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Eurasian curlew

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TheEurasian curleworcommon curlew(Numenius arquata) is a very largewaderin thefamilyScolopacidae.It is one of the most widespread of thecurlews,breeding across temperateEuropeandAsia.In Europe, thisspeciesis often referred to just as the "curlew", and inScotlandknown as the "whaup" inScots.

Eurasian curlew
A male Eurasian curlew
Song
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Numenius
Species:
N. arquata
Binomial name
Numenius arquata
Global map ofN. arquata
Year-Round Range
Summer Range
Winter Range
Synonyms
  • Scolopax arquataLinnaeus, 1758

Taxonomy

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The Eurasian curlew wasformally describedby the Swedish naturalistCarl Linnaeusin 1758 in thetenth editionof hisSystema Naturaeunder thebinomial nameScolopax arquata.[2]It is now placed with eight other curlews in thegenusNumeniusthat was introduced by the French ornithologistMathurin Jacques Brissonin 1760.[3][4]The genus nameNumeniusis fromAncient Greekνουμήνιος,noumēnios,a bird mentioned byHesychius.It is associated with the curlew because it appears to be derived fromneos,"new" andmene"moon", referring to the crescent-shaped bill. The species namearquatais theMedieval Latinname for this bird, derived fromLatinarcuatus,"bow-shaped", and again referring to the shape of the bill.[5]

The English name "curlew" is imitative of the Eurasian curlew's call, but may have been influenced by theOld Frenchcorliu,"messenger", fromcourir,"to run". It was first recorded in 1377 inLangland'sPiers Plowman"Fissch to lyue in þe flode..Þe corlue by kynde of þe eyre".[6]

Threesubspeciesare recognised:[4]

Description

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The Eurasian curlew is the largest wader in its range, at 50–60 cm (20–24 in) in length, with an 89–106 cm (35–42 in) wingspan and a body weight of 410–1,360 g (0.90–3.00 lb).[7]It is mainly greyish brown, with a white back, greyish-blue legs and a very long curved bill. Males and females look identical, but the bill is longest in the adult female. It is generally not possible to recognize the sex of a single Eurasian curlew, or even several ones, as there is much variation; telling male and female of a mated pair apart is usually possible however. The familiar call is a loudcurloo-oo.

The only similar species over most of the curlew's range is theEurasian whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus). The whimbrel is smaller and has a shorterbillwith a kink rather than a smooth curve. Flying curlews may also resemblebar-tailed godwits(Limosa lapponica) in their winter plumages; however, the latter have a smaller body, a slightly upturned beak, and legs that do not reach far beyond their tail tips. The Eurasian curlew's feet are longer, forming a conspicuous "point".

Distribution and habitat

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The curlew exists as amigratoryspecies over most of its range, wintering inAfrica,southernEuropeand southAsia.Occasionally a vagrant individual reaches places far from its normal range, such asNova Scotia[8]and theMarianas.[9][10]It is present all year in the milder climates ofIrelandand the United Kingdom and its adjacent European coasts.

Reclamation and drainage of marshy fields andmoorland,and afforestation of the latter, have led to local decreases, while conversion offoresttograsslandin some parts ofScandinaviahas led to increases there.[11]

Behaviour and ecology

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The Eurasian curlew is generally wary. It is highly gregarious outside the breeding season.

Breeding

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Thenestis a bare scrape ontaiga,meadow, and similar habitats. The clutch size of the curlew consists of four eggs which are laid in April or May, and the mother incubates them for about a month until they begin to hatch. It has been observed that curlews tend to nest close tocommon kestrels’ nests, as they can offer protection from other predators, such ascorvids,even though kestrels also prey on curlew nests.[12]

Food and feeding

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The Eurasian curlew feeds by probing soft mud for smallinvertebrates,but will also pick smallcrabsandearthwormsfrom the surface if the opportunity arises.

