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Eurasian Curlew
(Numenius arquata)
 German name(s): "Großer Brachvogel"
Size: 50-60 cm; wing span 0.8-1.0 m
Weight: 410-1360 g
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Similar
species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Eurasian Curlews are big, long-billed shorebirds.
They have a brown, scalloped front (head, neck, chest and belly),
while the vent is off-white. The wings
are boldly scalloped light and dark-brown. The uppertail is barred.
Their plumage is
cryptic, i.e.
camouflaged, against the background of a mudflat.
The irises are dark.
The dark-grey bill is long and curved downwards, with a lighter,
pinkish base of the lower mandible.
Females
have a longer bill than
males.
The legs and feet are grey.
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Twitcher's tip |
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Compared to Eastern
Curlews, which have a dark-brown rump, Eurasian Curlews have
a light-brown rump.
The correct identification of waders ("shorebirds"), e.g. of the
Calidris, Tringa, Actitis etc.
or of the
Charadrius, Pluvialis and related
genera in the field can be quite tricky. We have therefore made an attempt
to give some advice
HERE.
"Raptors"
(or "birds of prey"), most prominently, but also some species of
waders, show a pronounced
"dimorphism", i.e.
a difference between male and female birds - not just in the appearance
of the plumage, but in
other, important properties, such as size or strength.
Here we
explain why.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Eurasian
Curlew at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
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The global distribution of the Eurasian Curlew is available
HERE
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There are 3 races of Eurasian Curlews, which are a partly migratory
species.
Altogether, their breeding areas lie in western, central and northern
Europe (race "arquata"),
in western and central Siberia and further
to the East in north-eastern China (race "orientalis") and from
western Kazakhstan to southwestern Siberia (race "schuschkini").
Many birds, in particular in the southern parts of their breeding
ranges, can be sedentary. Others, mostly from the northern parts
of the breeding range, will spend the winters further South, e.g.
around the western European and Mediterranean coastline or parts
of the North-African coastline. There are also wintering grounds
on the East coast of the Black Sea, the South coast of the Caspian Sea
and around the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, around the Indian
subcontinent and into parts of South-east Asia. In the far East
there are wintering areas along the coastline of China, Taiwan,
Korea and Japan. They are less commonly found in the south-eastern
Asian island nations.
In Europe Eurasian Curlews, race
"arquata",
are found primarily in western, central and northern Europe,
with very few records farther East than the Baltic states,
Finland and the North coast of the Black Sea.
Northward of the Alps and the Pyrenees, they are found both as
permanent residents and as breeding migrants, whereas around
the Mediterranean Sea they are either permanent residents or
winter visitors.
The major areas where Eurasian Curlews, race
"arquata",
are found are the British Isles, the German and Benelux countries'
North Sea coastal fringe, the French and Iberian coastlines
and, to a lesser degree, inland mostly lake districts and
other prominent wetland areas, such as e.g. in southern Finland,
the Hungarian Pusta and the area to the North of the Alps.
Outside the breeding season Eurasian Curlews are often found
in coastal habitats, such as beaches, estuaries and mudflats.
During the breeding season they are more common around fresh
water, in swamps and marshes.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "arquata"
D. Wilczynska reports spotting Eurasian Curlews, race
"arquata",
in wetlands along the river Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland,
in March 2017, and again in May 2018.
J. Pires reports finding Eurasian Curlews, race
"arquata",
semi-regularly from August to April in various locations in near-coastal
central Portugal, where they overwinter.
The species was found on the Azores in November 2018 as well.
M. Eaton found an Eurasian Curlew, race
"arquata",
near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, in September 2019.
H. Dahlem-Senger found an Eurasian Curlew, race
"arquata",
on Spiekeroog, Ostfriesland, Germany, in June 2021.
Race "orientalis"
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Photos |
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Race "arquata"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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Near-dorsal view of an Eurasian Curlew, based on the length of
the bill probably a male (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a male(?) Eurasian Curlew
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]
Eurasian Curlews feeding in a partially submerged meadow; the
bird on the right is likely a male
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, March 2017]
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FEMALE |
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Frontal view of an Eurasian Curlew, probably a female - note
the very long bill (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, March 2017]
Eurasian Curlews feeding in a partially submerged meadow;
most likely the bird on the right is a female - note the
long bill
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, March 2017]
Eurasian Curlews feeding in shallow water; most likely the birds
on the left and right are females - note the long bills
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Obidos, Leiria, Portugal, April 2019]
Lateral view of an Eurasian Curlew spreading its wings
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, March 2017]
Near-dorsal view of a Eurasian Curlew
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Quinta de Marim, Ria Formosa, Olhao, Algarve, Portugal, November 2021]
Near-dorsal view of an Eurasian Curlew in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[San Jorge Island, Azores, November 2018]
Dorsal view of an Eurasian Curlew banking to land
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[San Jorge Island, Azores, November 2018]
Race "orientalis"
We have photographed Eurasian Curlews, race "orientalis",
in Oman.
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Food, Diet |
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Eurasian Curlew swallowing its prey
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2018]
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Call(s)/Song |
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For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own; are welcome.
More Eurasian Curlew sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
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These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
are welcome.