Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) is in the Sandpipers and Allies family (Scolopacidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 23,131 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Long-billed Curlew: observations by month (U.S.)
About Long-billed Curlew
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.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Long-billed Curlew by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 17,075 | September | Jun–Apr |
| Texas | 3,456 | March | Jul–Apr |
| Utah | 597 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Oregon | 352 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Montana | 293 | June | Apr–Jun |
| Arizona | 236 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Idaho | 230 | April | Apr–Jun |
| New Mexico | 156 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Colorado | 155 | April | Apr–May |
| Washington | 116 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Nevada | 67 | June | Apr–Jun |
| Florida | 57 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Wyoming | 56 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Louisiana | 53 | November | Aug–Jan |
| Nebraska | 49 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 40 | May | Apr–May |
| South Dakota | 27 | June | Apr–Jul |
| South Carolina | 23 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Georgia | 17 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Kansas | 17 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Mississippi | 14 | October | Oct–Oct |
| North Carolina | 10 | November | Oct–Nov |
| North Dakota | 10 | June | May–Jun |
| Virginia | 7 | December | Nov–Jan |
| Michigan | 5 | April | Apr–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Sandpipers and Allies)
Willet
Sanderling
Least Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Ruddy Turnstone
Marbled Godwit
Hudsonian Whimbrel
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Long-billed Curlew?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from December to November.
Where is Long-billed Curlew most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Utah.