ID Keys: Slender decurved bill, dark brown crown with buff spots and
edging, buffy supercilium
Once possibly among the
most numerous of shorebirds to migrate through the Great Plains, the Eskimo
Curlew is now feared extinct.
Highly sought after in the 1800's as a game-bird because of their plump bodies,
vast numbers were shot for food. While other shorebirds began to make a
comeback after hunting stopped, Eskimo Curlews continued to decline. The
last verified sighting was in Barbados in 1963. Very similar to the
story of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, however, unconfirmed reports have
continued to trickle in since. An intriguing sighting came from a
well-respected ornithologist in 2006 on the coast of Nova Scotia, but no
photo or other proof was obtained.
Habitat
The Eskimo Curlew historically bred on Arctic tundra in northern Canada, particularly in open grassy and sedge-dominated landscapes near wetlands. During migration, it used coastal marshes, mudflats, native prairies, grasslands, agricultural fields, and other open habitats across North and South America. Wintering birds were believed to inhabit the grasslands and pampas of southern South America, especially in regions of Argentina and Uruguay.
Diet
The Eskimo Curlew historically fed on insects, berries, and other small invertebrates. During migration across the Great Plains, it was especially known for consuming large numbers of grasshoppers and other insects in prairie habitats. On the breeding grounds it likely fed on insects, larvae, spiders, and other Arctic invertebrates, while berries and other plant material became important during migration and winter.
Breeding
Non-breeder in South Dakota. The Eskimo Curlew nested on the Arctic tundra of northern Canada. Like other curlews, it likely placed its nest in a shallow scrape on the ground lined with grasses, sedges, and other nearby vegetation, usually in open tundra habitats with low plant cover. Very little is known about its breeding biology because the species became exceedingly rare before detailed studies could be conducted, but historical accounts suggest clutches probably contained four eggs and that both adults participated in caring for the young.
Song
Very little is known about the vocalizations of the Eskimo Curlew because the species became rare before extensive recordings or detailed field studies were possible. Historical accounts describe its calls as soft, clear, whistled notes and short curlew-like whistles, somewhat resembling those of other Numenius species but generally higher-pitched and less powerful. Most information about its voice comes from observations made in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Migration
The Eskimo Curlew was one of the most remarkable long-distance migrants in the world. It bred on the Arctic tundra of northern Canada and migrated south through the Great Plains of North America to winter in the grasslands and pampas of southern South America, particularly in Argentina and Uruguay. Spring migration likely followed a different route, carrying birds north through the Caribbean and eastern North America before returning to the Arctic. This extensive migration exposed the species to heavy hunting pressure during the late 1800s, which contributed significantly to its catastrophic decline and probable extinction.
Interactive eBird Map
No recorded sightings
Similar Species
Whimbrel: The Eskimo Curlew was smaller and more compact than the Whimbrel, with a noticeably shorter, less strongly curved bill. Eskimo Curlews lacked the Whimbrel's bold striped crown pattern and generally showed warmer cinnamon-buff underwings and underparts. In flight, the Eskimo Curlew appeared slimmer and more delicate, while the Whimbrel is larger, longer-billed, and more heavily marked. Distinguishing the two species was historically important because most reported Eskimo Curlew sightings involved careful comparison with Whimbrels.
Conservation Status
Likely extinct, with no verified sightings since 1963, but with several unconfirmed reports since then.
