Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis)

Family
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers, Snipes, Phalaropes)

Size
29 - 38 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Forster, 1772)

Habitat
Breeds on Arctic tundra and visited coastal wetlands, staging on prairies on migration and grassland in winter. From sea-level - 350 m.

Range (Guide)

Argentina (PE) (NB), Brazil (PE) (NB) (P), Canada (PE) (B), Chile (PE) (NB), Mexico (E) (P), Paraguay (E) (NB), Uruguay (E) (NB), USA (PE) (P).

Vagrant to Barbados (E), Bermuda (E), Bolivia (PE), Falkland Islands (Malvinas) (E), Greenland (E), Grenada (E), Guadeloupe (E), Guatemala (E), Iceland (E), Ireland (E), Puerto Rico (E), Russia (Asian) (E), St Vincent and The Grenadines (E), Trinidad and Tobago (PE), United Kingdom (E), Virgin Islands (U.S.) (E).

Central-northern Canada, on southern shore and inland of Amundsen Gulf along Coppermine R to Point L; possibly also northern Alaska. Winters in Uruguay and Argentina and possibly also in Chile.

Population
Estimated population is <50 (2010).

Status PE
Was an abundant breeding species of the high-Arctic Canadian tundra and the Russian Chukchi Peninsula, migrating far south to winter in southern Argentina. Since 1960's only unsubstantiated reports from the Americas. Decline due to over-hunting and loss of locust prey on its migration route.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Voice
Poorly known. Includes clear whistles.

Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Little Curlew (Numenius minutus), with which formerly regarded as conspecific.

No subspecies.

Similar Species
Bristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis)
Larger. Bill is heavier and more decurved. Rump and tail are cinnamon rust.

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References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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