ETYM French courlieu, corlieu, courlis; perh. of imitative origin, but cf. Old Fren. corlieus courier; Latin currere to run + levis light.
Large migratory shorebirds of the sandpiper family; closely related to woodcocks but having a down-curved bill.
Wading bird of the genus Numenius of the sandpiper family, Scolopacidae. The curlew is between 36 cm/14 in and 55 cm/1.8 ft in length, and has mottled brown plumage, long legs, and a long, thin, downcurved bill. Several species live in N Europe, Asia, and North America. The name derives from its haunting flutelike call.
One species, the Eskimo curlew, is almost extinct, never having recovered from relentless hunting in the late 19th century. + prikaži više