Eskimo Curlew
NameEskimo Curlew
Common NameEskimo Curlew
Scientific NameNumenius borealis
FamilyScolopacidae
Wingspan (cm)65
Length (cm)32
Weight (g)350
Plumage DetailsUpperparts were dark brown with buffy mottling and streaking, providing camouflage. Underparts were paler buff with dark streaking on the breast and flanks. The rump was dark, and a key identification feature was the pale shafts of the primary flight feathers.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations were described as a clear, whistling 'pee-o' or 'tee-tee-tee', and a trilling 'cur-lee'.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatstundra, grassland, coastal
Conservation Statuscritically-endangered
Geographic RangeHistorically bred in the Arctic tundra of Alaska and northern Canada. Migrated through central North America and along the Atlantic coast, wintering in the pampas of South America, primarily Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil.
Identifying FeaturesLong, slender, decurved bill, Mottled brown plumage, Relatively small size for a curlew, Pale primary shafts (visible in flight), Dark rump
Description
The Eskimo Curlew was a medium-sized shorebird characterized by its long, slender, decurved bill and mottled brown plumage. It was a highly migratory species, undertaking vast journeys between its Arctic breeding grounds and South American wintering areas.
