HUNTING HORIZONS - Worldwide Hunting Seasons Database

The Eurasian Curlew [Numenius arquata] is a migratory species, wintering in Africa, southern Europe and south Asia. It is present all year in the milder climate of Ireland, Great Britain and adjacent European coasts. Curlew from Scotland spend autumn and winter on the British west coast and in Ireland being joined by populations from Scandinavia, the Baltic and north-west Russia; others winter in Iceland and the Faroes. Curlews breed over a range extending from the United Kingdom east to the Urals and to Scandinavia and Russia in the north.

LENGTH: 50-57 cm
WEIGHT: Male 770 g /Female 1000 g
WINGSPAN: 1 m

MALE & FEMALE: Mainly greyish brown with a white rump and a very long curved bill and legs. Males and females look identical, but the bill is longest in the adult female; telling male and female of a mated pair is usually possible.

HABITAT: Habitat includes upland moors, grassy or boggy open areas in forests and damp grasslands and traditionally managed hayfields particularly in river valleys. After the nesting season the birds move to coastal areas favouring mudflats, marshes and sands extensively exposed at low tide. At high water curlew form large roosts on the highest saltings or on fields and marshes behind the sea walls; in some localities the birds move to nocturnal roosting spots at dusk.

It is generally wary, but highly gregarious outside the breeding season.

FEEDING: Feeds by probing soft mud for invertebrates, small crabs and earthworms when the opportunity arises.

CALL: The familiar call, from which this bird gets its name, is a loud curloo-oo.