10 Facts about the Eurasian Curlew

December 19, 2011 in New Birds and Shorebirds with 9 comments

Here are ten facts about the Eurasian Curlew:

The Eurasian Curlew is the largest wading bird found in Europe;
In Scotland it is known as the "Whaup";
The birds can be found from central and southern Europe and Asia to parts of Africa;
Curlews are migratory, but are present all year in the milder climate of the British Isles and the adjacent European coasts;
Within its range the Curlew is most similar to the Whimbrel, but the latter is smaller and has a shorter bill that is less smoothly curved;
They eat mostly worms, crabs and invertebrates, which they find by touch using their long curved bill to probe soft mud;
Its name is derived from its 'curloo-oo' call;
The female is larger and has a longer bill than the male, but the different is not always distinct;
A group of curlews is called a "curfew", "salon", or "skein" of curlews;
The species is threatened due to loss and fragmentation of moorland and grassland habitats.

The Eurasian Curlew is the 360th bird species on Birdorable. Check out our Curlew t-shirts and gifts and other Birdorable Plovers & Shorebirds.

Birdorable Eurasian Curlew sample products

Comments

Emma on April 29, 2019 at 3:03 AM wrote:

I think that The Curlew is an awesome animal and I am so sad and angry that they are endangered!!! #somad

Emma on April 29, 2019 at 3:05 AM wrote:

Where do they live?

Hollie on November 2, 2020 at 11:48 AM wrote:

Curlews look so cool!!!!

Hayley on November 2, 2020 at 11:50 AM wrote:

Are they herbivores or omnivores?

Layla on November 2, 2020 at 11:56 AM wrote:

nigga on November 10, 2020 at 3:58 PM wrote:

nibb

Spurwing Plover on December 10, 2021 at 11:55 PM wrote:

And they can migrate and cover a long area from their Nesting Grounds to their Wintering Grounds

Spurwing Plover on June 17, 2022 at 7:32 AM wrote:

Eskimo Curlew

Spurwing Plover on June 4, 2025 at 5:35 PM wrote:

Some man walked 53 Miles across England in their own Curlew Outfit

Comments with links or HTML will be deleted. Your comment will be published pending approval.

Your name (required)

Your email address (required)

Your email address will not be published

Comment (required)

I agree to receive updates and news from Birdorable

You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information on how to unsubscribe, our privacy practices, and how we are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy, please review our Privacy Policy. By clicking submit below, you consent to allow Birdorable to store and process the personal information submitted above to provide you the content requested.

2018 Bonanza Bird #7: Common Hill Myna

November 29, 2018

Today we introduce a new bird to the starling family of Birdorable, one of the world's myna species: the Common Hill Myna! Common Hill Mynas are appropriately named, as they are found in hill habitat in their South and Southeast...

The Zimbabwe Street Performer

November 27, 2013

The Bateleur is a beautiful and rather colorful species of eagle found in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa and Arabia. The name Bateleur means "Street Performer" in French. The bird is so named particularly after tight-rope walkers, because of its habit of rocking while...

2015 Bonanza Bird #20: Spotted Towhee

December 20, 2015

Spotted Towhees are large sparrows found in western parts of North America. They are closely related to the Eastern Towhee. In fact, the Eastern Towhee and Spotted Towhee were once considered to be subspecies of a single species: the Rufous-sided Towhee....

The Plight of the Greater Prairie-Chicken

March 3, 2015

Best known for their elaborate mating dance, Greater Prairie-Chickens once thrived across large parts of North America. Hunting and habitat loss over the last century has drastically reduced these beautiful birds to near extinction. Once so abundant they were a main...

Birdorable Blog