The Little Curlew is a medium-sized bird, easily identified by its long, downward-curving bill and brown plumage mottled with white. Adults measure about 40–45 cm in length. It feeds mainly on invertebrates, which it finds by probing moist soil with its specialized bill. It is a long-distance migrant. The Little Curlew prefers coastal habitats, such as estuaries and brackish marshes.