Curlew Sandpiper
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Habitat and behaviour
Habitat: Estuaries (autumn passage).
Diet: Invertebrates.
Best time to spot: Decurved bill; chestnut summer plumage.
When to look
A passage migrant. Look for it on spring and autumn movements rather than through the summer. Numbers peak in April. See the April birding guide for what else is about. More on the season in Bird migration in Britain.
How rare is it?
The Curlew Sandpiper sits in our Rare tier for the UK: scarce or very local, so most birders need a planned trip. It is Amber-listed in Birds of Conservation Concern 5, the middle level of concern in the UK.
Where to see it
Reserves where the Curlew Sandpiper is on the list:
Recent UK sightings
No community sightings logged for this species yet. Log the first one.
Similar birds
- Little StintRare · Estuaries (autumn passage)
- Pectoral SandpiperRare · Wet meadows (autumn passage)
- White-rumped SandpiperRare · Wet mud (autumn passage)
- Buff-breasted SandpiperRare · Short grass (autumn passage)
- Temminck's StintRare · Pools (rare passage)
- Broad-billed SandpiperEpic · Pools (very rare passage)
Kit that helps
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