWL. Syrnium aluco 198

Part 7

Snowy Owl. Nyctea scandiaca 199

European Hawk-Owl. Surnia ulula 199

American Hawk-Owl. Surnia funeria 199

Tengmalm’s Owl. Nyctala tengmalmi 199

Scops Owl. Scops giu 199

Eagle Owl. Bubo ignavus 199

Little Owl. Athene noctua 199

Order ACCIPITRES.

Griffon Vulture. Gyps fulvus 216

Egyptian Vulture. Neophron percnopterus 216

Marsh-Harrier. Circus æruginosus 216

HEN HARRIER. Circus cyaneus 199

MONTAGU’S HARRIER. Circus cineraceus 201

BUZZARD. Buteo vulgaris 202

Rough-legged Buzzard. Archibuteo lagopus 216

Spotted Eagle. Aquila clanga 216

GOLDEN EAGLE. Aquila chrysaëtus 204

WHITE-TAILED EAGLE. Haliaëtus albicilla 205

Goshawk. Astur palumbarius 216

American Goshawk. Astur atricapilla 216

SPARROW-HAWK. Accipiter nisus 206

KITE. Milvus ictinus 207

Black Kite. Milvus nigrans 216

Swallow-tailed Kite. Elanoïdes furcatus 217

Honey-Buzzard. Pernis apivorus 217

Gyrfalcon. Hierofalco gyrfalco 217

Greenland Falcon. Hierofalco candicans 217

Iceland Falcon. Hierofalco islandicus 217

Part 8

PEREGRINE FALCON. Falco peregrinus 208

HOBBY. Falco subbuteo 210

MERLIN. Falco æsalon 211

Red-footed Falcon. Tinnunculus vespertinus 217

KESTREL. Tinnunculus alaudarius 212

Lesser Kestrel. Tinnunculus cenchris 217

OSPREY. Pandion haliaëtus 215

Order STEGANOPODES.

CORMORANT. Phalacrocorax carbo 218

SHAG. Phalacrocorax graculus 220

GANNET. Sula bassana 221

Order HERODIONES.

HERON. Ardea cinerea 223

Purple Heron. Ardea purpurea 226

Great White Heron. Ardea alba 226

Little Egret. Ardea gazetta 226

Buff-backed Heron. Ardea bubulcus 226

Squacco Heron. Ardea ralloïdes 226

LITTLE BITTERN. Ardetta minuta 226

Night Heron. Nycticorax griseus 226

BITTERN. Botaurus stellaris 224

American Bittern. Botaurus lentiginosus 226

White Stork. Ciconia alba 226

Black Stork. Ciconia nigra 226

Spoonbill. Platalea leucorodia 226

Glossy Ibis. Plegadis falcinellus 226

Order ANSERES.

