13 Small Birds with Long Beaks (Photos & ID Guide)

Quick answer

The small bird with the longest beak is the Sword-billed Hummingbird: its bill is 8-12cm, and it is the only bird whose bill is longer than the rest of its body (not counting the tail). For long beaks on small waders, look to the Long-billed Dowitcher, snipe and American Woodcock. In the desert, the Curve-billed Thrasher is the one to know, and in New Zealand the Kiwi has nostrils at the very tip of its bill.

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 western and northern Alaska and eastern Siberia. The main course on their menu is usually invertebrates, but they’re not picky eaters and will also feast on seeds and aquatic plants.

2. Sword-billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera)

Next up, we have the only bird whose bill is longer than the rest of its body (not counting the tail), the Sword-billed Hummingbird. This dazzling creature measures 13-14cm in body length, and its bill adds another 8-12cm on top of that! 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 remarkable bill allows it to reach nectar that other hummingbirds can’t.

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, breeding from Iceland and Europe across to central Asia and far eastern Russia, and wintering anywhere from western Europe and Africa to Australia. They are listed as Near Threatened, with populations declining. 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.

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 half of North America, these birds prefer young forests, wet thickets and brushy swamps. Their numbers have been falling by a little over 1% a year since the 1960s, largely because of habitat loss. Earthworms are their favorite dish, but they won’t say no to insects, mollusks, and plant matter.

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 and Asia. In North America, the birds once lumped in with it are now treated as a separate species, Wilson’s Snipe, which has a narrower white trailing edge on the wing. 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.

6. Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)

Whimbrels have this long beak with a distinctive kink, rather than a smooth curve like a curlew’s, 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, breeding in the Arctic and subarctic of North America and Eurasia, and wintering on coasts as far afield as Africa, South Asia, Australasia and South America. They love their seafood and use their long beaks to probe sand and mud for invertebrates, particularly crabs and mollusks.

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 from Scandinavia to Alaska, but when the cold sets in, it migrates to Africa, Australasia, and southern Asia. Alaska-breeding birds hold the record for the longest known non-stop flight of any bird, one tagged female covering 11,680 km in eight days on the way to New Zealand. It prefers coastal areas, where it uses its long bill to probe the ground for invertebrates, particularly worms and shellfish.

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 27-28cm, 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.

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.

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.

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 bird uses its long beak to feed on nectar from a variety of tropical flowers.

Found from central Mexico through Central America into Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, 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.

12. Kiwi (Apteryx spp.)

The Kiwi may be flightless, but it soars high when it comes to uniqueness. This bird from New Zealand is about the size of a chicken, standing roughly 25-45cm tall depending on the species, and sports a shaggy, hair-like plumage. Its long, sensitive beak has its nostrils at the very tip, so it can sniff out food underground.

Kiwi birds are mostly nocturnal forest-dwellers, and they love their solitude. All five species are threatened, mainly by introduced predators such as stoats, dogs and cats. When it comes to food, these birds are true gourmands, relishing earthworms, insects, berries, and seeds.

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 dark metallic purple throat patch. Their long, straight bill is ideal for extracting nectar from tubular flowers.

The Long-billed Starthroat ranges from Mexico through Central America and much of South America, living at woodland edges and in semi-open country such as pastures with trees. Its diet primarily consists of nectar, but like many hummingbirds, it will occasionally indulge in small insects.

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!

Frequently asked questions

Which small bird has the longest beak?

The Sword-billed Hummingbird. Its bill measures 8-12cm, and it is the only known bird whose bill is longer than the rest of its body, excluding the tail.

Why do these birds have such long beaks?

It depends on the menu. Snipe, dowitchers, godwits and woodcocks probe soft mud or soil for worms and other invertebrates, while hummingbirds such as the sword-billed and the hermits reach nectar deep inside long, tubular flowers. The Kiwi’s sensitive bill, with nostrils at its tip, helps it find prey underground.

Can I see a Common Snipe in North America?

Not under that name any more. North American birds are now classed as Wilson’s Snipe, which was split from the Common Snipe in the early 2000s. You can tell them apart in the hand by tail feather count and wing edge, but in the field the habitat and range usually settle it: marshes and wet meadows across Canada and the northern US in summer.