Curlews

Curlews are a group of wading birds in the genus Numenius, belonging to the family Scolopacidae. They are characterized by long, down-curved bills, relatively long legs, and cryptically colored plumage that helps them blend with mudflats, shorelines, and grasslands. The group includes about a dozen species, such as the Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata), the whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), the long-billed curlew (Numenius americanus), the hudsonian curlew (Numenius hudsonicus), the bristle-thighed curlew (Numenius tahitiensis), and the far eastern curlew (Numenius madagascariensis).

Curlews forage mainly for invertebrates, including worms, crustaceans, mollusks, and insect larvae, using their sensitive bills to probe in soft mud or shallow water. They are typically found in coastal habitats such as estuaries and mudflats, as well as open wetlands and grasslands. Many species undertake long migratory journeys between Arctic breeding grounds and wintering areas in temperate or tropical regions, and some are coastal or intertidal during passage.

Breeding is generally ground-nesting, with a shallow scrape that shelters a clutch of three to four eggs, incubated by both parents in most species. Plumage is largely drab and mottled, providing camouflage during the breeding season. Curlews are vocal during migration and at breeding sites, producing distinctive calls and alarm notes.

Conservation concerns affect several curlew species. Habitat loss, coastal development, wetland drainage, and disturbance threaten many populations, with some species such as the slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) regarded as extinct or critically endangered. Ongoing monitoring and habitat protection are key to their preservation.