Curlew Sandpiper

Status Rare vagrant. In spite of some confusion in the literature, it seems that there were two nineteenth-century specimens, one killed in autumn 1864 (McLaren 1985). There are 11 modern records. The first bird was found on Sable Island by Christel and Norman Bell on 26 January 1968; they also saw two birds in breeding plumage there that year, one on 26 July and the other on 10 August. In 1971, one was seen on Brier Island on 10 July (E.L. Mills) and another at Three Fathom Harbour, Halifax County, on 31 October (E. Cooke et al.). Elizabeth Reid found one at Port Morien Bar, Cape Breton County, on 26 October 1969, and Daniel Welsh saw another on Sable Island on 22 November 1970. In 1978, three impeccably described birds were seen: on Sable Island on 24 August (many observers); on Cape Sable on 24 September (B.J. Smith); and at Matthews Lake, Shelburne County, on 22 October (G. Perry, R. Turner). The only photographically confirmed bird was an adult in breeding plumage at Cherry Hill Beach, Lunenburg County, on 2 July 1983 (J. and S. Cohrs).

Remarks This Old World shorebird occasionally wanders to North America. In breeding plumage, its rich chestnut-brown underparts distinguish it from the Dunlin. Otherwise, its strongly decurved bill and its white rump, conspicuous in flight, are distinctive.