Bird 🐦
🐦
Numenius arquata
| Size | 50–57 cm UK's largest wading bird — about the size of a small goose |
|---|---|
| Weight | 410 g–1.3 kg About the weight of a bag of flour |
| Lifespan | 5 years (up to 32) |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| M vs F | Females have a noticeably longer bill — sometimes over 15 cm; males have a shorter, less curved bill |
| Habitat | Upland moorland and wet grassland in summer; estuaries and coastal mudflats in winter |
| Best time | Winter on estuaries; March–July on breeding grounds |
| Conservation | UK: Red NT |
Did you know?
The Curlew's haunting, liquid bubbling call is considered one of the most evocative sounds in nature — and one that risks becoming rare, with the UK holding 30% of the global population now in serious decline
The Curlew's haunting, liquid bubbling call is considered one of the most evocative sounds in nature — and one that risks becoming rare, with the UK holding 30% of the global population now in serious decline
More for experts
UK Curlew numbers have dropped by over 65% since the 1970s — driven by predation on nests and chicks, afforestation of moorland, and drainage of wet grassland
Often confused with
Whimbrel (smaller, striped crown, kinked bill, shorter — summer visitor), Bar-tailed Godwit (straight bill, no curve)
Whimbrel (smaller, striped crown, kinked bill, shorter — summer visitor), Bar-tailed Godwit (straight bill, no curve)