Curlew Sandpiper: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Shorebirds · day 2 of 7

Five facts

1. To woo a female, the male settles into a little dip on the tundra and builds a pretend nest, tossing bits of plants at his feet.
2. Its Latin name ferruginea means iron rust, after the deep rusty red the bird wears in the breeding season.
3. Its nesting luck in the Arctic depends on lemmings. When lemmings are plentiful, predators chase them instead of the sandpipers.
4. The mother guides her chicks to the best feeding spots. By 14 to 20 days old, they are fully independent.
5. Young birds skip their first trip back to the Arctic. They spend that first breeding season in their winter home instead.

The quiz

1. What does a male curlew sandpiper build to impress a female?

• A tower of pebbles
• A pretend nest (correct)
• A tunnel in the sand
• A bower of shells

He makes a pretend nest on the ground to show the female.

2. What does its Latin name ferruginea mean?

• Long beak
• Sea traveller
• Grey wader
• Iron rust (correct)

It means iron rust, after its rusty breeding colours.

3. Which small animal helps decide how well curlew sandpipers nest?

• The lemming (correct)
• The earthworm
• The bumblebee
• The frog

When lemmings are plentiful, predators hunt them instead.

4. At what age are curlew sandpiper chicks fully independent?

• About 1 year
• 6 months
• 14 to 20 days (correct)
• 3 months

They become independent at 14 to 20 days old.

5. What do young curlew sandpipers do during their first breeding season?

• They fly to the Arctic to nest
• They stay in their winter home (correct)
• They sleep underground
• They follow their father everywhere

First-year birds stay in their wintering area and do not breed.

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