Look at the rump, Curlew SP would have a white rump and clean flanks.
Jamie Adams
New Hanover, NC
On Mon, Nov 24, 2025 at 10:30 AM Chris Marsh <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> Reading the description I see why one might think this is a curlew
> sandpiper, but this bird’s bill is not the right shape for a curlew
> sandpiper. A curlew sandpiper’s bill is is more strongly decurved than the
> bill of this dunlin and the tip is more slender
>
>
> Chris Marsh
> (843)252-9784
> <cmarshlci...>
>
>
> On Mon, Nov 24, 2025 at 10:25 AM Karen LORENZO <carolinabirds...>
> wrote:
>
>> The bird in the image is a *Curlew Sandpiper* (*Calidris ferruginea*) in
>> non-breeding plumage. It can be distinguished from a Dunlin by its
>> slightly larger size, longer legs, and longer, finer, more downcurved bill.
>>
>>
>> I have seen a dunlin before, generally the head
>> on the dunlin is more stout.
>>
>> This is what came up when adding the
>> image to "Google image"
>>
>> On Mon, Nov 24, 2025, 10:20 AM Michael Fogleman <fogleman...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I found Karen's photos here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRcNtGSEWyh/ >>>
>>> Michael
>>> Cary, NC
>>>
>>> On Mon, Nov 24, 2025 at 9:52 AM Karen LORENZO <carolinabirds...>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Not on either of them, sorry.
>>>>
>>>> It is posted to instagram under rare bird
>>>> #rareshorebird
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Nov 24, 2025, 9:40 AM Robert Lewis <rfermat...> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Can you post photos to ebird or "What's this Bird" on facebook?
>>>>>
>>>>> Bob Lewis
>>>>> Durham NC
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Monday, November 24, 2025 at 08:30:28 AM EST, Karen LORENZO" (via
>>>>> carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm not an avid birder, I just happened upon this bird while at Fort
>>>>> Fisher.
>>>>>
>>>>> When I looked up the photos I had taken, research says it is a curlew
>>>>> sandpiper.
>>>>>
>>>>> * After migrating to the Arctic from as far away as South Africa,
>>>>> male Curlew Sandpipers only stay for about 10 days to breed before heading
>>>>> back south. Females stay longer to incubate eggs and care for chicks, but
>>>>> as soon as the young are independent (at 2–3 weeks of age), females also
>>>>> take off to the south.
>>>>> * With its penchant for flying long distances, Curlew Sandpiper
>>>>> can turn up just about anywhere. This species is a rare but regular visitor
>>>>> to North America, where it has occurred in at least 45 U.S. states and all
>>>>> 10 Canadian provinces
>>>>>
>>>>>
