Far Eastern Curlew

Numenius madagascariensisOrder: CHARADRIIFORMES Family: Sandpipers (Scolopacidae)

Codes: Common Name: FECU Scientific Name: NUMMAD ITIS Taxonomic No.: 176598

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Overview

Far Eastern Curlew: Largest curlew, very long, decurved bill, longest of any shorebird. Dark brown with heavily streaked underparts. Blue-gray legs, feet. Eats crustaceans, marine worms, insects, larvae, invertebrates. Strong steady flight, rapid wing beats. Flies in straight line or V formation.

Range and Habitat

Far Eastern Curlew: Very rarely wanders to the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands of Alaska in spring.

Topo Map: Sandpiper-like Body

Voice Text

"curr-ee"

Interesting Facts

The Eastern Curlew is also known as the Far Eastern Curlew, the Australian Curlew, the Sea Curlew and just plain Curlew. It is the largest migratory wading bird in the world.

Named "Numenius madagascariensis" by Linnaeus in 1766, it appears that the famous biologist mistakenly confused Madigascar with Macassar. The more appropriate name would be Numenius macassariensis.

During courtship the males attract females through their calls and their dances. The males flutter their wings, leaping up to 10-15 metres off the ground and trilling as they do.

A group of curlews has many collective nouns, including a "curfew", "game", "head", "salon", and "skein" of curlews.

Bird Term Glossary

Author

Gary Owen Dick

Related Birds

Long-billed Curlew
Eurasian Curlew

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Far Eastern Curlew

● Song: "curr-ee"

● Foraging & Feeding: Far Eastern Curlew: Slow, methodical probing in search of insect larvae, crabs, and clams. May also pick items from surface and eat berries in the fall.

● Breeding & nesting: Far Eastern Curlew: Nest built on mounds in open boggy areas or the marshy shores of lakes. Lays four brown marked, olive green eggs. Incubation ranges from 27-29 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Far Eastern Curlew: Long-billed Curlew has sparse fine streaks on underparts and strong cinnamon wash overall.

Flight Pattern

Strong, direct flight.

● Range & Habitat: Far Eastern Curlew: Very rarely wanders to the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands of Alaska in spring.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^Population

^MigrationMigratory

^Weight27.2 Ounces

Sandpiper-like Body

Underparts

Belly, undertail coverts, chest, flanks, and foreneck.

4 and 6 letter alpha codes

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

Field Guide to Birds of North America