Hello there, fellow bird enthusiasts! It’s time to ruffle some feathers and take a beak dive into the world of our feathered friends, specifically, small birds that sport impressively long beaks. Ready to take off? Let’s go!
13 Small Birds with Long Beaks
1. Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
Meet the Long-billed Dowitcher, an intriguing little bird that could easily be mistaken for a snipe or a sandpiper. It’s a medium-sized bird, measuring 29-31cm in length, and possesses a wonderfully cryptic plumage that seems to shift from russet in the summer to grey in the winter. But what sets it apart is its long beak, which it uses like a sewing machine needle to probe the ground for its invertebrate prey.
These birds like their homes wet. They’re usually found in marshes, mudflats, and the likes, especially during migration and wintering. But come breeding season, you’ll find them nesting in the North American Arctic Tundra. The main course on their menu is usually invertebrates, but they’re not picky eaters and will also feast on seeds and aquatic plants.
Bird Species | Long-billed Dowitcher |
Aquatic invertebrates, insects, sometimes seeds | |
Location | Arctic in North America, migrates to Southern United States, Central America |
Habitat | Wetlands, marshes |
Size | Length 29-33 cm, weight 110-200 grams |
Appearance | Rusty red in summer, gray in winter, long, straight beak |
2. Sword-billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera)
Next up, we have the only bird with a beak longer than its body, the Sword-billed Hummingbird. This dazzling creature measures 13-14cm in length with its bill contributing almost 10cm to it! Cloaked in iridescent green feathers with a hint of bronze on the back and vent, it truly is a sight to behold.
This hummingbird hails from the high montane forests and páramo of the Andes. It feeds on nectar from flowers with long corollas, including Passiflora mixta, a species of passionflower. Its long beak and equally long tongue (can you even imagine!) allow it to reach nectar that other hummingbirds can’t.
| Bird Species | Sword-billed Hummingbird |
| Diet | Nectar from flowers, small insects |
| Location | Andes Mountains in South America |
| Habitat | Montane forest, cloud forest |
| Size | Length 13-14 cm, weight 10-15 grams. Beak length can be over 10 cm |
| Appearance | Green body with a blackish-green tail, white underparts, and a long, straight, sword-like beak |
3. Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
Say hello to the slender and elegant Black-tailed Godwit, a bird that isn’t quite small, but definitely not large either. The male’s intricate brick-red breeding plumage is a true spectacle, and so is its long, straight bill, which comes quite handy when foraging in deep water.
Black-tailed Godwits are globe trotters, nesting in north-west Europe, and wintering all the way in Africa and Asia. These long-distance migrants are mostly found in freshwater marshes and estuaries, where they feed on insects, worms, and aquatic plants. During migration and winter, they can be found in a variety of wetlands.
| Bird Species | Black-tailed Godwit |
| Diet | Worms, aquatic insects |
| Location | Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand |
| Habitat | Wetlands, grasslands |
| Size | Length 42-46 cm, weight 280-340 grams |
| Appearance | Brownish upperparts, white underparts, long beak |
4. American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)
Meet the American Woodcock, a bird of the shadows. With its plump, round body, the American Woodcock may not look like much at first. But don’t be fooled, this bird has some tricks up its wings. Its mottled plumage serves as the perfect camouflage against predators, and its long bill? An essential tool for probing soil for earthworms.
Found mainly in the eastern part of North America, these birds prefer young forests and wet meadows. Earthworms are their favorite dish, but they won’t say no to insects, mollusks, and plant matter.
| Bird Species | American Woodcock |
| Diet | Earthworms, insects |
| Location | Eastern North America |
| Habitat | Forests, fields |
| Size | Length 27-35 cm, weight 140-230 grams |
| Appearance | Brown and gray mottled upperparts, long beak |
5. Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
If there were a hide-and-seek championship in the bird world, the Common Snipe would be a strong contender for the crown. Its cryptic plumage blends beautifully with the marshy grasslands, making it nearly invisible. Measuring 25-27cm in length, this bird has an impressively long, flexible bill that is perfect for extracting invertebrates from mud and soil.
The Common Snipe is found across Europe, Asia, and North America. These birds are masters of the marshlands, whether freshwater, saltwater, or somewhere in between. And when it comes to food, they have a ‘the muddier, the better’ policy, enjoying a diet of invertebrates and occasionally plant matter.
| Bird Species | Common Snipe |
| Diet | Worms, insects |
| Location | Europe, Asia, North America |
| Habitat | Marshes, wet grasslands |
| Size | Length 25-27 cm, weight 80-150 grams |
| Appearance | Brown with dark stripes, long beak |
6. Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
Whimbrels have this long, curved beak that’s hard to miss, almost as if it’s always asking the question, “Why so serious?” They’re a bit larger than the other birds on this list, measuring around 37-47cm. Their brown, streaky plumage and striped head are also quite distinctive.
Whimbrels are world travelers, with a breeding range that spans from the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia to Africa, South America, and Australia during the winter. They love their seafood and use their long beaks to probe sand and mud for invertebrates, particularly crabs and mollusks.
| Bird Species | Whimbrel |
| Diet | Crustaceans, insects |
| Location | North America, Europe, Asia, Africa |
| Habitat | Marshes, coastal areas |
| Size | Length 37-47 cm, weight 270-490 grams |
| Appearance | Brownish-gray plumage, long curved beak |
7. Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
Say hello to the Bar-tailed Godwit, the slightly smaller cousin of the Black-tailed Godwit. A touch smaller than its cousin, this bird measures 37-41cm and has a slightly upturned bill. Its non-breeding plumage is a dull grey, but come breeding season, the underparts turn a lovely rufous.
