Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

HOW TO IDENTIFY:

* Length: 14 inches
* Large shorebird
* Long decurved bill
* Dark legs
* Grayish-white and brown head stripes
* Brown upperparts with small light and dark spots
* Brown streaked neck and breast
* White belly and undertail coverts
* Plain upperparts, no wing stripe and dark rump (most birds in US)
* Juvenile has larger buff spots on the upperparts

Similar species:

Long-billed Curlew is larger, has longer bill, and lacks head stripes. In Alaska, Bristle-thighed Curlew has rusty tail and rump.