The Numenius (scientific name) or curlew is a group of migratory birds which have a cosmopolitan distribution, but is largely found in the European continent on wet grasslands and moorlands in North England, Wales and Scotland, and on the coast in winters. A medium-sized bird, it is 19-23 inches in length. While their plumage is mostly brown mottled in colour, they are easily identified by their bills, which are long, slender and slightly downward curved. Their diet consists of worms and other small invertebrates which they generally look for by feeding on mud or soft ground. They are also known to eat crabs. Approximately 4 eggs in a clutch, their incubation period varies from 24-30 days depending on the breed. Its IUCN listing is NEAR THREATENED.
Curlew
