Distinguishing Characteristics

Medium-sized curlew (310–493 g, wing 216–265 mm). Long (73–103 mm) decurved bill and large size are characteristic of the genus. Upperparts dark brown variably marked with pale buff, underparts pale buff, neck and breast streaked with dark brown, axillaries barred, abdomen pale and mostly unmarked. Rump pattern uniform with upperparts in N. p. hudsonicus; barred white in N. p. variegatus, white in N. p. phaeopus and N. p. alboaxillaris (Cramp and Simmons 1983). Sexes similar in plumage; no seasonal variation. Females slightly larger than males (Appendix 2). Breast of juvenile more buff than adult, with slightly finer streaking and clearer buff markings on wing-coverts, scapulars, and tertials (Hayman et al. 1986). Far-carrying voice; outside breeding season, an oft-repeated, rippling titter, bibibibibibibi (Cramp and Simmons 1983).

Distinct dark crown with well-defined buff median stripe; lacking in larger Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) and in Old World species, e.g., larger Eurasian Curlew (N. arquata); stripe less well defined and dark crown mottled with buff in smaller Eskimo Curlew (N. borealis). Buff eyebrow-stripe contrasts with well-defined dark eye-stripe; eye-stripe less distinct in Eskimo and Eurasian curlews, and lacking in Long-billed Curlew. Primaries distinctly barred in contrast to uniformly brown primaries of Eskimo Curlew; bill of latter shorter, less decurved than bill of adult Whimbrel (may be similar to that of immature). Immature Long-billed Curlew sometimes has bill as short as Whimbrel (Godfrey 1986). Bristle-thighed Curlew (N. tahitiensis) similar in size, more buffy in appearance; best distinguished by bright cinnamon rump and uppertail (Hayman et al. 1986), and by very different vocalizations.