The curlew sandpiper is a small, migratory wader known for its distinctive long, down-curved bill, long black legs, and a conspicuous white rump in flight. When arriving just after freeding the adults are a rich, deep brick-red or chestnut on the head, neck, and underparts, with patterned dark grey and red-spotted upperparts. Whilst Non-breeding Birds are pale grey-brown above and white below, with a noticeable white supercilium (eyebrow stripe).

Curlew sandpipers forage in soft mud on marshes, coastal mudflats, and wetlands, using their curved bills to probe for small invertebrates like polychaete worms, molluscs, and crustaceans.

They can occur in big flocks and numbers at Seberang Perai Utara, estimated to be 2000 per season.