Curlew Sandpiper

The curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) is a small wader with a distinctive profile, notable for its slightly down-curved bill, long legs, and elegant appearance. Its range extends across the Palearctic, breeding in the high Arctic regions of Siberia and migrating to Africa, Australasia, and the Indian subcontinent during the winter. Adults in breeding plumage exhibit a striking rust-red color on the head, neck, and chest, distinguishing them from other species. During the non-breeding season, they are more subdued with greyish upperparts and white underparts. It measures approximately 18-23 cm (7-9 in) in length with a wingspan of about 38-46 cm (15-18 in). Non-breeding curlew sandpipers can be confused with non-breeding dunlins (Calidris alpina), but they are slightly larger and longer-legged. The dunlin also has a shorter and a bit less down-curved bill.

Curlew sandpipers inhabit coastal mudflats, estuaries, and sandy beaches during migration and winter. Their breeding habitat consists of tundra near marshes and wet meadows. They feed on a variety of invertebrates, including insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Their feeding technique involves probing the mud with their sensitive bills to detect and capture prey. They are often seen in flocks, foraging busily along the shoreline.

This species is renowned for its extensive migratory journeys. Curlew sandpipers undertake one of the longest migrations of any shorebird, traveling from their breeding grounds in Siberia to wintering sites as far away as South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. These migrations span thousands of kilometers and occur twice a year, typically beginning in August when they leave their breeding grounds and returning around May. Their migratory routes include stopover sites where they rest and refuel.

The breeding season for curlew sandpipers occurs during the brief Arctic summer, from June to July. They form monogamous pairs and establish territories on the tundra. The female typically lays a clutch of four eggs in a shallow scrape lined with moss and lichen. Both parents share incubation duties, which last about 21-22 days. Once hatched, the chicks are precocial and leave the nest shortly after hatching, though they remain under the care of their parents. Fledging occurs approximately 18-20 days after hatching, at which point the young are capable of flight and begin to forage independently.

The curlew sandpiper is currently classified as near threatened by the IUCN. Their populations are declining due to habitat loss, particularly at crucial stopover sites along their migratory routes. Wetland drainage, reclamation for agriculture, and coastal development are significant threats. Climate change also poses a risk by altering the habitats in their breeding and wintering grounds. Conservation efforts are essential to preserve the habitats these birds depend on throughout their migratory cycle.