Long-billed Curlew, Numenius americanus


Long-billed Curlew
The largest Western Hemisphere shorebird, and one of the most photogenic, with its extra-long curved bill and bright cinnamon plumage.


Long-billed Curlew

Long-billed Curlew


Long-billed Curlew
With a mole crab, a favorite prey.


Long-billed Curlew


Long-billed Curlew


Long-billed Curlew


Long-billed Curlew


Long-billed Curlew

Long-billed Curlews


Long-billed Curlew and Marbled Godwit
A Long-billed Curlew in flight with its near relative, the Marbled Godwit. Both have the cinnamon plumage and bicolored pink and black bill, but the curlew is larger and its bill is proportionately longer and down-curved while the godwit's is slightly up-curved. Marbled Godwits are much more common than Long-billed Curlews around Moss Landing on Monterey Bay coast, where most of my pictures of both species were taken; 1500-2500 godwits and only 40-60 curlews are the estimated winter populations.