Curlew

Numenius arquata

This large wader with its distinctive down curved bill is a master of coastal habitats, equally at home probing mudflats or nesting in upland meadows.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Curlew is a large wader with a distinctive long, down-curved bill and long legs. Its plumage is mottled brown above with a pale underside, featuring dark streaks on the breast and flanks. The rump and tail are white with dark barring.

Both sexes look similar, with females typically larger and having a longer bill. Juveniles resemble adults but have shorter, less curved bills and more buff-coloured upperparts.

Size

Length

50cm to 60cm

Wingspan

89cm to 106cm

Weight

540g to 1000g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown Buff

Secondary Colour

White

Beak Colour

Brown

Leg Colour

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Curlew is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Curlew is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Curlew can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Curlew can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Curlew is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Curlew is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Curlew can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Curlew is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Curlew is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Curlew is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Curlew is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Curlew is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Curlews inhabit various open landscapes, including coastal mudflats, estuaries, marshes, and inland wet grasslands. They breed across northern Europe and Asia, from the UK to eastern Siberia.

During winter, they migrate to coastal areas of western Europe, Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. Curlews can be found year-round in the UK, with numbers boosted by winter visitors from continental Europe.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Curlew. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons