Home › R › Range (Eastern North America breeds) (IV)

Range (Eastern North America breeds) (IV)

Eastern North America; breeds locally from Kansas and Virginia to Alaska and Nova Scotia; winters over most of South America. Washington, common T. V., Apl.; Aug. to Sept. Long Island, uncommon S. R., Apl. to Sept. Cambridge, not common T. V., Apl. 25 to May 5; July 30 to Sept. 15.

Eggs, four to five, creamy buff or white, spotted with reddish brown or chocolate, chiefly at the larger end, 1.80 × 1.30.

The Upland "Plover" is at home on grassy plains and pastures. It is usually a shy bird, and can rarely be successfully approached on foot. It shows no fear, however, of a man who is riding or driving, and when on horseback I have passed within a few yards of birds which regarded me with some interest but no alarm. They so closely resemble dried grass in color that it is sometimes exceedingly difficult to distinguish them from their surroundings. One may ride over a prairie upon which, at first glance, not a Plover is visible, and find, after careful scrutiny, that dozens of birds are scattered about him feeding.

In alighting they stretch their wings to the utmost, high over their backs, as if to get the wrinkles out before gently folding them. When flushed they utter a soft, bubbling whistle. During their migrations one may clearly hear these sweet notes from birds traveling beyond the limits of human vision. Mr. Langille describes their alarm note as a spirited and rapidly uttered quip-ip-ip-ip, quip-ip-ip-ip, and their song, given from the ground, a fence, or even a tree, as chr-r-r-r-ree-e-e-e-e-e-oo-0-0-0-0-00. He remarks: "This prolonged, mournful, mellow whistle, more like the whistling of wind than a bird's voice, may be heard even in the night, and is one of the most weird and never-tobe-forgotten sounds in Nature." 262. Tryngites subruficollis (Vieill.). BUFF-BREASTED SAND-