| י201) חרמשון גדול | ||||||||||
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:חרמשון גדול . הגדול והמגושם מבין החופמאים, צבעו חום אפור ושתו לבן . ראשו, צוארו וחזהו מפוספסים בפסים חומים הנמשכים לצידי גופו . אברותיו שחומות והסוככות שחורות ואילו סוככות הכנף התחתונות לבנות . הנקבה גדולה מהזכר, אבל דומה לו בצבעה , בית גידולו ביצות, שדות לחים ובוציים, נופים פתוחים עם צמחיה ליד חורשים . שלא בתקופת הדגירה ליד שפכי נהרות וחופים בוציים . בארץ עובר אורח וחורף לא שכיח עד נדיר לאורך רצועת חוף ים התיכון | ||||||||||
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Subspecies and Distribution.
N. a. arquata British Is. and France across W Europe to R Volga and Urals. Winters from Iceland and British Is to Mediterranean and NW Africa, and to Persian Gulf and W India. N. a. orientalis R Volga and Urals through C Russia and N Kazakhstan to C Asia to E China and S Japan, to Philippines and Greater Sundas. םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם | ||||||||||
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Descriptive notes.
50-60 cm, male 400-1000 g, female 470-1360 g, wingspan 80-1000 cm. Large greyish brown curleo with long bill and plain head pattern. Head, neck, breast and upperparts buffy brown with dark streaking, although plumage variable. Pale underwing, white rump and lower back, belly white, flanks streaked. Female averages larger, especially with longer bill. Non-breeding adult has breast and upperparts grey brown and underparts whiter. Race orientalis usually paler, with underwing coverts and axillaries largely unmarked, lower rump may be more barred and inner wing paler, but considerable overlap. Habitat. Breeds on peat bogs, fens, upland moors, damp grassland, grassy or boggy open areas in forest, extensive farmland, swampy and dry heathland, dune valleys and coastal marshes. increasing numbers breed in meadows. In non-breeding period, chiefly on muddy coasts, bays and estuaries, also regularly on muddy shores of inland lakes and rivers. During migration, also found on wet grassland and arable fields. Males are more likely to feed in inland grassland than females. Food and Feeding. Usually diet includes annelids, molluscs, arthropods, crustaceans, berries and seeds. Occasionally vertebrates, including amphibians, lizards, young birds, small rodents and small fish. Chiefly terrestrial insects and eartworms, especially in summer. Feeds by pecking, jabbing or deep probing in mud or damp soil. Occasionally takes food from conspecifics or other wader species. Some birds territorial on wintering grounds, others feed gregariously. Long-billed females tend to forage more on intertidal flats, feeding on molluscs, crabs and polychaetes, while shorter-billed males tend to feed more on cultivated grassland. Breeding. Apr-Jul. Monogamous. High degree of site fidelity. Nest typically in open, often in grass or sedge cover. 4 eggs, single brood, incubation 28 days, by both sexes. Chick pale ochraceous buff above clouded with blackish brown, black crown and creamy buff on belly. Both parents care for young. Age of first breeding 2 years. Movements. Migratory, but some birds resident in W of range, especially in British Is and Ireland. Small numbers regularly winter in Iceland and Faeroes. Scandinavian and Baltic populations move SW to W European coast. The subspecies mix in Balkans after breeding, and probably in winter quarters from Mediterranean to W India. Nominate arquata presumably winters as far S as Banc d'Arguin (Mauritania), Morocco, Algerian and Italy, with orientalis occupying rest of African wintering grounds. Most birds winter at moulting grounds, with litle evidence of post-moulting movements. Southward migration Jun-Nov, staring with non-breeders and adult females. Return stars Feb. Migration to Fenno-Scandian and Russian breeding grounds mainly Apr-May. Status and Conservation. Not globally threatened. E Atlantic wintering population estimated at 350.000 birds, plus probably 100.000 birds inland. Israel. In Israel two subspecies N. a. arquata and N. a. orientalis. Uncommon passage migrant and fairly rare winter visitor, along Mediterranean Coastal Strip and at Eilat. |
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