What is the Curlew Sandpiper?

The curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) is a small wader that breeds on the tundra of Arctic Siberia. The genus name is from Ancient Greek kalidris or skalidris, a term used by Aristotle for some grey-coloured waterside birds. The specific ferruginea is from Latin ferrugo, ferruginis, "iron rust" referring to its colour in breeding plumage.

Go Birding

Curlew Sandpiper

Q: What is the conservation status of the Curlew Sandpiper?

The Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Calidris ferrugineaVulnerable

The curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) is a small wader that breeds on the tundra of Arctic Siberia.

from Wikipedia

Showing stays that recordCurlew Sandpiper20+ stays list it on site or nearby

Species insights▾

When to visit

Recorded year-round

Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.

Best monthsAny month

Records717 records

Curve from 717 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.

Where you'll find it

Western Cape and beyond

Provinces where Curlew Sandpiper is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.

Western Cape

73%KwaZulu-Natal

16%Eastern Cape

717 records, iNaturalist

Parks where hosts record the Curlew Sandpiper

4 places
Kruger National ParkLimpopo · Best Apr to Sep
4 places

Places to stay

20+ results in South Africa

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

Hluhluwe

Curlew Sandpiper recorded here · Savanna biome · 285 birds recorded · African wild dog, Spotted hyena · Game drives

Price on request

Kwandwe Melton Manor

Eastern Cape

Curlew Sandpiper recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge

Eastern Cape

Curlew Sandpiper recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Game drives

Price on request

Kwandwe Uplands Homestead

Eastern Cape

Curlew Sandpiper recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Fort House

Eastern Cape

Curlew Sandpiper recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Kwandwe Ecca Lodge

Eastern Cape

Curlew Sandpiper recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · 207 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard

Price on request

Plains Camp @ Rhino Walking Safaris

Mpumalanga

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Aardvark, African elephant · Guided walk, Game drives

Supports BirdLife South Africa

Price on request

Kosi Forest Lodge

Manguzi

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Forest biome · 41 birds recorded · Hippopotamus, Nile crocodile · Canoeing, Fishing

Supports BirdLife South Africa

Price on request

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Hazyview

Curlew Sandpiper recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Game drives

From R 10,670 per night

Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge

Hazyview

Curlew Sandpiper recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Scenic drives

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,400 per night

Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp

Marloth Park

Curlew Sandpiper recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Impala, Spotted hyena · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 11,980 per night

Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp

Marloth Park

Curlew Sandpiper recorded here · Savanna biome · 224 birds recorded · Leopard, Lion · Safaris, Guided walk

Supports Endangered Wildlife Trust

From R 17,500 per night

Heritage View Birding Retreat

Delareyville

Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Grassland biome · 14 birds recorded · Brown hyena, Black backed jackal · Photography

Supports BirdLife South Africa

From R 1,000 per night

Coot, Shoveler, Egret & Moorhen Cottages

Rocherpan Nature Reserve

Curlew Sandpiper recorded here · Fynbos biome · 159 birds recorded · Photography

From R 1,990 per night

Kingfisher Cottage

Rocherpan Nature Reserve

Curlew Sandpiper recorded here · Fynbos biome · 159 birds recorded

From R 1,500 per night

Flamingo Cottage

Rocherpan Nature Reserve

Curlew Sandpiper recorded here · Fynbos biome · 159 birds recorded

From R 1,430 per night

Oystercatcher Cottage

Rocherpan Nature Reserve

Curlew Sandpiper recorded here · Fynbos biome · 159 birds recorded

From R 1,430 per night

Sandpiper Cottage

Rocherpan Nature Reserve

Curlew Sandpiper recorded here · Fynbos biome · 159 birds recorded

From R 1,430 per night

The Whale Trail (De Hoop)

De Hoop Nature Reserve

Curlew Sandpiper recorded here · Fynbos biome · 185 birds recorded · Bontebok, Southern right whale · Whale watching, Cycling

From R 6,460 per night

Damara Trail (De Mond)

De Mond Nature Reserve

Curlew Sandpiper recorded here · Fynbos biome · 163 birds recorded · Fishing

From R 3,690 per night

More stays nearby

Babylonstoren

Klapmuts, Simondium

12 birds recorded · Angulate tortoise, Wild olive · Spa, Vineyards

Price on request

Tanda Tula Safari Camp

Limpopo

Savanna biome · 27 birds recorded · Lion, Leopard · Guided walk, Game drives

Price on request

Thonga Beach Lodge

Manguzi

Forest biome · 60 birds recorded · Humpback whale, Southern right whale · Canoeing, Snorkelling

Price on request

La Clé Lodge & Villas

Franschhoek

Fynbos biome · Cycling

Price on request

Plan a trip around these stays

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Curlew Sandpiper

Hosts have recorded the Curlew Sandpiper at stays in or beside Kruger National Park.

Best hours of the day

The first hours after sunrise, and late afternoon. Birds call and feed most in the cool.
Midday. Quieter, especially in summer heat.

Ways to look

Drive yourself

Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.

Where hosts record it

Kruger

IUCN Red List

Vulnerable

Species

Calidris ferruginea

Records

717

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Curlew Sandpiper on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Curlew Sandpiper in South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Curlew Sandpiper at stays in or beside Kruger National Park. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.

Where can you see the Curlew Sandpiper in South Africa?

The Curlew Sandpiper is most recorded in Western Cape (73% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (16% of records), Eastern Cape (6% of records), based on 717 iNaturalist observations. 20 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Curlew Sandpiper on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Curlew Sandpiper?

The Curlew Sandpiper is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

What is the conservation status of the Curlew Sandpiper?