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Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Playero Zarapito
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Photo: J. Flynn
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Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Playero Zarapito
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Photo: J. Flynn
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A small sandpiper, with a distinctive, downcurved bill. The bill is curved throughout much of its length, whereas the Dunlin---a more regular migrant in Puerto Rico---has a curve only at the tip of the bill. During migration in July and early August the Curlew Sandpiper has a reddish breast and head, but reverts to a pale gray plumage later in the year (the bird in the photo above was photographed in early July). Length: 18-23 cm.; weight: 44-117 g. Breeds in northern Siberia, and normally winters in Africa, Australia and southern Asia. A rare migrant in the New World, stopping at mudflats and pond edges. Only a few recent sightings in Puerto Rico. TAXONOMY: CHARADRIIFORMES; SCOLOPACIDAE; Scolopacinae |
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Photo: J. Flynn
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Photo: J. Hornbuckle
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References Bent, A.C. 1927. Life histories of North American shore birds, part 1. Smithsonian Instit. U.S. National Museum Bull. 142. (Reprinted by Dover Press, NY, 1962). Borowik, O. A. and D. A. McLennan. 1999. Phylogenetic patterns of parental care in calidridine sandpipers. Auk 116(4):1107-1117. del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott, and J. Sargatal, eds. 1996. Handbook of Birds of the World, Vol. 3. Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Hayman, P., J. Marchant, and T. Prater. 1986. Shorebirds: an identification guide. Houghton Mifflin, Boston. Paulson, D. 1993. Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest. Univ. Washington Press, Seattle. Raffaele, H.A., J.W. Wiley, O.H. Garrido, A.R. Keith, and J.I. Raffaele. 1998. Guide to the birds of the West Indies. Princeton. Curlew Sandpiper, Spanish text Next related species in taxonomic order Previous related species in taxonomic order |