General

Little Curlew: Medium-sized curlew with brown-streaked upperparts, white throat, dark-streaked gray breast, and white belly. Head has brown crown. Bill is short and slightly down-curved. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Little Curlew: Very rare species; breeds in central and northeast Siberia and winters mainly in northern Australia; casual fall vagrant to coastal California. Breeds in open woodlands in river valleys; otherwise found on grasslands, cultivated areas, and around margins of ponds and lakes, less often on coasts.

Breeding and Nesting

Little Curlew: Four brown marked, light to dark green or blue eggs are laid in a ground depression lined with dry grass. Incubation ranges from 23 to 23 days and is carried out by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Little Curlew: Feeds mainly on insects; also eats worms and berries.

Vocalization

Little Curlew: Song is composed of a musical "quee-dlee" and a loud "tchew-tchew-tchew."

Similar Species

Little Curlew: Whimbrel has longer, more curved bill and dark lores.