GREY LAG GOOSE. Anser cinereus 227

Part 9

BEAN-GOOSE. Anser segetum 228

PINK-FOOTED GOOSE. Anser brachyrhynchus 229

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. Anser albifrons 230

Cassins Snow Goose. Chen albatus 227

BRENT GOOSE. Bernicla brenta 230

BARNACLE GOOSE. Bernicla leucopsis 232

Red-breasted Goose. Bernicla ruficollis 227

MUTE SWAN. Cygnus olor 233

Polish Swan. Cygnus immutabilis 233

WHOOPER SWAN. Cygnus musicus 234

Bewick’s Swan. Cygnus bewickii 234

COMMON SHELDRAKE. Tadorna cornuta 235

Ruddy Sheldrake. Tadorna casarca 236

WIGEON. Mareca penelope 237

American Wigeon. Mareca americana 238

PINTAIL. Dafila acuta 238

MALLARD. Anas boscas 239

GADWELL. Chaulelasmus streperus 241

GARGANEY. Querquedula circia 243

Blue-winged Teal. Querquedula discors 244

COMMON TEAL. Querquedula crecca 244

American Green-winged Teal. Querquedula carolinensis 244

SHOVELER. Spatula clypeata 245

Red-Crested Pochard. Fuligula rufina 246

TUFTED DUCK. Fuligula cristata 246

SCAUP. Fuligula marila 247

POCHARD. Fuligula ferina 248

White-eyed Duck. Nyroca ferruginea 246

Part 10

GOLDENEYE. Clangula glaucion 249

Barrow’s Goldeneye. Clangula islandica 246

Buffel-headed Duck. Clangula albeola 246

Harlequin Duck. Cosmonetta histrionica 246

LONG-TAILED DUCK. Harelda glacialis 250

Steller’s Duck. Heniconetta stelleri 246

EIDER DUCK. Somateria mollissima 251

King Eider. Somateria spectabilis 246

COMMON SCOTER. Œdemia nigra 253

VELVET SCOTER. Œdemia fusca 54

Surf-Scoter. Œdemia perspicillata 246

GOOSANDER. Mergus merganser 255

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. Mergus serrator 256

Hooded Merganser. Mergus cucullatus 246

SMEW. Mergus albellus 258

Order COLUMBÆ.

WOOD-PIGEON. Columba palumbus 258

STOCK-DOVE. Columba œnas 261

ROCK-DOVE. Columba livia 261

TURTLE-DOVE. Turtur communis 262

Passenger Pigeon. Ectopistes migratorius 264

Order PTEROCLETES.

Pallas’s Sand-Grouse. Syrrhaptes paradoxus 264

Order GALLINÆ.

PHEASANT. Phasianus colchicus 264

RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE. Caccabis rufa 265

Barbary Partridge. Caccabis petrosa 266

PARTRIDGE. Perdix cinerea 267

Part 11

QUAIL. Coturnix communis 269

PTARMIGAN. Lagopus mutus 270

RED GROUSE. Lagopus scoticus 272

BLACK GROUSE. Tetrao tetrix 273

CAPERCAILLIE. Tetrao urogallus 275

Order FULICARIÆ.

WATER-RAIL. Rallus aquaticus 277

SPOTTED CRAKE. Porzana maruetta 277

Baillon’s Crake. Porzana bailloni 278

Little Crake. Porzana parva 278

CORNCRAKE. Crex pratensis 278

MOORHEN. Gallinula chloropus 279

COOT. Fulica atra 280

Order ALECTORIDES.

Crane. Grus communis 281

Great Bustard. Otis tarda 281

Little Bustard. Otis tetrax 281

Macqueen’s Bustard. Otis macqueeni 281

Order LIMICOLÆ.

STONE-CURLEW. Œdicnemus scolopax 282

Collared Pratincole. Glareola pratincola 284

Cream-coloured Courser. Cursorius gallicus 284

GOLDEN PLOVER. Charadrius pluvialis 284

Eastern Golden Plover. Charadrius fulvus 286

GREY PLOVER. Squatarola helvetica 286

KENTISH PLOVER. Ægialitis cantiana 287

Little Ringed Plover. Ægialitis curonica 288

RINGED PLOVER. Ægialitis hiaticula 287

Part 12

Killdeer Plover. Ægialitis vocifera 288

DOTTEREL. Endromias morinellus 289

LAPWING. Vanellus vulgaris 290

TURNSTONE. Strepsilus interpres 292

OYSTER-CATCHER. Hæmatopus ostralegus 293

Avocet. Recurvirostra avocetta 316

Black-winged Stilt. Himantopus candidus 316

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. Phalaropus hyperboreus 294

Grey Phalarope. Phalaropus fulicarius 295

WOODCOCK. Scolopax rusticula 296

GREAT SNIPE. Gallinago major 298

COMMON SNIPE. Gallinago cælestis 299

JACK-SNIPE. Limnocryptes gallinula 300

Broad-billed Sandpiper. Limicola platyrhyncha 317

Pectoral Sandpiper. Tringa maculata 317

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