curlew

Curlew is a common name for several species of large wading birds in the family Scolopacidae, belonging to the genus Numenius. They are characterized by long, down-curved bills, long legs, and often mottled brown or grey plumage. They are among the larger shorebirds and are highly adapted for probing soft mud for invertebrates.

Curlews inhabit a variety of wetland habitats, including coastal mudflats, estuaries, lakeshores, and grasslands. They occur in temperate and subtropical regions across Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, with some species undertaking long-distance migrations between breeding grounds in Arctic or high-latitude regions and wintering areas further south. They typically forage by probing with their bills, using tactile sensing to locate invertebrates such as worms, crustaceans, and mollusks.

Breeding involves ground nests in open habitats near the breeding grounds. Pairs may perform elaborate displays, and clutches usually consist of a few eggs. Both parents incubate and brood the young, which are precocial and leave the nest shortly after hatching.

Conservation status varies by species, but many curlews face threats from habitat loss, disturbance, and coastal development that reduce mudflat and grassland areas used for feeding and breeding. Several populations are in decline and are the subject of conservation monitoring and habitat protection efforts.