Eurasian Curlew

Common Name	Eurasian CurlewBirdlife International
Species name	Numenius arquataBirdlife International
Family	Scolopacidae
Genus
Local Name	Country Appearance Local name Brunei Darussalam     Cambodia     China     Indonesia     Japan Yes ダイシャクシギ Lao PDR     Malaysia     Mongolia     Myanmar     Philippines     Republic of Korea     Singapore     Thailand     Vietnam

 

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Eurasian Curlew

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Identification

55cm. Large wader with long down-curved bill. Mottled or streaked brown plumage with whiter belly and undertail. In flight show pointed whitish rump and barred tail as well as mottled whitish underwings. Outer primaries contrastingly dark and flight slow and gull-like.
<Similar species> European race of N.phaeopus similar but with shorter bill and dark crown side and eye-stripe. N.tahitiensis, N.americanus and N.madagascariensis also similar but dark rumps and underwings.

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Range Description

Numenius arquata is widely distributed, breeding across Europe from the British Isles, through north-western Europe and Scandinavia into Russia extending east into Siberia, east of Lake Baikal. It winters around the coasts of north-west Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, South-East Asia, Japan and the Sundas. It has a large global population estimated to number 765,000-1,065,000 individuals28,29. The breeding population in Western Europe (220,000-360,000 pairs) has declined in recent years, with a 53% decline in the United Kingdom calculated over the period 1970-2005 from the Common Birds Census and the Breeding Bird Survey, and a 37% decline over the period 1994-2006 derived from the Breeding Bird Survey33,34. A decline of 86% was calculated in Ireland between 1988-1991 and 200318,19 and declines have been recorded in Finland2, Germany20, Lithuania (20-30% per decade)21 and the Netherlands (31% since 198422). Unquantified, but potentially highly significant, declines have also been recorded in the central Asian populations of N. a. orientalis23. In Denmark24 and eastern Siberia25 breeding populations are apparently stable and apparent increases in wintering populations in the Wadden Sea26, on the Adriatic coast27, in East Asia28 and in Western Europe suggest that breeding populations, probably in European Russia and northern Siberia have perhaps increased. Overall, analysis of the compiled trend data indicate three generation (15 year) estimate of decline of between 26% and 34%2,19,22,28,29,30,31,32,33,34. Owing to the uncertainty over whether declines in southern populations have been compensated by increases in northern populations, the global trend is suspected to fall within the band 20-30% declines in the past 15 years or three generations.

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Ecology

Ecology (Behaviour)

Most populations of this species are fully migratory6 and breed from April to August7 in solitary territorial pairs8, occasionally also forming small colonies9. After breeding adults gather on coasts (from July onwards)7 for the post-breeding moult10 before migrating south to the wintering grounds between July and November6. The species departs its wintering grounds again from February through to May, although non-breeders may remain in the wintering areas all-year-round6. During the winter the species usually forages singly or in small groups6 occasionally aggregating into flocks of several thousand individuals, especially at roosting sites10.

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Habitat

<Breeding> The species breeds on upland moors, peat bogs, swampy and dry heathlands, fens, open grassy or boggy areas in forests, damp grasslands, meadows6, non-intensive farmland in river valleys7, dune valleys and coastal marshlands6.
<Non-breeding> During the winter the species frequents muddy coasts, bays and estuaries6 with tidal mudflats and sandflats10, rocky and sandy beaches with many pools8, 10, mangroves, saltmarshes10, coastal meadows8 and muddy shores of coastal lagoons8, inland lakes and rivers6. It also utilises wet grassland and arable fields during migration6.

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Diet

Its diet consists chiefly of annelid worms and terrestrial insects6 (e.g. Coleoptera and Orthoptera)8 especially during the summer6, although it will also take crustaceans, molluscs, polychaete worms6, spiders8, berries and seeds, as well as occasionally small fish, amphibians, lizards, young birds and small rodents6.

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Breeding Site

The nest is a shallow depression on the ground or on a mound9 in the open or in the cover of grass or sedge6 often far from water8.

