Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) lives in arctic tundra across Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, North America. Its conservation status is Vulnerable.
Hear the Curlew Sandpiper
A real field recording of the Curlew Sandpiper, made in the wild.
At just 18-23 cm long and 44-117 g heavy, the curlew sandpiper packs a wingspan of 38-46 cm, a 32-44 mm bill and a 26-34 mm tarsus, yet it cruises across continents at 70-75 km/h during migration. Those dimensions make it a tiny aerodynamic marvel, able to cover the 13 000-kilometre trek between Siberian tundra and African coasts.
Breeding success hinges on lemming cycles: when lemmings abound, predators turn their attention to them, sparing curlew sandpiper nests. The species lays 3-4 eggs (average 3.76) over three days, with the female incubating solo for 20 days. This tight schedule means a good lemming year can boost fledgling numbers, while a crash can leave many nests vulnerable, directly linking tundra rodent dynamics to shorebird population health.
Courtship is a theatrical showcase: the male builds a faux nest on the ground, gathers bits of vegetation, and repeatedly mimics placing them in the nest while wagging his tail and wings. He also performs aerial chases with warbling calls and ground dances that display his tail feathers and rump. These elaborate rituals not only attract a mate.
Classified as vulnerable, the curlew sandpiper loses critical habitat to land development, invasive smooth cordgrass, and climate-driven breeding failures. Its annual survival sits at just 75-80 %.
Sources
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RangeSub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, North America
HabitatArctic tundra
DietSmall crustaceans & insects
About the Curlew Sandpiper
As the tide recedes, the Curlew Sandpiper emerges, a whirlwind of chestnut and white feathers, its long, black bill probing the exposed mudflats with an air of urgent intent. With each fleeting step, it dances across the shoreline, its slender legs a blur as it pursues the tiny crustaceans and mollusks that lie hidden beneath the surface. In its migrations, this diminutive bird undertakes a journey of epic proportions, bridging continents and defying the elements with a resilience that belies its fragile, waif-like form.
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