The long-billed curlew (Numenius americanus) is a large shorebird that breeds in the interior grasslands of western North America. It is well-known for its exceptionally long, curved bill used for probing in the ground for invertebrates. Given this bird’s distinctive features, one may wonder what other species are similar to the long-billed curlew.
Several shorebird species around the world share some similarities with the long-billed curlew in terms of anatomy, behavior, habitat, and distribution. However, the curlew’s closest relatives are found within the Numenius genus of curlews. Here we will explore the whimbrel and the Eurasian curlew – two curlew species that bear a strong resemblance to North America’s long-billed curlew.
Whimbrel
The whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) is probably the species most similar to the long-billed curlew. As members of the same genus, they share a number of anatomical and behavioral traits. In terms of appearance, the whimbrel looks like a smaller, stubbier version of the long-billed curlew.
Size and Markings
While the long-billed curlew reaches lengths of 17 to 32 inches with a wingspan around 34 inches, the whimbrel is a bit smaller at 15 to 19 inches in length and a 30 inch wingspan. Both birds have long downcurved bills, but the whimbrel’s is shorter, measuring around 2.5 to 4 inches compared to the curlew’s 4 to 8.5 inches.
In breeding plumage, the whimbrel exhibits a similar streaked brown and buff pattern on the head, neck, chest, wings, and back. The rump is pale with dark barring. The belly is a solid buff color. Outside of breeding season, the plumage fades to gray-brown above and light brown below with little to no streaking. In flight, whimbrels show a bold stripe on the back edge of the inner wing, much like the long-billed curlew.
Habitat and Range
Whimbrels and long-billed curlews occupy comparable coastal and inland wetland habitats across North America. During the breeding season, both species nest in open grasslands. The whimbrel’s breeding range extends across subarctic and boreal regions of Canada and Alaska. The long-billed curlew nests further south in the prairie regions of the United States and Canada.
After breeding, whimbrels migrate through the Great Plains of North America stopping at inland wetlands before continuing to coastal wintering areas from the Southeastern U.S. south to Chile. The long-billed curlew also uses interior wetlands on its migratory journey to the coasts of Mexico and Central America. The whimbrel’s migrations cover a much broader range overall.
Behavior
The feeding behaviors of whimbrels and long-billed curlews are very similar due to the form and function of their specialized bills. Both species use their bills to probe deeply into mud or soil to catch worms, insects, crustaceans, and other small invertebrates. They may also pick up food items directly from shallow water or the surface of marshes and wet meadows.
During the breeding season, whimbrels and curlews show intense territorial aggression towards intruders in defense of their nesting areas. Their loud, ringing vocalizations help maintain territories and contact mates or young. Outside of breeding, they congregate in loose flocks for feeding and migration. Overall, the behaviors of these two curlew species closely align.
Eurasian Curlew
Traveling across the globe to Europe, Asia, and Australia, we find the long-billed curlew’s counterpart – the Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata). This is the largest curlew species and one of the world’s biggest shorebirds. Despite its large size and distant range, the Eurasian curlew shares many similarities with its American cousin.
Size and Markings
With a body length of 23 to 29 inches and a wingspan approaching 47 inches, the Eurasian curlew is noticeably bigger than the long-billed curlew. However, it matches proportions with a long neck and legs along with a very long downcurved bill measuring 7 to 8.7 inches.
During breeding season, the plumage features buffy brown upperparts with dark streaks and a pale buff underside with black belly bars and streaks on the flanks. The non-breeding plumage is plain gray-brown above and off-white below. Thick wing bars are visible in flight along with a broad white rump.
Habitat and Range
Eurasian curlews breed in fenlands, moorlands, and forest bogs across northern Europe and Asia. They winter mainly along shallow coastal waters from western Europe to Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. Though their geographic ranges don’t overlap, they occupy similar temperate and subtropical wetland habitats as the long-billed curlew.
Behavior
With its long specialized bill, the Eurasian curlew forages in a nearly identical manner to the long-billed curlew – wading in shallow waters while probing deep into the mud in search of worms, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. During breeding, the Eurasian curlew vigorously defends its nesting territory with noisy aerial displays and aggression towards encroaching animals. Outside of breeding season, they gather in large flocks at feeding and roosting sites. Overall, the Eurasian curlew fills a very similar ecological niche to the long-billed curlew.
Other Shorebirds
Beyond the Numenius curlews, a few other shorebird groups share some similarities with the long-billed curlew:
Godwits
The godwits are a group of large shorebirds within the genus Limosa known for their long legs and bills and noisy flocking behavior. The long-billed godwit (Limosa limosa) of Eurasia closely aligns with the long-billed curlew in proportions and ecology. Marbled godwits (Limosa fedoa) are found alongside long-billed curlews in North American grasslands.
Dowitchers
The two dowitcher species are medium-sized probing shorebirds with long straight bills. Although smaller than curlews, dowitchers occupy similar interior wetland habitats and fill an equivalent ecological niche.
Ibisbill
The ibisbill (Ibidorhyncha struthersii) of central Asia is a highly specialized river shorebird bearing some resemblance to the long-billed curlew in its long downcurved bill, cryptic plumage, and remote inland breeding habitat. However, it belongs to its own monotypic family Ibidorhynchidae.
Conclusion
While several shorebirds around the world share some traits with North America’s iconic long-billed curlew, this bird has its closest living relatives within the genus Numenius. In particular, the whimbrel and Eurasian curlew align very closely with the long-billed curlew in anatomy, habitat preferences, foraging behaviors, and other aspects of their natural history. Beyond the curlews, certain godwits, dowitchers, and the ibisbill occupy comparable ecological niches in other regions of the world. But overall, no species offers a closer match to the long-billed curlew than its fellow curlews. With their large size, cryptic plumage, downcurved bills specialized for probing, noisy territorial displays, and preference for interior wetland habitats, the curlews form a unique and coherent group among the diverse Scolopacidae shorebird family.