The Bar-tailed Godwit breeds in the Arctic of Eurasia, but when the cold sets in, it migrates to Africa, Australasia, and southern Asia. It prefers coastal areas, where it uses its long bill to probe the ground for invertebrates, particularly worms and shellfish.
| Bird Species | Bar-tailed Godwit |
| Diet | Worms, aquatic insects |
| Location | Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand |
| Habitat | Wetlands, grasslands |
| Size | Length 37-41 cm, weight 190-400 grams |
| Appearance | Brown with dark bars on tail, long beak |
8. Curve-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre)
Welcome to the Southwestern U.S. and Mexico, the stomping grounds of the Curve-billed Thrasher. This bird measures 26-28cm, and its grey-brown plumage and distinct long, curved bill stand out against the desert backdrop.
Unlike the other birds on this list, the Curve-billed Thrasher is no fan of marshes or mudflats. Instead, it thrives in the desert scrub and spiny succulent forests. Its diet is as diverse as its habitat, consisting of insects, seeds, fruits, and occasionally small lizards.
| Bird Species | Curve-billed Thrasher |
| Diet | Insects, berries, and seeds |
| Location | Southwestern U.S. and Mexico |
| Habitat | Deserts, thorny scrublands |
| Size | Length 25-28 cm, weight 68-89 grams |
| Appearance | Grayish-brown overall with a long, curved beak |
9. Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus)
Here’s the Long-billed Curlew, the bird with one of the longest bills among North American birds. This bird is rather large compared to others on the list, measuring 50-65cm in length. Its cinnamon-brown plumage and extraordinarily long, decurved bill make it a memorable sight.
The Long-billed Curlew breeds in the grasslands of the Great Plains and Great Basin. It prefers a diet of insects and small vertebrates during the breeding season but switches to a seafood diet on its coastal wintering grounds.
| Bird Species | Long-billed Curlew |
| Diet | Invertebrates, insects, small vertebrates |
| Location | North America, wintering in Central and South America |
| Habitat | Grasslands, beaches, mudflats |
| Size | Length 50-65 cm, weight 490-950 grams |
| Appearance | Brown with a very long, down-curved beak |
10. Green Hermit (Phaethornis guy)
The Green Hermit is a large hummingbird that lives up to its name. Its green plumage and long, decurved beak set it apart from its counterparts. Want to know more about hummingbirds? Head to our Hummingbird Species Guide for a wealth of information.
This hummingbird species resides in the humid forest and woodland areas throughout its range from Central America to the northern regions of South America. Its long, curved bill is a remarkable adaptation, allowing the bird to feed from long, tubular flowers which match the curvature of its bill.
Primarily, the Green Hermit feeds on nectar, but it’s not above catching the occasional insect or spider. Interestingly, this species participates in traplining, a foraging technique where it follows a habitual route to feed from numerous plants in a specific sequence.
| Bird Species | Green Hermit |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects |
| Location | Central America and Northern South America |
| Habitat | Wet lowland forests, montane forests |
| Size | Length 13-15 cm, weight 6-7 grams |
| Appearance | Mostly green body with a darker green tail, and a long, decurved beak |
11. Long-billed Hermit (Phaethornis longirostris)
The Long-billed Hermit is another hummingbird that boasts a long bill. Its green dorsal feathers and rufous coloration on the wings and tail make it easily identifiable. This Central American bird uses its long beak to feed on nectar from a variety of tropical flowers.
Native to the rainforests of Central America, these birds are lovers of deep forests, secondary growth, and plantations. Nectar is their primary source of food, but they supplement it with insects and spiders caught in flight.
| Bird Species | Long-billed Hermit |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects |
| Location | Central America |
| Habitat | Forest undergrowth, plantations |
| Size | Length 15-16 cm, weight 6-7 grams |
| Appearance | Green upperparts, brownish underparts, long curved beak |
12. Kiwi (Apteryx spp.)
The Kiwi may be flightless, but it soars high when it comes to uniqueness. This bird from New Zealand stands at 35cm and sports a shaggy, hair-like plumage. Its long beak, which is about one-third of its body length, is used to probe the ground for food.
Kiwi birds are forest-dwellers, and they love their solitude. When it comes to food, these birds are true gourmands, relishing earthworms, insects, berries, and seeds.
| Bird Species | Kiwi |
| Diet | Invertebrates, seeds, and worms |
| Location | New Zealand |
| Habitat | Forests, grasslands |
| Size | Length 35-45 cm, weight 1.3-3.3 kg (varies by species) |
| Appearance | Brown, fuzzy, flightless bird with a long beak |
13. Long-billed Starthroat (Heliomaster longirostris)
Our last but not least bird is the Long-billed Starthroat, another jewel of the hummingbird family. The males are particularly stunning with their iridescent green plumage and red throat. Their long, straight bill is ideal for extracting nectar from tubular flowers.
The Long-billed Starthroat calls Central and South America home, living in forest edges and open country. Its diet primarily consists of nectar, but like many hummingbirds, it will occasionally indulge in small insects.
| Bird Species | Long-billed Starthroat |
| Diet | Nectar, small insects |
| Location | Central America and Northern South America |
| Habitat | Tropical forests, gardens |
| Size | Length 10-11 cm, weight 6-7 grams |
| Appearance | Green upperparts, white underparts with a red stripe on the throat, long beak |
Conclusion
From mud-probing snipes to nectar-sipping hummingbirds, it’s clear that a long beak can be quite the asset in the bird world. So, the next time you’re out birding, make sure to keep an eye out for these magnificent birds. Remember, conservation is key, so respect their habitats and observe from a distance.
Happy birding!
James has always been an avid outdoorsman. Since a kid, he kept a journal of all the different birds and species he saw. Now he wants to share his passion with other birders with Happy Birding!
