Bird of the Week — Long-billed Curlew

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Long-billed Curlew – Numenius americanus

According to All about Birds, the Long-billed Curlew is America’s largest shore bird. We see them every day during our beach walks near Santa Barbara, California. I’ve seen three types of birds I used to call Sandpipers, but have identified one species as Willets and the second identified is the Curlew. I’m still working on identifying the third one.

SIZE:

  • Length: 19.7-25.6 in (50-65 cm)
  • Weight: 17.3-33.5 oz (490-950 g)
  • Wingspan: 24.4-35.0 in (62-89 cm)

APPEARANCE:

The Long-billed Curlew is a speckled cinnamon and brownish bird with flecks of white. It’s chest and belly are light a solid light cinnamon color. It has a touch of pink at the base of it’s bill. Males and females look similar but the females beak is slightly longer and more curved than the male.

LOCATION:

FOOD:

When the Long-billed Curlew are not inland, they forage along the shore eating marine life such as shrimp, crab and other crustaceans as well as worms and mollusks. Their long, curved bill helps them forage for earthworms and other prey that burrows underground. Inland in grassy or muddy areas they will use their long bills to eat insects including grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars and spiders.

NESTING:

Long-billed Curlews are not monogamous for life but are for each breeding season. They may get back together for later breeding seasons. The males make several scrapes in the ground in dry areas. The female chooses which scrape she wants as their nesting place. Then they both complete the nest together digging it out deeper. Then they line it together with bark, feathers, grasses or other material. After two to three weeks after the eggs hatch, the female takes off and the male raises the chicks.

SOUNDS:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Long-billed_Curlew/sounds

A Long-billed Curlew taking flight.

29 thoughts on “Bird of the Week — Long-billed Curlew”

  1. Great photos. This is good to get to know about your Curlew. The Curlews that arrive here migrate from Russia or China but a very long way.
    There’s so many more shore birds depending on where they are in your area
    The species change in the coastline I access, Godwits in one place, Sanderlings in another and Sandpipers which has a lot of different types.

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  4. We watched a show last night about California in the 70’s. Such beautiful scenery with mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. It looked like a wonderful spot. I can imagine if you bought way back then you might stay.

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      • We’re in a small town near Santa Barbara with less than 2,000 people. We don’t have to travel much. The freeway is always stopped from early morning to 10 a.m. but we take surface streets.

      • Sounds like what we do in the Tampa Bay area. Busy on the highways but we know the back areas and we are located near the city in a smaller area. We don’t have to travel much as everything is near us.

      • That’s exactly what it is like here. We have friends who have lived in this little town for 40 years. There’s no way they are leaving, even though the cost of living in California is so high.

    • I’m ready for my daily or twice a day beach stroll. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. On Friday, I’m posting my favorite beach houses including homes of Kevin Costner, Ashton Kutcher and George Lucas.

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    • Thanks. They were taken with my iphone. I finally got up my courage and took my Nikon for a beach walk yesterday and today. The photos yesterday weren’t as good as my iphone. Today I took a different lens and they are better. Shows you how much difference a lens can make!

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Kind Comments Are Always Welcome!