Far Eastern Curlew
NameFar Eastern Curlew
Common NameFar Eastern Curlew
Scientific NameNumenius madagascariensis
FamilyScolopacidae
Wingspan (cm)119
Length (cm)59.5
Weight (g)830
Plumage DetailsOverall mottled brown plumage with darker streaking on the back and breast, and paler, buffy underparts with streaking. It features a pale supercilium and a dark eye-stripe, with a plain brown rump lacking the white seen in some other curlew species.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalizations include a clear, mournful 'cuuuur-lew' or a series of 'kew-kew-kew' notes, often given while in flight.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatswetland, coastal, grassland
Conservation Statusendangered
Geographic RangeBreeds in northeastern Asia (Siberia, Mongolia, northeastern China) and migrates to wintering grounds across Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and parts of India.
Identifying FeaturesExtremely long, strongly downcurved bill, Large size (largest shorebird), Mottled brown plumage, Plain brown rump (lacks white rump), Pale supercilium
Description
The Far Eastern Curlew is the world's largest shorebird, characterized by its exceptionally long, strongly downcurved bill. It has mottled brown plumage and long legs, typically seen foraging on coastal mudflats and estuaries.
