- Long-billed wader with streaked cream and green back, frequenting
wet margins
- Habitat: freshwater marshes and flooded fields
- Once abundant resident, now very localized as a result of drainage
of wet meadows: only a few pairs breed in Essex
- Long legs and very long bill, dark streaked upperparts
- Tends to keep to cover but feeds in open when not alarmed; flies
off in zig-zag flight when disturbed; gregarious
- Eats worms and insects, feeding with fast sewing machine-like action
- Nest is a lined hollow on ground
- 1 or 2 Broods April to May; 4 eggs pale green with brown blotches
- When displaying, males make distinctive drumming noise with outer
tail feathers
|
