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8

Curlew Sandpiper

(Calidris ferruginea)
Alternate name(s): "Curlew Sting", "Pygmy Curlew"
Size: 18-19 cm; wing span 42-46 cm
Weight: 35-100 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Curlew Sandpiper at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

BREEDING

MALE

Distant near-lateral view of a Curlew Sandpiper in what looks like (already) worn breeding plumage; based on the length of the bill, this is probably a male (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, March 2018]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a Curlew Sandpiper in fresh breeding plumage; based on the length of the bill, this is probably a female
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, March 2018]

NON-BREEDING

MALE

Near-lateral view of a male(?) Curlew Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, November 2018]

Lateral view of a male(?) Curlew Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Caloundra Headland, QLD, January 2018]

Lateral view of a male(?) Curlew Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, November 2018]

Lateral view of a male(?) Curlew Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, November 2018]

Lateral view of a male(?) Curlew Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage; note the rather long hind toes
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, November 2018]

Lateral view of a male(?) Curlew Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage spreading its wings (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, November 2018]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female(?) Curlew Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage
[Near Breeza, NSW, December 2013]

Female(?) Curlew Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage feeding on the edge of a farm dam
[Near Breeza, NSW, December 2013]

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Curlew Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, January 2023]

Near-lateral view of a Curlew Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, January 2023]

Near-lateral view of a Curlew Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, January 2023]

Lateral view of a Curlew Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, January 2023]

Lateral view of two Curlew Sandpipers in non-breeding plumage on a beach (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Caloundra Headland, QLD, January 2018]

Small flock of waders in non-breeding plumage on the shore of an ephemeral lake; most of them are Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, with 3 Curlew Sandpipers (down-curved black bill, black legs)
[Goran Lake, 30 km South of Gunnedah, NSW, January 2022]

Lateral view of a small flock of waders in non-breeding plumage on the shore of an ephemeral lake; most of them are Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, with 3 Curlew Sandpipers (down-curved black bill, black legs)
[Goran Lake, 30 km South of Gunnedah, NSW, January 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a Curlew Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Port of Brisbane Wader Roost, Brisbane, QLD, January 2019]

Curlew Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage in flight
[Near Breeza, NSW, December 2013]

Curlew Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage in flight, seen from behind; note the white rump
[Near Breeza, NSW, December 2013]

Cox's Sandpiper - Calidris melanotos x ferruginea

Pectoral Sandpipers and Curlew Sandpipers can hybridize. The hybrids are called "Cox's Sandpiper".

M. Eaton reports finding a Cox's Sandpiper at the Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, in March 2019.

Identification of Cox's Sandpiper is made based on the bill, the streaked front and the white undertail coverts. The bill is very similar to a Curlew Sandpiper's but usually shorter, possibly also less curved. The front down to the chest is streaked like a Pectoral Sandpiper, with a sharp cut-off at the chest. The all-white undertail coverts distinguish Cox's Sandpiper from the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.

NON-BREEDING

Near-lateral view of a Cox's Sandpiper in transitional plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Lateral view of a Cox's Sandpiper in transitional plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Lateral view of a Cox's Sandpiper in transitional plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Frontal view of a Cox's Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage, right, with a non-breeding Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Near-frontal view of Cox's Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Near-lateral view of Cox's Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Lateral view of a Cox's Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Lateral view of a Cox's Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Cox's Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage, right, with a non-breeding Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Cox's Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage, right, with a non-breeding Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

Dorsal/ventral view of Cox's Sandpiper in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kianawah Road Wetland, Wynnum, QLD, March 2019]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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