Photo: Alan D. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

Long-billed Curlew

Numenius americanus

Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Canada Birds of Colombia Birds of Costa Rica Birds of Ecuador Birds of Mexico Birds of Peru Birds of the United States Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba

By family

Sandpipers & Allies of Canada Sandpipers & Allies of Colombia Sandpipers & Allies of Costa Rica Sandpipers & Allies of Ecuador Sandpipers & Allies of Mexico Sandpipers & Allies of Peru Sandpipers & Allies of the United States Sandpipers & Allies of Alberta Sandpipers & Allies of British Columbia Sandpipers & Allies of Manitoba

See what's near you right now

The Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 584 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes
Genus Numenius
Species americanus

Where it lives

Inland grassland of temperate west-central North America: southern British Columbia east to southwestern Saskatchewan (southwestern, south-central Canada) and south to northeastern California, northeastern New Mexico and northwestern Nebraska (southwestern, west-central USA)

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 584 g
Diet: Omnivores
Family: Scolopacidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Grassland & open country

How to identify

Similar birds

Near Threatened

Eurasian Curlew

Numenius arquata

Endangered

Far Eastern Curlew

Numenius madagascariensis

Near Threatened

Black-tailed Godwit

Limosa limosa

Vulnerable

Marbled Godwit

Limosa fedoa

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Long-billed 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 Long-billed Curlew is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) belongs to the Scolopacidae family of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA inland grassland of temperate wc North America: s British Columbia e to sw Saskatchewan (sw, sc Canada) and s to ne California, ne New Mexico and nw Nebraska (sw, wc USA).

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 584 g, with a wing length of about 26.7 cm and a tail of around 9.5 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.1 million km².

Songs & calls

Long-billed Curlew — Call, flight call

Recorded by Don Profota Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Long-billed Curlew?

The Long-billed Curlew is a large bird that weighs around 584 g.

Where does the Long-billed Curlew live?

The Long-billed Curlew is found across North America with a range covering NA inland grassland of temperate wc North America: s British Columbia e to sw Saskatchewan (sw, sc Canada) and s to ne California, ne New Mexico and nw Nebraska (sw, wc USA), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.

What family does the Long-billed Curlew belong to?

The Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Long-billed Curlew eat?

The Long-billed Curlew is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Long-billed Curlew migrate?

The Long-billed Curlew is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Long-billed Curlew endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Long-billed Curlew make?

1 real field recording of the Long-billed Curlew — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Long-billed Curlew's range?

The Long-billed Curlew has a mapped global range of about 2.1 million km².