Eskimo Curlew vs Hudsonian Godwit

In short

The Eskimo Curlew and Hudsonian Godwit are both medium-sized shorebirds, but they differ notably in bill shape and plumage. The Eskimo Curlew has a shorter, slightly decurved bill and rich cinnamon wing-linings, while the Hudsonian Godwit has a longer, straighter bill and lacks the cinnamon wash.

Identification tips

1. Bill Shape: Eskimo Curlew has a shorter, slightly decurved bill; Hudsonian Godwit has a longer, straighter bill. 2. Wing-linings: Look for rich cinnamon in Eskimo Curlew, absent in Hudsonian Godwit. 3. Size and Structure: Eskimo Curlew is smaller and more compact; Hudsonian Godwit is larger and more robust. 4. Plumage: Eskimo Curlew has a faint superciliary stripe and darker primaries; Hudsonian Godwit is more uniformly gray-brown.

Size

The Eskimo Curlew is smaller and more compact compared to the larger and more robust Hudsonian Godwit.

Plumage

Eskimo Curlew has sooty black to grayish brown upperparts with cinnamon underparts and wing-linings, while the Hudsonian Godwit has more uniform gray-brown plumage without the rich cinnamon wash.

Behaviour

Both species are migratory, but the Hudsonian Godwit undertakes long nonstop flights to South America, which is a notable behavior.

Habitat

Eskimo Curlew is historically associated with grasslands and tundra, while Hudsonian Godwit breeds in sedge meadows and muskeg near coastal mudflats or river systems.