Curlew Poland (1 Viewer)

[AGDK]

Hello

I just saw these birds today... They are confusing to me.. Length of bill seems quite different.. But both have same pattern under the wing (Like Curlew) and both have short legs (not reaching out behind the tail, which indicates Whimbrel)..

What is right and wrong here?

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Both are Curlew, as they lack contrasting head-pattern and bill of the left bird is to long. Please note, that male Curlew has on average shorter bill than the female.
I havent much experience (avoides this many times before), but I think left bird must be female, because bill length is on the extrem end of range in Eurasian Curlew. If this is a breeding pair, than the left bird is the female and the right bird the male for sure.

 

[AGDK]

Hi Alexander..

Thanks for your explanation.. I only thought it was the juvenile that had shorter bill.. I don't see too many of them around here, so I have limited with experience with Curlew/Whimbrel..