Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris)

Family
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers, Snipes, Phalaropes)

Size
36 - 41 cm
Wingspan: 77 - 88 cm

First Described (Guide)
Vieillot, 1817

Habitat
In the breeding season, bog-forest transition zones. In non-breeding season, saltmarsh, steppe grassland, fishponds, saltpans, brackish lagoons, tidal mudflats, semi-desert, brackish wetlands and sandy farmland next to lagoons.

Range (Guide)

Albania (NB) (P), Algeria (P), Azerbaijan (NB) (P), Bulgaria (P), Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska) (NB) (P), Greece (NB) (P), Hungary (P), Iran [Islamic Republic of] (P), Iraq (NB) (P), Italy (NB) (P), Kazakhstan (P), Kyrgyzstan (P), Macedonia [The Former Yugoslav Republic of] (NB) (P), Montenegro (P), Morocco (NB), Romania (P), Russia (Central Asian) (B), Russia (European) (P), Serbia (P), Tunisia (NB), Turkey (NB), Turkmenistan (P), Ukraine (P), Uzbekistan (P).

Vagrant to Austria (NB), Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina (NB) (P), Canada, Cyprus (NB), Czech Republic, Egypt (NB), France (NB), Georgia, Germany, Israel (P), Japan, Kuwait (NB), Latvia, Malta (NB), Netherlands Antilles, Oman (NB), Palestinian Authority Territories (P), Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia (NB), Slovakia (Slovak Republic), Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Yemen (NB).

Unknown to Afghanistan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (NB).

South-western Siberia and northern Kazakhstan, precise breeding range virtually unknown. Winters in north-western Africa, and probably also Iraq.

Population
Estimated population is <50 (2010) and decreasing.

Status CR
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Food
Little known but includes earthworms and tipulid larvae, insects, molluscs and crustaceans.

Voice
A 'cour-lee', higher-pitched and sweeter than Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata). A halting 'bi-bi-bi' uttered in alarm.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files

Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) [XC398794]
by id from Merja Zerga NP, Morocco (flight call)

Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) [XC403647]
by Adam Gretton from Merja Zerga NP, Morocco (flight call)

Nest
Composed of dry grass with a few leaves of rush Scirpus but little or no sedge, situated on dry areas of sedge and bog moss. Probably in small colonies. Used to form large flocks but the species is so rare this is no longer the case.

Subspecies
No subspecies.

Similar Species
Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
Larger. Bill is thicker, longer and more decurved and lacks a fine tip. Flanks are covered in chevrons and not spots and streaks. Underwing is generally less patterned. Legs are paler.

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
Slightly larger. Has a longer, thicker, more decurved bill. Underparts are darker. Has a pale median crown stripe. Tail lacks dark barring.

Compare Images

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) - 9 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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