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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of curlew

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

Example Sentences

The moss also creates habitats for rare species, such as the curlew, and is a vital tool in the fight against wildfires.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

The barges were filled and covered with sediment to create a new island for birds including endangered dunlin, curlew, ringed plover and lapwing.

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2026

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

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2025

The slender-billed curlew once traveled a vast range, migrating across Central Asia and the northwestern African coast.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 20, 2024

We sat quietly, the only sounds the occasional cry of the curlew and Lottie’s contented nursing.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson