Photo: Bryan Harry/NPS / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Bristle-thighed Curlew
Numenius tahitiensis
Bristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Bristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 400 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes
- Genus Numenius
- Species tahitiensis
Where it lives
Low Arctic upland tundra of western Alaska: north-central Seward Pen. and northern Yukon Delta
Quick facts
- Weight
- 400 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Extinct
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Bristle-thighed Curlew is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Bristle-thighed Curlew is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Bristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis) is a member of the Scolopacidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It is found across North America. Its distribution covers NA low Arctic upland tundra of w Alaska: nc Seward Pen. and n Yukon Delta.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 400 g, with a wing length of about 24.5 cm and a tail of around 9.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 46,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Bristle-thighed Curlew?
The Bristle-thighed Curlew is a large bird that weighs around 400 g.
Where does the Bristle-thighed Curlew live?
The Bristle-thighed Curlew is found across North America with a range covering NA low Arctic upland tundra of w Alaska: nc Seward Pen. and n Yukon Delta, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Bristle-thighed Curlew belong to?
The Bristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Bristle-thighed Curlew eat?
The Bristle-thighed Curlew is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Bristle-thighed Curlew migrate?
The Bristle-thighed Curlew is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Bristle-thighed Curlew endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Bristle-thighed Curlew make?
1 real field recording of the Bristle-thighed Curlew — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Bristle-thighed Curlew's range?
The Bristle-thighed Curlew has a mapped global range of about 46,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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