This is a large dull-brown shorebird with a fairly long decurved bill. In all plumages, the wing tips do not extend much past the tail. The bill is black with variable amounts of pale reddish at the base of the lower mandible. The legs are blue-gray. Adult: Upperparts are dull gray-brown with whitish notches on the scapulars and wing coverts. The head shows a dark brown lateral crown stripe separated by a whitish central stripe, a light supercilium, and a dark eye line. The underparts are dull off-white, with fine dark streaks on the neck and breast, and barring on the sides. In flight, the bird appears fairly uniform dark brown, with barring on the tail and underside of the wings. Juveniles: Similar to adult, but shows more extensive white notching on upperparts. The bill is often much shorter than on adults, causing a resemblance to Eskimo Curlew. Whimbrel has shorter wing extension and barred primaries. European birds, which occasionally show up along the East Coast, shows a whitish tail, a white wedge extending up the back, and mostly white underwings in flight. The belly is bright white. The Siberian race, which is rare along the West Coast, shows a dark barred tail and white wedge on the rump and lower back in flight; underwings are barred gray. The belly is bright white.

Length: 43 (cm) Wingspan: 79 (cm)

Voice:

Call is a rapid series of sharp whistles: pip-pip-pip-pip-pip-pip.

Habitat:

Nests on tundra. Uses a wide range of habitats in migration, including beaches, mudflats, meadows, farm fields, sewage ponds.

Behavior:

Though generally seen in small flocks, during migratory peaks flocks of hundreds and sometimes thousands gather to roost in coastal pasturelands.

Feeding:

Feeds on marine invertebrates, insects, berries.