curlew

American  

[kur-loo] / ˈkɜr lu /

noun

1. any of several shorebirds of the genus Numenius, having a long, slender, downcurved bill, as the common N. arquata, of Europe.

2. any of various similar birds.

---

curlew British  

/ ˈkɜːljuː /

noun

1. any large shore bird of the genus Numenius, such as N. arquata of Europe and Asia: family Scolopacidae (sandpipers, etc), order Charadriiformes. They have a long downward-curving bill and occur in northern and arctic regions Compare stone curlew

---

Etymology

Origin of curlew

1300–50; Middle English < Anglo-French curleu, cognate with Middle French corleu; perhaps imitative

Example Sentences

The estate is home to rare wildlife, including curlew, mountain bumblebees, lapwings, red squirrels, cuckoo and merlin, as well as Atlantic salmon and critically endangered eels, but the conservationists say nature could be richer still.

From BBC

Experts believe that thousands of animals and other wildlife were killed in the flames - including curlew, grouse chicks and hares.

From BBC

It happened close to important breeding sites for threatened bird species such as curlews and black grouse.

From BBC

At the time, a survey suggested the curlew population had declined by 50% in a decade.

From BBC

One in six species - such as water voles and curlews - are currently at risk of vanishing from Wales, which has seen a 20% decrease on average in its wildlife over the last 30 years.

From BBC