Curlew Sandpiper

1. Noticeably downcurved black bill, longer and finer than most other small waders.

2. Large white rump patch flashes in flight.

3. Non-breeding adults are pale grey-brown above, white below; juveniles have a peachy breast and more patterned upperparts.

Curlew Sandpipers breed in the high Arctic, nesting on the ground near pools or marshes. They feed mainly on insects during the breeding season, and on worms, molluscs, crustaceans, and other small invertebrates in Australia. Their long, curved bill is adapted for probing soft mud. These birds are highly social, often feeding in groups, and can be observed wading belly-deep in water, constantly moving while foraging. Curlew Sandpipers do not breed in Australia; juveniles remain for their first year before making their first migration north.

Curlew Sandpipers are found along most of the Australian coastline, especially in southern and eastern regions, wherever there are tidal mudflats, estuaries, saltpans, or shallow coastal lagoons. They also use man-made habitats like saltworks and sewage farms. While most common along the coast, they may also appear at inland wetlands following heavy rain. These birds often gather in large, mixed flocks with other shorebirds, especially during low tide when feeding is best.