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References

1. Wetlands International (2002). 2. BirdLife International (2004). 3. S. Chan in litt. (2005). 4. A. Mischenko in litt. (2005). 5. E. Bragin in litt. (2005). 6. del Hoyo et al. (1996). 7. Hayman et al. (1986). 8. Johnsgard (1981). 9. Flint et al. (1984). 10. Snow and Perrins (1998). 11. Kelin and Qiang (2006). 12. Melville and Shortridge (2006). 13. Burton (2006). 14. Burton et al. (2002a). 15. Burton et al. (2002b). 16. Baines (1988). 17. Navedo and Masero (2007). 18. Gibbons et al. (1993). 19. Hillis (2003). 20. Hotker et al. (2007). 21. L. Raudonikis in litt. (2007). 22. A. J. van Djik in litt. (2007). 23. J. Kamp and S. Sklyarenko in litt. (2007). 24. K. N. Flensted in litt. (2007). 25. I. Fefelov in litt. (2007). 26. Laursen and Karsten (2005). 27. Gusson et al. (2005). 28. M. Barter in litt. (2007). 29. Wetlands International (2006). 30. Thorup (2006). 31. A. Copland in litt. (2007). 32. M. Boschert in litt. (2007). 33. Eaton et al. (2007). 34. R. Gregory in litt. (2007).

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Status

International Status

IUCN Red List Category

NT

Justification

This widespread species remains common in many parts of its range, and determining population trends is problematic. Nevertheless, declines have been recorded in several key populations and overall a moderately rapid global decline is estimated. As a result, the species has been uplisted to Near Threatened.
<Population justification> Wetlands International (2006); M. Barter in litt. (2007).
<Trend justification> Data from 2007 return estimated three-generation declines of 26.1-34.1%. However, owing to the uncertainty over whether declines in southern populations have been compensated for by increases in northern populations, the global trend is suspected to fall within the band -20-30% in the past 15 years (three generations).

 

National Status

Country	Category	Reference
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
China
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Mongolia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand	NT	Thailand Red Data: Birds(Sanguansombat, 2005)
Vietnam

 

Management

Threat

<Breeding> The species is threatened by the loss and fragmentation of moorland habitats as a result of afforestation6,8 and of marginal grassland habitats as a result of agricultural intensification and improvement6,8,16 (e.g. drainage, inorganic fertilisation and reseeding)16. The species also suffers from high egg and chick mortalities (due to mechanical mowing) and higher predation rates if nesting on improved grasslands6. Conversely populations in the central Asians steppes have declined following abandonment of farmland and subsequent increases in the height of vegetation, rendering large areas unsuitable for nesting. It has also suffered population declines as a result of hunting8, and is susceptible to avian influenza so may be threatened by future outbreaks of the virus12.
<Non-breeding> Wintering populations are threatened by disturbance on intertidal mudflats6,14,15 (e.g. from construction work14 and foot-traffic15), development on high-tide roosting sites, pollution6 and the flooding of estuarine mudflats and saltmarshes as a result of tidal barrage construction13. The species is also threatened by the degradation of migrational staging areas owing to land reclamation, pollution, human disturbance and reduced river flows11. Local populations of this species have also declined owing to hunting pressures6.

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Information

A study into the effects of shellfish harvesting by hand in coastal intertidal habitats recommends that the harvesting load should be limited to <0.56 persons per 10 ha-1 during this species's autumn migration17.

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Current Conservation

Annex II/2 of the EU Birds Directive. The European Commission have commissioned a management plan for the species which has been updated for 2007-2009. The species occurs in a large number of protected areas throughout its range and features in several national monitoring schemes.

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Current Conservation

The Management Plan for Curlew outlines key conservation targets: Protect key wintering sites. Determine the key perameters driving declines in breeding areas and integrate agri-environment measures to counter these. Continue monitoring trends. Minimise disturbance on the wintering grounds.

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Legal Protection

Country	Status	Reference
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
China
Indonesia	Protected Species	Goverment Regulation no. 7 / 1999, about Preservation of Plants and Animals
Japan
Korea
Lao PDR
Malaysia	Protected Wild Birds Part I: Game Birds(as Numenius arquatus)	Law of Malaysia Act 76, Protection of Wild Life Act 1972 (Amend. 2006)
Mongolia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam

 

Related Links

• Annex II/2 of the EU Birds Directive

Range

Geographical Information

Migration Route

 

Asian Waterbird Census

Descriptions

The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) was initiated in 1987 and runs in parallel with other waterbird censuses carried out in Africa, Europe, Central and West Asia and Latin America under the umbrella of the International Waterbird Census (IWC), which is organised by Wetlands International.

