Photo: Vieillot, 1817 / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Slender-billed Curlew
Numenius tenuirostris
Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 308 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Extinct.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes
- Genus Numenius
- Species tenuirostris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 308 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Slender-billed Curlew hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Slender-billed Curlew is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) is a member of the Scolopacidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL sw Siberia (perhaps extinct).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 308 g, with a wing length of about 25.3 cm and a tail of around 9.5 cm.
It is listed as Extinct on the IUCN Red List.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 8,412 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Slender-billed Curlew?
The Slender-billed Curlew is a large bird that weighs around 308 g.
Where does the Slender-billed Curlew live?
The Slender-billed Curlew is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL sw Siberia (perhaps extinct), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Slender-billed Curlew belong to?
The Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Slender-billed Curlew eat?
The Slender-billed Curlew hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Slender-billed Curlew migrate?
The Slender-billed Curlew is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Slender-billed Curlew endangered?
It is listed as Extinct on the IUCN Red List
What sound does the Slender-billed Curlew make?
1 real field recording of the Slender-billed Curlew — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Slender-billed Curlew's range?
The Slender-billed Curlew has a mapped global range of about 8,412 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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