The Eskimo curlew, also known as northern curlew, is a species of curlew in the family Scolopacidae. It was one of the most numerous shorebirds in the tundra of western Arctic Canada and Alaska. Thousands of birds were then killed per year in the late 1800s. As there has not been a reliable sighting since 1987 or a confirmed sighting since 1963, the Eskimo curlew is considered Critically Endangered or possibly extinct. The bird is about 30 cm (12 in) long and feeds mostly on insects and berries.
Region
Arctic North America to South American Pampas
Typical Environment
Breeds on low Arctic tundra of western Canada and Alaska, favoring sparsely vegetated, berry‑rich tundra with dry ridges. During southbound migration it moved through central North America, using shortgrass prairies, burned fields, and agricultural lands rich in grasshoppers. Stopovers also included coastal beaches and tidal flats. Wintering occurred primarily on the pampas of Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil, where birds foraged in open grasslands and pastures.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Once among the most numerous North American shorebirds, the Eskimo curlew was decimated by 19th‑century market hunting and habitat changes. The loss of massive grasshopper swarms (notably the Rocky Mountain locust) likely removed a key food resource during migration. Distinctive rich cinnamon underwings help separate it from the similar Whimbrel. It is now Critically Endangered and possibly extinct, with no confirmed records since 1963.
Illustration (middle) by Louis Agassiz Fuertes
Specimen in Laval University Library
Eskimo curlew by Archibald Thorburn
Specimen in the Museum of Comparative Zoology
Illustration by John James Audubon
Temperament
wary and alert, forming cohesive flocks
Flight Pattern
strong flier with rapid, purposeful wingbeats; agile long-distance migrant
Social Behavior
Historically gathered in sizable flocks on migration and on wintering grounds. Breeding is presumed monogamous with ground nests on open tundra and typical clutches of four eggs. Adults showed cryptic behavior near nests and relied on camouflage for protection.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Generally quiet; gives thin, clear whistles and soft, rolling notes, especially in flight. Calls are higher and more delicate than Whimbrel, often described as a soft, ringing tli-ee or curee.
Plumage
Warm brown, finely streaked upperparts with buffy to cinnamon wash; underparts buff with darker spotting and streaking. Underwings show rich cinnamon coloration. Crown is relatively plain compared with Whimbrel, and the bill is shorter and more evenly decurved.
Diet
Primarily consumes insects, especially beetles, grasshoppers, and other orthopterans; historically fed heavily on locust swarms during migration. On the breeding grounds it also takes spiders and other small invertebrates. Berries, such as crowberries and blueberries, are eaten seasonally when abundant.
Preferred Environment
Feeds by walking and picking in short vegetation on tundra, shortgrass prairies, burned fields, and open pastures. Also forages on beaches, mudflats, and sparsely vegetated coastal areas during stopovers.