Predation

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Eurasian curlews eggs are preyed on by foxes and predatory birds.[13]In addition sheep have been recorded by the BBC nature seriesSpringwatchpreying on the eggs.[14][15]

Status

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The Eurasian curlew was formerly listed as a species ofLeast Concernby theIUCN,owing to its expansive range and relatively large population. However, the population of the Eurasian curlew was noticed to be declining at a very rapid rate. Following the evaluation of its population trend, the classification was found to be outdated, and it was consequently promoted toNear Threatenedstatus in 2008. Though it is a common bird, its numbers are noticeably declining,[1]particularly in the United Kingdom and Ireland, which have about a quarter of the global population. In the twenty years up to 2016, the population is estimated to have declined by more than 50% in England and Scotland, more than 80% in Wales, and more than 90% in Ireland. At the end of 2015 it was placed on the United Kingdom's red list of most endangered bird species.[16]The curlew is one of the species to which theAgreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds(AEWA) applies.[17]

Research by scientists at theBritish Trust for Ornithologysuggests that curlew populations in the UK have been negatively affected in areas with high levels of arable farming andafforestationwhich have reduced its natural habitats of open grasslands.[18]

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  • Eurasian Curlew at Chilika Lake, India
  • Eurasian curlew pictured in the former coat of arms ofOulunsalo,Finland

References

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  1. ^abBirdLife International (2017)."Numenius arquata".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2017:e.T22693190A117917038.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22693190A117917038.en.Retrieved11 November2021.
  2. ^Linnaeus, Carl(1758).Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis(in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 145.
  3. ^Brisson, Mathurin Jacques(1760).Ornithologie, ou, Méthode contenant la division des oiseaux en ordres, sections, genres, especes & leurs variétés(in French and Latin). Vol. 1. Paris: Jean-Baptiste Bauche.Vol. 1, p. 48,Vol. 5, p. 311.
  4. ^abGill, Frank;Donsker, David;Rasmussen, Pamela,eds. (July 2021)."Sandpipers, snipes, coursers".IOC World Bird List Version 11.2.International Ornithologists' Union.Retrieved20 November2021.
  5. ^Jobling, James A (2010).The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names.London: Christopher Helm. pp.56,=276.ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4.
  6. ^"Curlew".Oxford English Dictionary(Online ed.).Oxford University Press.(Subscription orparticipating institution membershiprequired.)
  7. ^Dunning, John B. Jr., ed. (1992).CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses.CRC Press.ISBN978-0-8493-4258-5.
  8. ^"Eurasian Curlew".Birds of Nova Scotia.Natural History Museum of Nova Scotia (NHMNS). 1998. Archived fromthe originalon 28 August 2008.Retrieved23 May2008.
  9. ^Wiles, Gary J.; Worthington, David J.; Beck, Robert E. Jr.; Pratt, H. Douglas; Aguon, Celestino F.; Pyle, Robert L. (2000)."Noteworthy Bird Records for Micronesia, with a Summary of Raptor Sightings in the Mariana Islands, 1988–1999"(PDF).Micronesica.32(2): 257–284. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2013-04-23.
  10. ^Wiles, Gary J.; Johnson, Nathan C.; de Cruz, Justine B.; Dutson, Guy; Camacho, Vicente A.; Kepler, Angela Kay; Vice, Daniel S.; Garrett, Kimball L.; Kessler, Curt C.; Pratt, H. Douglas (2004)."New and Noteworthy Bird Records for Micronesia, 1986–2003".Micronesica.37(1): 69–96. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-05-05.
  11. ^Encyclopedia of the Animal World(1977): Vol.6:518–519. Bay Books, Sydney.
  12. ^Norrdahl, K., Suhonen, J., Hemminki, O. et al. Oecologia (1995) 101: 105.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00328906
  13. ^"Conserving the curlew - Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust".gwct.org.uk.Retrieved2022-11-05.
  14. ^Kossoff, Julian (2018-05-30)."Killer Sheep Discovered Wolfing Down Bird Chicks".International Business Times.Retrieved2022-11-05.
  15. ^Winter, Stuart (2018-05-30)."BBC Springwatch: Chris Packham SHOCKED by KILLER SHEEP".Express.co.uk.Retrieved2022-11-05.
  16. ^McCarthy, Michael (22 February 2016)."Nature Studies: If we lose the curlew, we lose the sound of the British wilderness".The Independent.Retrieved11 April2017.
  17. ^"Species".Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).Retrieved14 November2021.
  18. ^Franks, Samantha E.; Douglas, David J. T.; Gillings, Simon; Pearce-Higgins, James W. (2017-07-03)."Environmental correlates of breeding abundance and population change of Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata in Britain".Bird Study.64(3): 393–409.doi:10.1080/00063657.2017.1359233.ISSN0006-3657.S2CID89966879.
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