# Long-billed Curlew (*Numenius americanus*) The Long-billed Curlew is a tall bird with a very long, curved bill. It loves to roam the wetlands and grasslands, searching for tasty insects and crustaceans to eat. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Long-billed Curlew](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Curlew_-_natures_pics.jpg&width=800) Photo: Alan D. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Curlew_-_natures_pics.jpg) ## Appearance The Long-billed Curlew is a large shorebird with warm cinnamon-brown plumage and distinct streaks on its head and neck. Its most striking feature is an incredibly long, slender, and distinctly downcurved bill. Pale blue-grey legs contrast with its earthy tones. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Scolopacidae - **Genus:** Numenius ## Interesting facts - Curlews can poke their bill into mud up to its full length. - Their extra-long bill can be up to eight inches! - These birds migrate in large flocks across continents. - They lay their eggs right on the ground in a simple scrape. ## Special abilities - **Proboscis Probe:** Long-billed Curlews can reach deep into the mud because of their extra-long, curved bill that helps them find hidden prey. - **Grassland Camouflage:** Long-billed Curlews have streaky brown feathers that help them blend perfectly into tall prairie grasses to hide from predators. - **Aerial Acrobat:** Long-billed Curlews can perform impressive flight displays and dives that help them defend their nesting territory. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-65 cm - **Wingspan:** 80-90 cm - **Weight:** 0.6-1 kg - **Lifespan:** 8-12 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 27-30 days - **Migration Distance:** 4000 km ## Diet & Feeding These birds use their super long, curved bill to dig for tasty insects and small critters! - **Primary Foods:** Crabs, Earthworms, Grasshoppers, Beetles, Small fish - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — preys on eggs and young curlews - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — hunts chicks and adult birds - **Hunts:** American Grasshopper (*Schistocerca americana*) — eats many insects from grasslands - **Hunts:** [Blue Crab](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-crab) (*Callinectes sapidus*) — probes muddy areas for small crabs ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance so they feel safe and happy. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Long-billed Curlew? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Long-billed Curlew? 50-65 cm ### What is Long-billed Curlew's wingspan? 80-90 cm ### How much does Long-billed Curlew weigh? 0.6-1 kg ### How long does Long-billed Curlew live? 8-12 years ### How fast can Long-billed Curlew move? 70 km/h ### What does Long-billed Curlew eat? These birds use their super long, curved bill to dig for tasty insects and small critters! ### Where is Long-billed Curlew usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bolsa-chica-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Eden Landing Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/eden-landing-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Presidio Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/presidio-park) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Cora](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cora) — Wyoming, US · Neighborhood - [Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/elkhorn-slough-national-estuarine-research-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/guadalupe-nipomo-dunes) — California, US · Natural Landmark [View all places to see Long-billed Curlew](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/long-billed-curlew) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Long-billed Curlew: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/long-billed-curlew)