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The Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) is a large North American shorebird of the family Scolopacidae. This species was also called “sicklebird" and the "candlestick bird". The species breeds in central and western North America, migrating southward and coastward for the winter.

The long-billed curlew is the largest sandpiper of regular occurrence in North America. It is 20–26 in long. Its disproportionally long bill curves downward and measures 4.4–8.6 in, and rivals the bill of the larger-bodied Far Eastern curlew as the longest bill of any shorebird. Individuals have a long neck and a small head. The neck and underparts are a light cinnamon in color, while the crown is streaked with brown. This species exhibits reversed sexual dimorphism, as in many sandpipers, the female being larger and having a much longer bill than the male's.

The species displays an elaborate courtship dance, with fast and looping display flights also being common.

Though both parents look after the young, females usually abandon the brood to the male 1–3 weeks after hatching and depart for winter grounds.

Long-billed curlews often feed in flocks. Using the long bill, an individual probes the mud or other substrate for suitable food. The usual food consists of crabs and various other small invertebrates. The species also feeds on grasshoppers, beetles, and other insects. This bird has been known occasionally to eat the eggs of other birds.

The population was significantly reduced at the end of the 19th century by hunting, though numbers have rebounded somewhat in more-recent times. It has been down listed to Least Concern status in 2008.

Candlestick Point in San Francisco was named after this indigenous bird, and subsequently Candlestick Park stadium inherited the name.

Its ultra long bill was a tribute to Darwinian Natural Selection, giving it great advantage in getting creatures buried deep in the mud.

These photographs were taken at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, CA.

Long-billed Curlew

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