Eurasian Curlew

“Numenius arquatus. Eurasian Curlew. European Curlew. Bill of very variably length, always longer than head, probably always exceeding the tarsus, sometimes more than length of entire leg; slender, curved downwards, the tip of the upper mandible knobbed and overhanging the end of the lower; obsoletely grooved nearly to end. Gape of mouth extended beyond base of culmen. Feathers reaching about equally far on sides of each mandible. Wings and tail ordinary; latter barred in color. Legs rather stout; tibia largely denuded below; tarsus much longer than middle toe and claw, scutellate in front only, elsewhere reticulate. Toes short and thick, fattened underneath, broadly margined on sides. Of large and medium stature, and plump form. Coloration variegated; rufous usually prevailing. Sexes alike; changes of plumage not pronounced.” Elliot Coues, 1884

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