Sandpipers · Shorebirds
Curlew Sandpiper
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Calidris ferruginea
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Voice
Call
Sonothèque ADVL
How to recognize it
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Small wader, starling-sized, long-legged and slim
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Long, strongly downcurved bill
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Breeding plumage: deep rusty-red front
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In flight, bold white rump patch and a white wing stripe; non-breeding plumage greyer and scaly
About the species
The Curlew Sandpiper is a small shorebird with a long, noticeably downcurved bill and a calm, unhurried way of moving. In breeding plumage it becomes especially memorable for the rich rusty front, while at other times it looks much more subdued.
It is usually quiet and cautious, but the voice becomes more varied during courtship, when it also gives longer songs. On migration and at feeding sites it often moves in small groups and spends its time steadily probing for food rather than fussing about.
It breeds in the Arctic tundra of northern Siberia, and outside the breeding season it turns up on coasts, clean beaches, and inland as well. Its diet is mostly worms, molluscs, insects, and larvae, with mosquitoes and midges also taken near the nesting grounds.
Where to find
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Along river shallows, canal edges, and pond margins—especially where mud or sand is exposed, Curlew Sandpiper feeds in quick steps, probing the ground with its long bill.
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At salt pools, temporary puddled ground, and damp vacant lots, look for it foraging on bare wet soil with very little grass.
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Around sewage ponds and shallow backwaters, it stays close to the waterline and often moves in loose groups with other waders.
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During migration, it may pause on broad waterside promenades at low tide, picking small invertebrates from the exposed mud.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Calidris ferruginea Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Curlew sandpiper Encyclopedia article