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Glite Dictionary
curlew sandpiper

curlew sandpiper

9.9
A small migratory bird with a long curved bill that feeds on mudflats
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : aguja colipinta
  • The curlew sandpiper is often seen along coastal mudflats during migration season.

Examples

  • With its long, down-curved bill, the curlew sandpiper is easily identified among other waders.

  • Flocks of curlew sandpipers gather at wetlands to rest and feed before continuing their journey.

  • The curlew sandpiper is known for its long migrations.

  • Many curlew sandpipers can be spotted along the coast.

  • Flocks of curlew sandpipers gather at wetlands to rest and feed before continuing their journey.

  • The curlew sandpiper is often seen along coastal mudflats during migration season.

  • With its long, down-curved bill, the curlew sandpiper is easily identified among other waders.

Synonyms

Calidris ferruginea
vscurlew sandpiper
  • Specialized
9.9

A small shorebird with a long bill that curves down and migrates long distances

is the usual common name used in everyday speech

Surface Forms

curlew sandpiper singular
curlew sandpipers plural

Morphology

curlew + sandpiper

The compound is fully compositional: 'curlew' modifies 'sandpiper' to indicate a sandpiper that resembles or is related to a curlew. This noun+noun naming pattern is a common, literal type-labeling strategy (a sandpiper with curlew-like features), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Curlew sandpiper gets its name from how the bird looks: it has the long, down-curved bill of a curlew and the small, active body of a sandpiper, and it feeds on mudflats during migration. So, the name points to this bird's shape and helps people identify it.