Page 181 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WADERS
Order Charadriiformes Family Scolopacidae Species Calidris ferruginea
Curlew Sandpiper

long, slim, slightly
pale eye-ring pale stripe downcurved bill
and chin
over eye
dark back with
even, pale buff
scales
ADULT
(SUMMER)
white broad white
rump dark pale peachy
wingbar cap buff breast
JUVENILE
(AUTUMN) white belly
IN FLIGHT long black
legs
long no streaks
wings below

JUVENILE
(AUTUMN) JUVENILE
(AUTUMN)
ery much linked with the Little Stint in birdwatchers’
Vminds, as they are often found together, the Curlew Sandpiper
tends to be scarcer in early spring in the Mediterranean and rather FLIGHT: quick and direct with occasional erratic
more erratic in western Europe in autumn. It follows the same early twists and tumbles.
adult, later juvenile migration pattern as the Little
Stint. It is noticeable in a
group of Dunlins, being just
a little more elegant and
elongated in its proportions.
VOICE Distinctive soft,
trilling, rolled chirr-up.
NESTING Simple shallow
scrape on ground; 4 eggs;
1 brood; May–July.
FEEDING Typically exploits
longer legs and bill to wade WHITE RUMP SPRING GEMS
more deeply and probe into Only this bird and some much Curlew Sandpiper migrants in spring, in coppery red breeding colour, are
softer mud than Dunlin, in rarer sandpiper species have superbly colourful birds. They tend to wade more often and more deeply
search of small worms. an unmarked white rump. than Dunlins.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds in high Arctic region.
DUNLIN juvenile, KNOT summer; larger and Mostly in shallow fresh water
similar to juvenile; see p.176 heavier
see p.178 and on muddy edges of coastal
or inland lagoons. Chiefly adults
in SE Europe in spring and in
streaks on
flanks and W Europe in late summer;
breast followed by autumn juveniles.
shorter Seen in the UK
legs shorter legs J F M A M J JA S O N D
Length 18–23cm (7–9in) Wingspan 38–41cm (15–16in) Weight 45–90g (1 5 ⁄8 –3 1 ⁄4oz)
Social Small groups Lifespan Up to 10 years Status Localized
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