Eurasian Curlew

The Eurasian curlew is the largest wader in its range, 50–60cm long with a wingspan of 89–106cm and a weight of 410–1,360g. It is mainly greyish brown with a white back, greyish-blue legs and a very long, smoothly down-curved bill, longest in adult females. The sexes otherwise look alike. The familiar call is a loud curloo-oo, the source of its English name. The only similar species is the whimbrel, which is smaller with a shorter, kinked bill (Wikipedia, general species account).

It breeds across temperate Europe and Asia and is migratory over most of its range, wintering in Africa, southern Europe and southern Asia, though birds stay year-round in mild areas such as Ireland and Britain. It is a wary bird and highly gregarious outside the breeding season. Drainage of marshy fields and moorland has caused local declines. Three subspecies are recognised (Wikipedia, general species account).