Fauna
Bird · GBIF taxon 2481783

Eskimo Curlew

Numenius borealis

Also known as Northern Curlew, Doughbird, Prairie Pigeon

Eskimo curlews once darkened the skies during autumn migrations, traveling in enormous flocks from Arctic tundra breeding grounds down to the Argentine pampas. Along the way, they fattened rapidly on coastal crowberries and migratory grasshoppers, earning the historical market-hunter nickname doughbird due to their abundant fat reserves. Unchecked commercial market hunting in the nineteenth century, coupled with habitat loss across central flyways, decimated their numbers to near or total extinction.

ShorebirdMigratoryRare
Eskimo Curlew reference
Licensed reference(c) Jim, the Photographer, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
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—peak records
Critically EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXCritically EndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Crowberry
  • Rocky Mountain Locust
  • Ground Beetle
Predators
  • Arctic Fox
  • Peregrine Falcon
  • Gyrfalcon
ThreatsHistorical commercial market hunting, habitat conversion in wintering and staging areas
HabitatsArctic tundra, coastal mudflats, open grasslands, and coastal heathlands
Life span8–15 years
Classification
  1. FamilyScolopacidae
  2. SpeciesNumenius borealis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Distinguished from Whimbrels by a shorter, slightly arched bill, unbarred primaries, and warm cinnamon underwing coverts.
Support conservation
Do not pursue, flush, or approach; record exact coordinates and inform conservation ornithologists immediately.
Responsible observation
  • Reporting: Document any putative sighting with high-resolution photography and report immediately to wildlife authorities.
  • Distance: Maintain maximum possible distance with spotting optics to prevent disturbing any potential surviving individuals.
  • Identification: Carefully distinguish from the slightly larger and longer-billed Whimbrel.
Related species
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