Numenius minutus
The Little Curlew (Numenius minutus) is the smallest and arguably most charming member of the curlew genus, offering a delightful challenge for even seasoned birders. Measuring a mere 29-32 cm (11-13 in) in length with a wingspan of 57-63 cm (22-25 in) and weighing 155-220 g (5.5-7.8 oz), its diminutive size belies its incredible migratory prowess. Its plumage is predominantly streaky brown and buff, with a somewhat plainer head lacking the prominent supercilium found in many other curlews, a...
Breeding occurs in dry, open tundra, taiga, and boreal forest clearings of Siberia, while non-breeding birds favor open grassy plains, agricultural fields, short-grass pastures, and coastal wetlands.
Their diet consists mainly of insects, particularly grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, and their larvae, supplemented with other small invertebrates and occasionally berries or seeds.
Little Curlews are primarily diurnal, actively foraging during the day and typically roosting in open areas, often in loose aggregations. Their foraging strategy involves probing with their short, decurved bill into soft ground, but they also glean insects from the surface and rapidly peck at pre...
The Little Curlew breeds across a vast expanse of northern Siberia, extending from the Ural Mountains eastward through the taiga and tundra zones to the Chukotka Peninsula and the Russian Far East. After breeding, it undertakes an incredible southbound migration, primarily through Central and Eas...
Least Concern
- The Little Curlew holds the distinction of being the smallest species within the Numenius genus of curlews. - It undertakes one of the most epic migrations of any bird, traveling annually from the vast expanses of the Siberian Arctic to the warmth of Australia and New Guinea. - Despite its remo...