Wildlifeof China
Little Curlew
Shorebirds
Photo: 孫琨林 (Sun Kun Lin) · CC BY-SA 2.0
Numenius minutus
Basic stats
Diet
Small invertebrates, probed from soft mud
Habitat
Breeds in loose colonies in forest clearings in river valleys; nest is a ground scrape
Range
Breeds in the far north of Siberia; winters in Australasia
Size
28–31cm
Wingspan
68–71cm
Weight
Average 175g
The little curlew is the smallest curlew, averaging 28–31cm long with a wingspan of 68–71cm and a weight of about 175g. It is mainly greyish-brown, including the underwings, with a white belly and a short, curved bill for a curlew. The head pattern, with crown and superciliary stripes, resembles a whimbrel's (Wikipedia, general species account).
It breeds in the far north of Siberia, in loose colonies in forest clearings in river valleys, in a ground scrape. It is strongly migratory, wintering in Australasia, and feeds by probing soft mud for small invertebrates. The call is a repetitive whistle (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Little Curlew eat?
- Small invertebrates, probed from soft mud
- What habitat does the Little Curlew live in?
- Breeds in loose colonies in forest clearings in river valleys; nest is a ground scrape
- Where is the Little Curlew found?
- Breeds in the far north of Siberia; winters in Australasia
- How big is the Little Curlew?
- 28–31cm
- What is the wingspan of the Little Curlew?
- 68–71cm
- How much does the Little Curlew weigh?
- Average 175g