Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Introduction

A bit larger than a Dunlin, with a similarly down-curved bill, most records of this migratory wader are in the autumn.

This species breeds in northern Siberia and a small proportion of individuals migrate through Britain & Ireland to wintering grounds in western Africa. Autumn numbers are variable, and most of the records received through BirdTrack fall between August and early October. Birds present in July likely represent those whose breeding attempt has failed.

In winter it has a rather drab, grey appearance, but in summer dons an unmistakable brick-red dress that provides surprisingly good camouflage in its tundra breeding habitat.

Key Stats

Scarce

68.8g

4-4

<1%

BTO Records

65k records

Publications

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

287.5% expansion

Identification

Curated resources to aid in the identification of Curlew Sandpiper

ID Videos

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This section features BTO training videos headlining this species, or featuring it as a potential confusion species.

Sanderling & Curlew Sandpiper

Songs and Calls

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Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Curlew Sandpiper, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

Call:

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern

Amber listed

Species of European Conservation Concern

Vulnerable

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Near Threatened

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

Listed on the Annexes of*

Bern(III), Bonn(II), AEWA

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Kent, 1786

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Curlew Sandpiper is a passage migrant, seen mostly during autumn passage (July to October) and scarcely in spring [Balmer et al. 2013]. It is not seen here in sufficient numbers to generate a UK population trend; however, at the flyway scale, the population trend shows a marked decline since the early 1980s [van Roomen 2022].

Distribution

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Curlew Sandpipers are most frequently reported while on autumn passage in July–October and are scarce in spring. Over half the occupied 10-km squares on the winter distribution map are late-autumn migrants recorded in November. The few records of true wintering birds are all from coastal marshes or estuaries.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

1.6%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Winter Distribution for Curlew Sandpiper

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding Distribution for Curlew Sandpiper

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

Distribution Change

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Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007-11 and indicate by how much occupied areas have expanded or contracted over recent decades.

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

287.5 %

Bird Atlas distribution change maps show how bird distributions have changed through time. Coloured upward-pointing triangles show places apparently colonised over the period; grey downward-pointing triangles show places apparently vacated. Shading show places occupied.

Winter Distribution change for Curlew Sandpiper

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Seasonality

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Curlew Sandpipers are regular passage migrant, mostly in autumn when numbers are swelled by returning juveniles.

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about Curlew Sandpiper movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

The Eurasian-African Migration Atlas shows movements of individual birds ringed or recovered in Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Curlew Sandpiper, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Productivity and Nesting

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Nesting timing

Typical (exceptional) number of broods

Source

Egg measurements

Typical length x width

36x26 mm

Mass (% shell)

12g (5%)

Source

Clutch Size

Typical number

4-4 eggs

Observed minimum and maximum

3-4 eggs

Source

Incubation

Incubation by

Female

Fledging

Type of chick

Precocial, downy

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

lifespan

Typical life expectancy of bird reaching breeding age

with breeding typically at 2 years

Source

Maximum age from a ringed bird

14 years, 10 months, 20 days (set in 2011)

Biometrics

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Wing length and body weights are from live birds (source).

Wing length

Average ±1 std deviation; range and sample size in brackets.

Juvenile

132.2±2.8 mm

(127-136 mm, N=72)

Body weight

Average ±1 std deviation; range and sample size in brackets.

Juvenile

132.2±2.8 mm

(127-136 mm, N=72)

Ring Size

B+

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Curlew Sandpiper

Classification and Codes

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Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Scientific name: Calidris ferruginea
Authority: Pontoppidan, 1763

BTO 2-letter code: CV
BTO 5-letter code: CURSA
Euring code number: 5090

Alternate species names

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Catalan: territ becllarg
Czech: jespák krivozobý
Danish: Krumnæbbet Ryle
Dutch: Krombekstrandloper
Estonian: kõvernokk-rüdi e. kõvernokk-risla
Finnish: kuovisirri
French: Bécasseau cocorli
Gaelic: Luatharan-guilbneach

German: Sichelstrandläufer
Hungarian: sarlós partfutó
Icelandic: Spóatíta
Irish: Gobadán Crotaigh
Italian: Piovanello comune
Latvian: likšnibitis
Lithuanian: riestasnapis begikas
Norwegian: Tundrasnipe

Polish: biegus krzywodzioby
Portuguese: pilrito-de-bico-comprido
Slovak: pobrežník krivozobý
Slovenian: srpokljuni prodnik
Spanish: Correlimos zarapitín
Swedish: spovsnäppa
Welsh: Pibydd Cambig

Research

Interpretation and scientific publications about Curlew Sandpiper from BTO scientists.

Publications (1)

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Curlew Sandpipers on the Wash

01.01.95

Papers

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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