Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) lives in wet grasslands across Temperate Europe and Asia. It feeds on worms and insects. Its conservation status is Near Threatened.
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The Eurasian curlew is the largest wading bird in its range, reaching a length of 50-60 cm. Its wings spread to between 89 and 106 cm, giving it a broad silhouette in flight. Adults weigh from 410 g up to 1 360 g, a mass that supports its long foraging trips across wetlands. These measurements together define the full size spectrum of the species.
The longest-lived curlew on record is a female that reached 33 years and 8-9 months of age. She was first ringed on Brownsea Island in 1992, later bred in the New Forest, and was still observed alive at the start of March 2026. Such longevity demonstrates the species' potential for extended lifespans when individuals avoid major threats.
Between 1996 and 2016 the curlew population fell dramatically, dropping by more than half in England and Scotland. In the same period declines were even steeper, exceeding 80 % in Wales and over 90 % in Ireland. These sharp reductions have pushed the species from Least Concern to Near Threatened status, highlighting severe regional losses.
Curlews often nest close to common kestrel nests because the raptors can deter corvids and other predators, offering a safer environment for their eggs. Their own nest is simply a bare scrape in a meadow or similar habitat, where the pair lays four eggs in April or May. Both adults share incubation duties for about four weeks before the chicks hatch, balancing the risk of predation with the benefit of the kestrel's presence.
While the Eurasian curlew normally migrates to winter in Africa, southern Europe or southern Asia, it sometimes appears far beyond its usual range as a vagrant. Recorded wanderers have reached distant locations such as Nova Scotia and the Marianas, far from their breeding grounds. Nevertheless, in milder regions like Ireland and the United Kingdom the species can be seen all year, remaining resident where the climate stays gentle.
Sources
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As the Eurasian Curlew glides effortlessly across the mist-shrouded wetlands, its long, curved beak probes the muddy shallows with a gentle, searching precision, uncovering the hidden treasures of its domain. With a stately, unhurried gait, this majestic bird moves through the landscape, its mottled brown plumage blending seamlessly into the surroundings as it navigates the delicate balance of its fragile ecosystem. In the soft, golden light of dawn, the Curlew's haunting, whistled call echoes across the marshes, a poignant reminder of the beauty and vulnerability of this near-threatened species.
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