Family Sandpipers, Snipes, Phalaropes (Scolopacidae)
Near Threatened
Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
Taxonomy
French: Courlis cendré German: Großer Brachvogel Spanish: Zarapito real
Taxonomy:
Scolopax Arquata
Linnaeus
, 1758,Sweden
.
Subspecies and Distribution
N. a. arquata
(Linnaeus, 1758) – British Is and France across W Europe (N to Arctic Circle) and E to R Volga and Urals; winters from Iceland and British Is S to Mediterranean and NW Africa, and E to Persian Gulf and W India.
N. a. suschkini
Neumann, 1929 – lower R Volga and Urals E to SW Siberia and N Kazakhstan; winters along coasts of sub-Saharan Africa and SW Asia.
N. a. orientalis
C. L. Brehm, 1831 – C Siberia E through C Russia to NE China (C Heilongjiang); winters in E & S Africa, Madagascar, and from S Caspian Sea S to Persian Gulf and E through S Asia to E China and S Japan, and S to Philippines and Greater Sundas.
Descriptive notes
50–60 cm; male 410–1010 g, female 475–1360 g; wingspan 80–100 cm. Large greyish-brown curlew with long bill and plain head pattern; head, neck, breast... read more
Voice
A loud rich, ringing “COURli ... COURli ... COURli ...” is heard at any time of year, being used in... read more
Habitat
Breeds on peat bogs, fens, upland moors (where prefers areas of relatively heterogeneous vegetation... read more
Food and feeding
Throughout year, diet includes annelids, arthropods, crustaceans, molluscs, berries and seeds; occasionally vertebrates, including small... read more
Breeding
Lays Apr to early Jul. Monogamous and territorial, with most territory defence by male, usually using undulating display flight, which is... read more
Movements
Mostly migratory; some birds resident in W of range, especially in British Is and Ireland. Small... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. Global population thought to number c. 77,000–1,065,000 individuals (2006 data), of which > 190,000... read more
Name suschkini sometimes spelt erroneously as sushkini. Racial variation clinal; suschkini sometimes treated as a synonym of orientalis, but apparently distinct enough#R. Three subspecies recognized.