Curlew, << KUR loo, >> is a type of long-legged wading bird. Curlews are found from Patagonia, in the far south of South America, to the Arctic in North America. They also live in Europe and Asia. Curlews have long, slender bills that curve downward. They nest on dry ground, often far from water.
The long-billed curlew is one of the most common. It is 2 feet (61 centimeters) long and has a short, rounded tail. Its back is pale brown and spotted with black and dark brown marks. The bird’s breast is rusty-brown and is more or less streaked. It has slender, bare legs. It gets its name from its slender bill, which is about 8 inches (20 centimeters) long. It uses its bill to catch small crabs, shellfish, snails, worms, and beetles.
Loading the player...Long-billed curlew
The whimbrel, or Hudsonian curlew, is a smaller member of the group. Commonly found on the eastern coast of North America, it migrates to South America in the winter. The rare Eskimo curlew is still smaller.
