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Latin name

Numenius arquata

Family

Sandpipers and allies (Scolopacidae)

Overview

The curlew is the largest European wading bird, instantly recognisable on winter estuaries or summer moors with its long down-curved bill, brown upperparts and long legs. There have been worrying breeding declines in many areas largely due to loss of habitat through agricultural intensification. It is included on the Amber List as a bird with important breeding and wintering populations in the UK.

Where to see them

Around the whole UK coastline with the largest concentrations of found at Morecambe Bay, the Solway Firth, the Wash, and the Dee, Severn, Humber and Thames estuaries. Greatest breeding numbers are found in N Wales, the Pennines, the southern uplands and E Highlands of Scotland and the Northern Isles.

When to see them

All year round. Look in breeding habitat from April to July. Coastal numbers build up from July and reach a peak in January and February.

What they eat

Worms, shellfish and shrimps.

Estimated numbers

* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn.

Distribution

In the UK

Most of UK except parts of lowland England

Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

1 illustration

Curlew

Similar birds

Whimbrel