Long-billed curlews are listed as a Species at Risk in Canada. The population in B.C. is estimated to be about 500 birds. They breed in Central B.C. in grasslands and migrate south to the southern States and into Costa Rica. Migration is the best time to see these amazing birds as they fly through our area. Currently, most documented records for our area are from April and early May. Check agricultural fields with short grass or dirt areas with some shallow pools. They are our largest shorebird, with a body size near a crow’s. Their amazingly long bills can be up to 9 inches in length. Females generally are larger and with longer bills than males and young birds.
Similar species:
The Whimbrel, which is even rarer, is similar but has bolder streaks on the head, a shorter bill and smaller body.
Sources:
Ehrlich, Dobkin and Wheye, (1988)
Sibley, D. (2000)
Noteworthy Data
Date | Location | Source(s) | Comments |
| March 30, 2015 | Hope Airport, Hope | C. McDonald 2015 | Feeding on the airport's grass runway. Photographed. Earliest record for chccklist area. |
| April 19, 2013 | Chilliwack Central Road, Chilliwack | J. Maljaars 2013 | Also seen on April 20, 2013 until early afternoon (C. McDonald 2013). Photographed. |
| April 15, 2013 | Hope Airport, Hope | M. Force 2013 T. Plath 2013 | Two individuals seen together on the airport's grass runway. |
| June 2, 2012 | Harrison Lagoon, Harrison Hot Springs | K. Loos 2012 | Also seen on June 3, 2012. Photographed. Only June record for the area. |
| Early August, 2011 | Delair Farm, Hope | J. Delair 2011a | Two birds in his pasture. |
| May 7, 2011 | Sumas Central Rd, Chilliwack | G. Gadsden 2011f | A lone bird preening its feathers before flying. Photographed |
| April 7, 2010 | Banford Rd, Chilliwack | R. Toochin J. Osterhold 2010 | Three feeding in old corn stubble field. Seen until April 9, 2010. Single bird seen on April 10, 2010. Photographed. |
| April 21,2009 | Banford Rd, Chilliwack | J. Osterhold 2009 | Feeding in dirt field. Seen also on April 23, 2009. Possibly same bird as April 12, 2009. Photographed. |
| April 12, 2009 | Gallanders Rd, Chilliwack | B. Maljaars 2009 | A single bird flew out from a field. |
| April 27, 2006 | Leary School, Chilliwack | J. Overduin 2006 | Two feeding in field. Last seen on April 28, 2006. |
| May 7, 2003 | Bell Road, Abbotsford | B. Schmor 2003 | Spotted in farmer's field. |
| April 18, 2000 | Sumas Central Rd, Chilliwack | G. Gadsden 2000b | Feeding in recently ploughed field. Flew after an hour in a southwesterly direction. Photographed. |
Photos
