The Far Eastern curlew (Numenius madagascariensis) is a large bird that looks similar to the long-billed curlew but is slightly bigger. Its body is mostly brown, and it can be told apart from other curlews by its plain, unpatterned brown underwing and brown rump. It is not only the largest curlew but may also be the world's largest sandpiper. It grows to 60–66 cm (24–26 in) in length, with a wingspan of 110 cm (43 in). Its weight ranges from 390–1,350 g (0.86–2.98 lb), a range that matches the Eurasian curlew. Female Far Eastern curlews are typically about 100 g heavier than males. The bird has an extremely long bill, measuring 12.8–20.1 cm (5.0–7.9 in), which is as long as the bill of the closely related long-billed curlew. It shares some areas with the eastern subspecies of the Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata orientalis), but can be distinguished by its brown rump and lower back, which are not white.
Taxonomy
In 1760, the French scientist Mathurin Jacques Brisson described the Far Eastern curlew in his book Ornithologie using a specimen. He gave it the French name Le courly de Madagascar and the Latin name Numenius madagascariensis. Although Brisson created Latin names, they did not follow the two-part naming system and are not accepted by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. In 1766, the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus updated his Systema Naturae for the 12th edition and added 240 species previously described by Brisson. One of these was the Far Eastern curlew, which Linnaeus named Scolopax madagascariensis. The name madagascariensis, meaning "of Madagascar," was incorrect. The actual location where the species was first identified is now known to be Makassar on Sulawesi, Indonesia, where it spends the winter. The species has never been found in Madagascar.
Distribution and habitat
The Far Eastern curlew breeds in northeastern Asia, including areas such as Siberia, Kamchatka, and Mongolia. It lives in wet areas like marshes, swamps, and lakeshores during this time. Most of these birds spend the non-breeding season in coastal regions of Australia, with some traveling to Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and New Zealand. In these places, they live near estuaries, beaches, and salt marshes. A few also winter in southern China and Taiwan. During migration, they often stop at mudflats in the Yellow Sea and some coastal areas of Japan.
The bird uses its long, curved bill to search for small animals in the mud. It may feed alone but usually joins large groups when traveling or resting. Its call is a sharp, clear whistle, "cuuue-reee," which it often repeats.
On its breeding grounds, the Far Eastern curlew eats insects like beetle and fly larvae, as well as small crustaceans called amphipods. During migration, it also eats berries. In the non-breeding season, it feeds mainly on marine invertebrates, such as crabs and small mollusks, and also eats other crustaceans and worms.
Conservation status
As of 2006, scientists estimate there are about 38,000 of these animals worldwide. Previously, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed them as "least concern," meaning they were not considered at risk. However, further research showed their numbers were lower than expected, so their status was changed to "vulnerable" on the 2010 IUCN Red List of threatened species.
In Australia, this species is classified as "critically endangered" under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. The decline in their population is linked to large-scale land reclamation projects by China, North Korea, and South Korea along the coasts of the Yellow Sea. These projects have caused more than a 65% loss of mudflats, which are important resting and feeding areas for the Far Eastern curlew during migration.