The curlew (Numenius arquata) is a bird from the family of beach runners and snipes (Scolopacidae).
It is a large waders (50 to 60 cm long[2], 450 to 1500 grams heavy) with a 9 to 15 cm long, curved downwards beak. It is the largest wader in Western Europe. The plumage is light with dark brown vertical stripes all over the body. Contrary to the rain curlew (looks a lot like the curlew), the curlew has a fairly even head; a dark eye line is missing. In flight, the white rump and lower back are clearly visible. It is unmistakable, confusion is only possible with the whimbrel which is 10 cm smaller with a beak of 6 to 9 cm. The curlew has little markings on the head, only a vague light eye line. The whimbrel has a dark eye line and a crown line. The sound of the curlew is very characteristic and once you know it, you won't easily forget it. It is a mysterious swelling sound, which can carry particularly far in the morning and evening silence.
Photographed in Blijdorp Zoo
We are Loek and Karin Lobel, and our passion is animal photography, both in the wild and in zoos.
We are loek en Karin Lobel and we love to take pictures in the wild but also in the Zoo...
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