Last updated 4/11//96
There has really not been any undisputable sighting of an Eskimo Curlew in 10 years, but teasers do keep filtering in. The UTC was the last place it was sighted. I will be watching for it this year in the rice fields around Houston.
The Eskimo Curlew could easily be mistaken for a couple of other birds, Upland Sandpiper and Whimbrel. The Eskimo Curlew (12-14 inches) is a little bigger than the Upland Sandpiper (11-12 inches) with a flatter head and a down curved bill. It is about %25 percent smaller than the Whimbrel (17 inches). It is a rich cinnamon color overall. The bill is shorter than a Whimbrel. The legs are dark green instead of bluish. There is a series of dark V's or Y's on the breast and flanks. There is a single light line over the eye. The call has never been recorded, but is described as a tee tee tee or bee bee bee
The Eskimo Curlew may move through the area in March and April. Look for it in shallow marshes, plowed fields, grasslands, mudflats, and perhaps rice fields.
If you do sight a possible Eskimo Curlew document it as best as you can. Pictures or video if at all possible. For more information on how to document a rare sighting of any bird see the Texas Bird Records Committee of the Texas Ornithological Society. A call to the Texas RBA would also be a good idea (713) 992-2757
Keep your eyes open, becareful and good luck!
Greg Lasley, secretary of the TBRC recently posted (3/30/96) a summary of Texas records of Eskimo Curlew to the TexBird list. Here is that summary:
Dear Texas birders et al.:
In response to E.G's request for Eskimo Curlew records I post the following. The Accepted Eskimo Curlew records in Texas are all in the 19th century except for 1-2 birds that were on Galveston Island between 24 March-15 April 1962. That is the ONLY accepted 20th century record in Texas. There are three 20th century records that have had documentation submitted to the TBRC that were not accepted. These are: 7 May 81 (23 birds) Atkinson Island, Chambers Co. There was a published paper by Blankinship and King (1984) on this record. There was insufficient description of the birds to allow the TBRC to accept the record despite the published paper. It was way outside of habitat and dates for the species to be likely in Texas. Also, another unaccepted record on 2 May 87 in Aransas Co., and another unaccepted record on 18 April 1994 at Crystal Beach, Galveston Co.
In addition there are 30 "unsubmitted" records in Texas in the 1800's. By unsubmitted we mean that there were reports of birds, but no specimen, description, photo, etc., has been located. There are 14 unsubmitted reports in the 20th century, the most recent ones being 17 April 87 at Sabine Pass, 31 Mar 85 Galveston Island, and 11 Mar 84 at San Antonio. These were simply reports that someone thought they saw one, but no other information was recorded. There are 4 separate unsubmitted records in the 1960's on Galveston Island in addition to the accepted record, but no documentation of any type, even a description is available. Certainly some of these are likely valid records, but there is no way to verify this at this time.
E.G., if you or others would like more information on any of the Texas Review Species, I have it. I hope this species is still out there someplace, but the fact is there has not been a well documented record in 34 years in Texas despite several 2nd and 3rd hand reports without enough information to be reviewed.
Greg Lasley
Secretary, TBRC
Austin