Long-billed curlew Numenius americanus

Identification Tips:

• Length: 19 inches
• Very large, long-necked, small-headed shorebird
• Brownish rump and barred tail
• Cinnamon wing linings
• White eyering, dusky eyeline
• Sexes similar

Adult:

• Very long, decurved bill
• Pale buff head and neck faintly streaked with darker brown
• Buff brown underparts with sparse dark streaking on flanks
• Dark back with pale edges and notches to feathers
• Dark brown outer wing contrasts with paler inner wing in flight

Juvenile:

• Much shorter bill, often with less downward curve

Similar species:

Whimbrel has a similar, though shorter, bill, but has bold black head stripes, and lacks cinnamon wing linings. Marbled Godwit is similar but has a straight, somewhat recurved bill.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.