The Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) is a large species of shorebird with a distinctive long, downcurved bill. It breeds in grasslands, moorlands and wetlands throughout northern Europe, and moves to coastal estuaries and mudflats outside the breeding season. The Eurasian Curlew is considered ‘Near Threatened’ by the IUCN due to habitat loss and changes in land use across its breeding grounds.

What does a Eurasian Curlew sound like? The wild, bubbly call of the Eurasian Curlew is an evocative sound of grasslands, moorlands and wetlands in northern Europe in spring and summer. During the breeding season, males perform these distinctive bubbling songs in flight – a long, accelerating trill that builds to a climax before fading away. Eurasian Curlews also make loud, rising, liquid “cur-lee” or “cour-li” whistled calls that give the bird its name. These sounds are often associated with wild, remote landscapes and have long been featured in poetry & folklore.