Curlew Sandpiper - Calidris ferruginea
Similar to a Dunlin, but in autumn it looks cleaner and paler with a white eye stripe. It has a longer, more down-curved bill than a Dunlin and will feed in slightly deeper water. Deep chestnut breeding plumage unmistakable in spring and summer. In flight it shows a bright white rump.
The juvenile resembles juvenile Dunlin but is slightly bigger, slimmer, slightly longer-legged with a longer and more decurved bill
They like salt marshes with muddy pools and shallow coastal lagoons. Largest numbers along the east coast of England in autumn in places like the RSPB's Titchwell Marsh reserve.
Mainly seen in August and September.
Feeds on snails, worms and flies.
An uncommon bird of passage in the UK.
Uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Chris Lythall
Rutland Water
06 September 2003
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Species profile
- Common names
- Curlew Sandpiper
- Species group:
- Birds
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Charadriiformes
- Family:
- Scolopacidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 19
- First record:
- 06/09/2003 (Chris Lythall)
- Last record:
- 03/06/2018 (Palmer, Paul)
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% of records within its species group
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