Curlew - description, habitat, interesting facts

A curlew is a bird belonging to the family of snipe. If a detachment is attributed to these individuals, it will be referred to as charadriiformes. Few have heard of these representatives of birds, so in today's article we are studying the main aspects related to these birds. The main feature, of course, is considered to be an excessively long and curved beak, as well as an interesting coloring of the plumage. But let's not get ahead of ourselves, we will study everything in turn.

Curlew

1. By body weight, birds can reach values ​​of 0.9-1.1 kg. Individuals grow to a maximum of 65 cm, and the wingspan fluctuates within 1 m. Earlier it was already mentioned that the distinctive characteristic of the birds of this family is considered to be a bent and elongated beak.Moreover, in female individuals it is bent more strongly than in representatives of male affiliation.
2. The most common in the natural environment are Curlews, brownish in color with gray and ocher patches. However, the plumage may have a different shade, for example, gray, whitish or beige with brown. Birds are found in Asian countries, as well as in the north and in the central part of Europe.
3. By nature, these individuals love the marshland. Therefore, when the birds nest, then choose such an environment to build a home for future offspring. They need some water, silt, rushes or other vegetation along the edge of the source. Often found on peatlands.

Little curlew

1. There are many different members of the family, for example, baby curlew. These birds differ from large individuals in small dimensions as well as in their habitat (they prefer to settle in the Urals, in Kazakhstan).
2. When it becomes cold in the home country, the birds gather and leave the edges. They are sent to countries with a mild climate, are found off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.Ornithologists researching these birds believe that babies are on the verge of extinction.
3. When the little curlews begin building nests, they choose open areas. They are preparing to reproduce offspring in the meadows near the Siberian rivers. Dwellings are located in small holes, specially dug for these purposes.

Average curlew

1. It differs from its large and small counterparts. The wings reach a height of 80 cm. The length of the hull varies within half a meter, and the weight is 0.5 kg. (males) and 0.6 kg. (females).
2. A feature of this variety is the color of the shell. The parietal region is brown with black patches, divided by a whitish stripe. The beak is not so long, and the arches above the eyes are pigmented with light.
3. Similar to all other birds from this family, individuals live in swampy areas of European countries. But they prefer to build a home for posterity not in an open, but in a wooded area, so that a water source is located nearby.

Curly Curlew

1. According to its external characteristics, it practically does not differ from large individuals.Only the size is different, it is slightly smaller. Also the beak is shortened and does not bend too much.
2. It prefers to settle on meadow plots with marshy soil. You can find individuals on peatlands, as well as in birch or aspen forests. When it comes time to go to winter, fly to Morocco or nearby regions.
3. To date, this type of Curlew is considered to be the rarest, disappearing, therefore it is seriously protected. A distinctive feature is the fact that there are black markings on the bird casing.

Far Eastern curlew

1. As the name implies, individuals live in the expanses of our homeland. The wingspan of the wings is up to 100 cm. The distinguishing feature is considered to be elongated legs, as well as the back of a dark brown tone. The belly of birds is light, almost whitish.
2. The beak, by analogy with specimens of a large type, is strongly curved and elongated. Since individuals live in Russia, they prefer to nest here. But they can occasionally fly to Korea or China.
3. In view of the fact that this species was previously engaged in building a home for posterity in open areas, hunters, foxes, and dogs began to destroy it.

Eskimo curlew

1. Long since presented species was considered the most extensive in its habitat and abundance. It is common in the United States of America, as well as Canada.
2. But since the curlews were constantly the prey of hunters, they were practically exterminated. For more than 50 years, Eskimo representatives have not come across a person’s eyes.

Lifestyle

1. Considered representatives of birds lead, one might say, a social lifestyle. Almost all the flights that make birds, it happens at night. At the same time, the represented individuals form simply huge colonies.
2. In wintering places such birds accumulate in large quantities. Most of the time during the day the birds are engaged in searching for food can be replaced, that such individuals stroll impressively in open areas. Birds from time to time lower their beak in silt or sand.
3. It should be noted that the rhythm of the life of the Curlew is directly dependent on the ebb and flow, and not day and night, like most birds. As soon as the water departs from the shores, the represented individuals go on active searches for food.
4. As soon as the tides come, these birds are sent to rest. At this time, birds begin to make very beautiful and unusual sounds. Their singing can be compared to playing the flute. For wintering individuals go to hot countries. Often there is a Mediterranean climate.
5. In Russia, these individuals can be seen at the beginning or in the middle of spring. If one of the curlews notices the approaching danger in the form of a predatory beast, the bird will surely warn its relatives about this with a loud cry. Sometimes the sounds are like the neighing of a foal.
6. At night, the individuals in question are sent to secluded places. Often they are presented in the form of coastal thickets and thick grass. In such places, birds are inaccessible to predators and humans. The represented individuals prefer to follow seasonal migrations. Therefore, they do not lead a sedentary lifestyle.

Breeding

1. As mentioned earlier, the individuals represented are social birds. Therefore, they nest in large families, at this time and the pair are formed. Individuals build nests together. They are small hollows in the ground.Birds shelter the home with feathers, dried grass and sprigs.
2. The female carries out the clutch approximately in the middle of spring. At a time, no more than 4 eggs are produced. The young are born already with plumage. After some time, the chicks are already with their parents go in search of food.
3. Juveniles stay with adults until they learn to fly. Up to this point, they are trying to hide in dense thickets from predators and other enemies. After about a month and a half, the chicks stand on the wing and begin to fly on their own and look for food.

The individuals of this family have their own characteristics that distinguish them from all other birds. The main feature, of course, is considered to be a curved and long beak.

Video: Curlew (Numenius arquata)