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8

Eurasian Curlew

(Numenius arquata)
German name(s): "Großer Brachvogel"
Size: 50-60 cm; wing span 0.8-1.0 m
Weight: 410-1360 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Eurasian Curlew at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "arquata"

ADULT

MALE

Near-dorsal view of a 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]

Near-dorsal view of a male Eurasian Curlew in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sado river estuary, Setubal, Portugal, August 2022]

Comparison of the two sexes: Male Eurasian Curlew, above, female below (photos courtesy of J. Pires)
[Obidos, Leiria, Portugal, February 2023]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a Eurasian Curlew, probably a female - note the very long bill (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, March 2017]

Female Eurasian Curlew banking to land (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Obidos, Leiria, Portugal, February 2023]

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]

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a 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]

Lateral view of a small flock of Eurasian Curlews in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sado river estuary, Setubal, Portugal, August 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a Eurasian Curlew in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[San Jorge Island, Azores, November 2018]

Dorsal view of a Eurasian Curlew banking to land (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[San Jorge Island, Azores, November 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Adult Eurasian Curlew, left, with a juvenile (photos courtesy of J. Pires)
[Obidos, Leiria, Portugal, February 2023]

Race "orientalis"

We have photographed Eurasian Curlews, race "orientalis", in Oman.

Food, Diet

Eurasian Curlew swallowing its prey (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, May 2018]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

curlew_dw_20200604.m4a (Poland) Contact calls(?) © DW
curlew_jp_20200720.m4a (Portugal) Contact calls? (Q&A) © JP
curlew_jp_20200314.m4a (Portugal) ? © JP

More Eurasian Curlew sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

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.

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If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.