Biometrics and mass of Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea in Senegal

The proportion of first-year Curlew Sandpipers in Senegal in the 1987/88 nonbreeding season was 54% (n = 102). Biometric results confirmed those of earlier studies elsewhere in the range. Mean mass of adults was 54.0 g and of first-years was 54.3 g. The sex ratio of adults was estimated to be 63% males and 37% females (n = 41), in line with the hypothesis that the nonbreeding areas of males are farther north than those of females. Primary moult of adults was almost complete by the end of December; no first year birds moulted.