How to Spot a Long-Billed Curlew

The Long-Billed Curlew is the largest shorebird in all of North America. You can find the Long-Billed Curlew in the grasslands of the Great Basin and the Great Plains in North America during the summer. This bird winters in Mexico, central California and in parts of Texas near mudflats, beaches, marshes, lakes and rivers.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Note the size. This shorebird ranges from 20- to 26-inches long and has a wingspan between 36 and 40 inches. Long-Billed Curlews weigh between 17.3 and 33.5 oz., with the females weighing more than males.

2. Observe the appearance. This shorebird has a long, downturned bill. It has mottled brown upperparts and a cinnamon color under its tapered wings. The legs are blue-gray and the bird has a square shaped tail and dark eyes.

3. Listen to the melodic call of the Curlew on the What Bird website (See Resources below). This harsh whistling call resembles a "cur-lee" or "kli-li" sound. The pitch rises on the second note in the call.

4. Observe behavior. During feeding, you can see this shorebird sticking its long bill in the mud or submerging its head in the water. During flight, watch for strong and steady wingbeats.

Tips & Warnings

• The Long-Billed Curlew is a near-threatened species.
• Females have longer bills than males.

Resources

• Listen to the Long-Billed Curlew here.