Long-billed Curlew

Long-billed Curlew

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Conservation Status
7. Other Names

North America's largest shorebird, the Long-billed Curlew breeds in the grasslands of the Great Plains and Great Basin.

Cool Facts

• Both the male and female Long-billed Curlew incubate the eggs, and both are aggressive in defense of nests and young. The female typically abandons the brood two to three weeks after hatching and leaves brood care to her mate. Despite this abandonment the same male and female often pair with each other again the next year.
• Although the Long-billed Curlew's diet includes many species of invertebrates and some vertebrates, its bill is best adapted for capturing shrimp and crabs living in deep burrows on tidal mudflats (its wintering grounds) or burrowing earthworms in pastures.

• The female Long-billed Curlew's bill is longer than the male's, and is a different shape. Hers is flatter on top with a more pronounced curve at the tip. His is gently curved throughout its length. The juvenile's bill is distinctly shorter than the adults' during its first few months, but it may be equal to the male's length some time in its first year.

Description

• Size: 50-65 cm (20-26 in)
• Wingspan: 26-31 cm (10-12 in)
• Weight: 490-950 g (17.3-33.54 ounces)

• Large shorebird.
• Extremely long, down-curved bill.
• Buffy brown in color.
• Plain crown.

• Underside of wings bright cinnamon.
• Eyes dark brown.
• Legs dull bluish gray.

Sex Differences

Sexes similar, but female slightly larger and with longer bill.

Immature

Similar to adult, bill shorter.

Similar Species

• Whimbrel slightly shorter, with shorter bill, has distinct stripes on top of head, lacks cinnamon under the wings, and is more barred and less buffy.

Sound

Call a harsh whistled "cur-lee," rising on second note. Also rapid whistled "kli-li-li-li."

Range

Range Map

© 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology

About the map

Summer Range

Breeds in open country from southeastern British Columbia eastward to central Nebraska, and southward to northeastern California and New Mexico.

Winter Range

Winters from central California and coastal Texas southward through Mexico. Also some along Atlantic Coast up upper Pacific Coast.

Conservation Status

Populations declined drastically in 1800s. Currently stable or slightly declining. Considered "vulnerable" in Canada and "highly imperiled" by the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan because of declines and threats to both breeding and wintering areas.

Other Names

Courlis à long bec (French)
Zarapito pico largo (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

Dugger, B. D., and K. M. Dugger. 2002. Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus).In The Birds of North Americaa, No .628 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.