Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)

Quick Facts

Scientific Name: Numenius arquata
Family: Scolopacidae
Size: 50-60 cm (20-24 inches)
Wingspan: 80-100 cm (31-39 inches)
Weight: 575-950 g (1.3-2.1 lbs)

Conservation Status

IUCN Status: Near Threatened
UK Status: Red List
Population Trend: Severe decline – down 64% since 1970s in the UK

Worldwide Distribution

The Eurasian Curlew can be found in:

Breeding across temperate Europe and Asia from Britain to Kamchatka
Wintering along Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, extending to Africa and southern Asia
Year-round residents on British and Irish coasts
Breeding populations in upland areas of Scotland, northern England, Wales, and Ireland
Migratory populations pass through estuaries and mudflats during spring and autumn
Widespread but declining across most of its European range

Spotting Difficulty Rating

🔍🔍🔍 (3/5 – Moderate)

Large size makes them conspicuous when present
Distinctive silhouette and call aid identification
Seasonal availability varies greatly by location
Declining numbers make encounters less reliable than historically

Habitat and Behavior

The Eurasian Curlew is Europe’s largest wading bird, instantly recognizable by its elegant curved bill, long legs, and haunting call that epitomizes wild moorland and estuarine landscapes. Adults display streaked brown and buff plumage that provides perfect camouflage among heather, grass tussocks, and mudflats. Their most distinctive feature is the dramatically curved bill – longer and more pronounced in females – perfectly adapted for their specialized feeding techniques.

These magnificent birds inhabit two distinctly different worlds depending on the season. During breeding season, they favor upland moorland, rough grassland, hay meadows, and boggy areas where they can nest on the ground among vegetation. Here, males perform spectacular display flights, climbing high before gliding down with wings held in a shallow V, delivering their liquid, bubbling song that can carry for miles across the landscape. Outside the breeding season, they transform into coastal specialists, gathering on mudflats, estuaries, and rocky shores.

Their feeding behavior is a masterclass in specialized adaptation. On mudflats and soft ground, Curlews use their sensitive, curved bills to probe deep into sediment, feeling for buried prey through tactile sensors at the bill tip. They can probe up to 15cm deep, accessing prey unavailable to shorter-billed species. Their diet varies dramatically with habitat and season: in marine environments, they target lugworms, ragworms, molluscs (particularly cockles and tellins), small crabs, and shrimps. The curved bill allows them to follow the spiral burrows of lugworms with remarkable precision.

On breeding grounds, their diet shifts to terrestrial invertebrates, particularly beetles, crane fly larvae (leatherjackets), earthworms, caterpillars, and spiders. They also take small reptiles, amphibians, and occasionally berries and seeds. During the critical pre-migration period, Curlews may consume up to 40% of their body weight daily in high-energy marine worms to fuel their long-distance flights. Their foraging technique on grassland involves a more visual approach, walking slowly and picking prey from the surface or probing shallow soil.

Curlews are highly social outside the breeding season, forming flocks that can number in the hundreds at favored feeding sites. Their wariness and excellent eyesight make them effective sentinels for mixed wader flocks, often being the first to sound alarm calls at approaching danger.

Cultural History

The Curlew holds an almost mythical place in British cultural consciousness, its evocative call becoming synonymous with wild, untamed landscapes and the changing seasons. In Celtic folklore, the Curlew’s mournful cry was believed to carry the souls of warriors who died in battle, while its appearance was often interpreted as an omen of approaching storms or seasonal change.

The bird’s name derives from its distinctive call, with “curlew” being an onomatopoeic representation of its liquid, bubbling notes. In various dialects, it has been known as the “whaup” in Scotland (again mimicking its call), while Irish tradition called it the “guilbneach,” associated with wild, lonely places.

Victorian and Edwardian literature frequently employed the Curlew as a symbol of wilderness and melancholy. Poets from Wordsworth to Yeats referenced its call as the voice of the moorland, while naturalist writers like W.H. Hudson wrote extensively about its haunting presence in the British landscape.

In rural communities, Curlews were traditionally considered harbingers of spring, their arrival on upland breeding grounds marking the end of winter’s grip on the moorland. Gamekeepers and hill farmers developed an intimate knowledge of their habits, with many considering the species an indicator of healthy, well-managed upland environments.

The 20th century brought both celebration and concern for Curlews. Early conservation efforts focused on protecting their breeding sites, while ornithologists began to understand their complex migration patterns and habitat requirements. However, intensive agriculture and moorland management changes began to impact breeding success from the 1960s onwards.

Modern conservation efforts have elevated the Curlew to flagship species status for upland habitat conservation. Their decline has become symbolic of broader changes in the British countryside, making them powerful ambassadors for traditional farming practices and moorland management. The species has inspired numerous citizen science projects, with volunteers monitoring breeding pairs and migration patterns across their range.

Fun Facts

🎵 Their scientific name “arquata” means “bow-shaped,” referring to their curved bill

🗺️ They can migrate over 3,000 miles from breeding to wintering grounds

👂 Their calls can be heard up to 2 miles away across open moorland

🍽️ A single Curlew can eat over 600 lugworms in one day during migration preparation

🏃 Despite their size, they can run surprisingly fast when escaping predators

🔄 The same individuals often return to identical wintering spots year after year

🌙 They often feed at night, using their sensitive bill tips to locate prey in darkness

Best Places to Spot a Curlew in the UK

RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk – excellent for migrants and winter visitors
Morecambe Bay, Lancashire/Cumbria – massive winter concentrations
The Wash, Norfolk/Lincolnshire – internationally important site
Yorkshire Dales National Park – breeding populations on moorland
Islay, Scotland – significant winter populations
Anglesey, Wales – year-round coastal populations
North Norfolk coast – migration hotspot
Peak District moorland – declining but still present breeding birds

Recommended Viewing Tips

Best viewing on falling tides when mudflats are exposed
Listen for their distinctive bubbling call before scanning visually
Use binoculars or telescope – they’re often wary and keep their distance
Spring migration (March-May) provides excellent viewing opportunities
Look for their distinctive silhouette – large, long-legged, and long-billed
Breeding season offers spectacular display flights over moorland
Winter flocks gather at traditional roost sites near high tide

Conservation Notes

The Curlew faces multiple serious threats requiring urgent action:

Breeding success has collapsed due to agricultural intensification and predation
Loss of flower-rich grassland reduces invertebrate prey availability
Drainage of wet meadows and moorland affects nest site suitability
Ground predators, particularly foxes and crows, take high numbers of eggs and chicks
Habitat management for breeding Curlews requires specific grazing regimes and predator control
Agri-environment schemes are being developed to support breeding pairs
International cooperation is essential given their migratory nature