Curlew Sandpiper

The Curlew Sandpiper is a medium-sized shorebird that has very distinctive breeding plumage and an extraordinary down-curved bill. They are usually found among flocks of Dunlin and so direct comparisons between the two species can be made. Curlew Sandpipers appear more elegant than Dunlin with a more upright stance, due to their longer legs and elongated neck. This species has moved up in the list to Near Threatened owing to a global population decline which is thought to approach the threshold for Vulnerable. It is a regular winter visitor in India, but in declining numbers.