The AWC takes place annually, during the second and third weeks of January, and is carried out by volunteers interested in collecting information on waterbirds and wetlands as a basis for contributing to their conservation.

Reference: Li, Z.W.D., Bloem, A., Delany S., Martakis G. and Quintero J. O. 2009. Status of Waterbirds in Asia - Results of the Asian Waterbird Census: 1987-2007. Wetlands International, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Census Data

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)
The total number of count sites	2	3	3	2	4	4	0	4	4	4	4	5	5	0	0	0	9	0	0	1	0	9
CAMBODIA	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual											42			1
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)											2			1
The total number of count sites	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	11	0	0	12	12	11	5	1	6	9	6	6
CHINA	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual			152	9	110	132	13	317	30	738	451	8						630	2592	419	3672	35815
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)			2	2	7	4	3	3	1	3	2	1						9	16	10	18	34
The total number of count sites	0	1	34	12	50	60	67	29	6	14	6	15	21	20	14	10	22	45	80	81	59	72
INDONESIA	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual					281	366	11	1524	44	19	1056			286	300	7	15	8				200
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)					4	5	3	3	6	4	2			5	1	1	3	1				1
The total number of count sites	0	0	0	1	19	8	17	17	15	19	16	0	0	47	12	10	40	34	14	16	15	23
JAPAN	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual					1			26	44	56	80	144	133	129	616	597	548	646	483	508	597	525
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)					1			5	6	7	8	4	6	4	21	25	19	22	20	16	21	16
The total number of count sites	0	0	0	53	39	52	47	20	50	40	47	37	41	37	107	112	103	109	97	159	142	137
LAO PDR	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)
The total number of count sites	0	0	0	2	4	5	3	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	14	1	0	0	0	1	0	0
MALAYSIA	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual				324	947	717	1030	1031	1255	1000				1075	831	1108	556	1185	866	2199	2576	2651
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)				8	8	6	4	2	3	1				2	4	7	5	8	9	15	18	4
The total number of count sites	0	0	0	59	68	93	85	17	10	7	10	0	0	20	25	25	25	43	43	82	82	40
MYANMAR	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual			8			121		2							4	7	73	61	8	6	198
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)			1			2		1							1	2	4	3	2	3	9
The total number of count sites	0	5	3	12	17	15	21	20	13	12	2	4	2	0	7	32	47	73	24	31	32	19
PHILIPPINES	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual					38	37	116	49	171	84	28	59	158	8	62	160	38	31	56	43	185	6
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)					3	3	10	6	7	10	6	6	8	2	7	6	7	6	8	5	8	2
The total number of count sites	0	0	0	0	19	21	34	39	46	47	39	28	29	32	43	38	50	47	56	54	65	108
SINGAPORE	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual							22					3		1	1				1
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)							1					1		1	1				1
The total number of count sites	0	0	0	0	4	12	17	15	13	14	10	10	6	11	10	10	8	9	9	8	8	7
REPUBLIC OF KOREA	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual				2	162	104	333	462	654	262	146	397	2084	1589	1725	2131	2077	5034	2170	3070	2393	3116
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)				1	3	2	2	2	2	4	3	4	6	12	15	14	13	12	17	12	11	11
The total number of count sites	0	0	10	12	22	20	20	15	10	22	25	22	14	68	99	112	118	116	117	123	127	127
THAILAND	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual	95			1	38	20	18	43	15	37		154		14	219			16	226	508	631	190
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)	3			1	1	1	1	2	1	2		2		1	1			2	2	7	9	4
The total number of count sites	10	8	3	20	26	12	23	16	17	5	9	3	1	1	7	3	9	26	20	82	99	33
VIETNAM	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
The number of observed individual											30		112	42	10	1	35			47	329	374
The number of observed sites(not all count sites)											1		1	1	1	1	6			2	3	3
The total number of count sites	0	0	0	1	2	0	1	4	0	1	1	0	1	8	2	2	16	4	4	9	6	11

 

Population

Descriptions

 

Population Trend

 

Additional Information

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Climate change species distributions

 

Other Information

• Detailed species account from Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status (BirdLife International 2004)