This species, largest among North American shorebirds, resembles a godwit with an extremely long, decurved bill. Adult is sandy-brown overall, heavily patterned with warm brown and black on wings and back. Underparts are relatively unmarked buffy, with fine light streaks on neck. Head is unpatterned compared to other North American curlews. Eye often looks large and stands out on the otherwise plain face. Bill is very long, pink at the base, and curves downward. Bill length varies; females have longer bills than males and immatures have shorter bills than adults. In flight, note cinnamon-orange patches in wings.

Length: 58 (cm) Wingspan: 89 (cm)

Voice:

Loud flight call a rising cur-LEE; also various slurred whistles and bubbling notes.

Habitat:

Open fields, short-grass marshes, prairies, lakeshores, mudflats, grasslands.

Behavior:

Typically walks slowly along the ground, stands stationary, or flies in looping circles. Nest is a scrape on the ground lined with vegetation.

Feeding:

Probes into mud with long bill or picks food from ground surface; eats a variety of insects, beetles, spiders, grasshoppers, and invertebrates.