Numenius americanus
The Long-billed Curlew, *Numenius americanus*, is the largest shorebird in North America, immediately recognizable by its remarkably long, decurved bill, which can measure up to 8.5 inches (22 cm). This elegant species boasts warm cinnamon-buff plumage, subtly streaked with black on the upperparts and a plain, unstreaked belly, often with a richer rufous wash under the wings, visible in flight. Adults average 20-26 inches (50-66 cm) in length with a wingspan of 30-35 inches (75-90 cm). A dark...
Primarily inhabits vast, semi-arid grasslands, prairies, and agricultural fields for breeding, transitioning to coastal estuaries, mudflats, and salt marshes during the non-breeding season, typically at low elevations.
Feeds primarily on large invertebrates such as fiddler crabs, ghost shrimp, marine worms, and a variety of insects (beetle larvae, grasshoppers) and their larvae, extracted by deep probing; occasionally consumes small vertebrates or berries.
Long-billed Curlews are primarily diurnal, often foraging actively during the day and roosting communally in open areas, sometimes standing on one leg. Their distinctive foraging strategy involves deep probing into soft soil or mud with their extra-long, decurved bill to extract buried invertebra...
The breeding range of the Long-billed Curlew spans western North America, extending from the southern Canadian Prairies (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) through the Great Plains of the United States (Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas) and i...
Near Threatened
- The Long-billed Curlew possesses the longest bill of any shorebird in North America, often exceeding 8 inches in length. - Females generally have longer bills than males, an adaptation believed to reduce competition for food resources within pairs. - Its iconic "cur-lee" call gives the bird its...