About this Painting: The long-billed curlew is the largest bird in the curlew family. Its bill is 6 to 7 inches long, whereas most shore birds have only a one to three inch bill. Their bill length allows these birds to reach down into the wet sand a full three to four inches further than the other birds to retrieve food. They are well adapted to the food source. They feed on crabs and can support their large bodies quite well. They are somewhat rare with smaller populations than the godwit or willet. I spotted this one near Ventura, California in early October, where they winter. The coloring on this curlew was cinnamon to a deep buff, although their colors vary during breeding season. It was a pleasure to paint such a majestic bird.
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