Numenius americanus
Bechstein, 1812
Long-billed Curlew
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100438
Element CodeABNNF07070
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderCharadriiformes
FamilyScolopacidae
GenusNumenius
Other Common Names
Courlis à long bec (FR) long-billed curlew (EN) Zarapito Pico Largo (ES)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Taxonomic Comments
May constitute a superspecies with N. arquata (AOU 1998).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-03-12
Change Date2024-03-12
Edition Date2024-03-12
Edition AuthorsGundy, R. L.
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
This species has wide breeding and non-breeding ranges. It is threatened by habitat loss due to conversion of grassland habitat to agriculture and developed areas, habitat loss due to sea-level rise, and habitat degradation due to invasive species and human modification of the landscape. The population suffered steep historical declines due to overhunting and habitat loss. The population size is around 140,000 individuals and populations are declining by up to 30% throughout the range.
Range Extent Comments
The breeding season (mid-March to mid-July) range is in southwestern Canada and the northwestern United States (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009, Duggar and Duggar 2020). It extends from southern British Columbia to southwestern Saskatchewan in Canada, southward to northeastern New Mexico, and westward to eastern California, Oregon, and Washington (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009, Duggar and Duggar 2020). To estimate the breeding range extent, Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF 2024) records were filtered to the years 2004-2024 (i.e., the past 20 years), during the months of May and June (i.e., to exclude as many migratory records as possible), then records that appeared to be outside of the breeding range map in Duggar and Duggar (2020) were excluded. GeoCat (2024) calculated the breeding range extent to be approximately 3.295 million km². The breeding range is the more limited range extent and is the basis for this assessment.
The non-breeding season (mid-July to mid-March) range includes all coastlines of the southern half of the United States, southward through México (including parts of the interior) to the Yucatán Peninsula on the Mexican Gulf Coast and to northern Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009, Duggar and Duggar 2020). To estimate the non-breeding range extent, GBIF (2024) records were filtered to the years 2004-2024 (i.e., the past 20 years), during the months of November to February (i.e., to exclude as many migratory records as possible), then records that appeared to be outside of the non-breeding range map in Duggar and Duggar (2020) were excluded. GeoCat (2024) calculated the non-breeding range extent to be approximately 9.653 million km².
The non-breeding season (mid-July to mid-March) range includes all coastlines of the southern half of the United States, southward through México (including parts of the interior) to the Yucatán Peninsula on the Mexican Gulf Coast and to northern Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009, Duggar and Duggar 2020). To estimate the non-breeding range extent, GBIF (2024) records were filtered to the years 2004-2024 (i.e., the past 20 years), during the months of November to February (i.e., to exclude as many migratory records as possible), then records that appeared to be outside of the non-breeding range map in Duggar and Duggar (2020) were excluded. GeoCat (2024) calculated the non-breeding range extent to be approximately 9.653 million km².
Occurrences Comments
The exact number of occurrences is unknown. Breeding occurrences likely number in the dozens (Stanley and Skagen 2007, Jones et al. 2008). There are likely several hundred non-breeding occurrences (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009, Duggar and Duggar 2020, eBird 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Habitat loss is the greatest threat. The loss of grassland habitat in the breeding range, while happening at a much slower rate than in past centuries, remains a threat (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009, Duggar and Duggar 2020). Tidal flats, one of the most important non-breeding habitats, have declined 16% worldwide between 1984 and 2016, and the loss of this habitat is projected to continue due to sea-level rise (Murray et al. 2019). Grasslands in the Chihuahuan Desert are declining as they are converted to agriculture (Pool et al. 2014).
Habitat degradation is also occurring. Invasive plants, such as crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) and diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa), can severely degrade nesting habitat by creating dense, tall stands of vegetation (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009, Shaffer et al. 2019). Conversely, cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) has been readily used as a nesting habitat (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009, Duggar and Duggar 2020). In the absence of native grazing mammals, grassland habitat overgrows and becomes unsuitable without grazing by cattle and sheep or the application of prescribed fire (Sedgwick 2006, Shaffer et al. 2019). Where cattle or sheep graze and where recreational vehicles traverse the landscape, trampling of nests and birds is a localized threat (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009, Shaffer et al. 2019, Duggar and Duggar 2020). Within agricultural settings, the planting of trees as windbreaks can reduce habitat suitability (Fellows and Jones 2009). Wind farms in the breeding range have the potential to threaten this species by collisions with turbines and the possibility of birds abandoning suitable habitat that is no longer considered attractive with wind turbines in place (Fellows and Jones 2009).
Hunting, a serious historical threat attributed to past declines, is no longer a threat in Canada, the U.S., or México due to legal protections (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009). Illegal hunting does occur but is generally not considered to be a substantial threat (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009). However, one study in Iowa found 24 curlew carcasses that had been illegally shot and abandoned by unethical hunters on conservation lands (Katzner et al. 2020).
Pesticides and other contaminants have been detected in this species, but the impacts, if any, are unknown (Fellows and Jones 2009).
Habitat degradation is also occurring. Invasive plants, such as crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) and diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa), can severely degrade nesting habitat by creating dense, tall stands of vegetation (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009, Shaffer et al. 2019). Conversely, cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) has been readily used as a nesting habitat (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009, Duggar and Duggar 2020). In the absence of native grazing mammals, grassland habitat overgrows and becomes unsuitable without grazing by cattle and sheep or the application of prescribed fire (Sedgwick 2006, Shaffer et al. 2019). Where cattle or sheep graze and where recreational vehicles traverse the landscape, trampling of nests and birds is a localized threat (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009, Shaffer et al. 2019, Duggar and Duggar 2020). Within agricultural settings, the planting of trees as windbreaks can reduce habitat suitability (Fellows and Jones 2009). Wind farms in the breeding range have the potential to threaten this species by collisions with turbines and the possibility of birds abandoning suitable habitat that is no longer considered attractive with wind turbines in place (Fellows and Jones 2009).
Hunting, a serious historical threat attributed to past declines, is no longer a threat in Canada, the U.S., or México due to legal protections (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009). Illegal hunting does occur but is generally not considered to be a substantial threat (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009). However, one study in Iowa found 24 curlew carcasses that had been illegally shot and abandoned by unethical hunters on conservation lands (Katzner et al. 2020).
Pesticides and other contaminants have been detected in this species, but the impacts, if any, are unknown (Fellows and Jones 2009).
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Nesting takes place in a variety of habitats including short-grass prairie (Saalfeld et al. 2010, Stocking et al. 2010, Gregory et al. 2011, Coates et al. 2019, Duggar and Duggar 2020), steppe (Stocking et al. 2010), shrub-desert rangeland (Hartman and Oring 2009), pasture (Hartman and Oring 2009, Saalfeld et al. 2010), and agriculture (Saalfeld et al. 2010, Stocking et al. 2010, Duggar and Duggar 2020). Regardless of habitat type, vegetation height is generally below 30 cm (Fellows and Jones 2009, Saalfeld et al. 2010, Stocking et al. 2010, Gregory et al. 2011, Coates et al. 2019, Duggar and Duggar 2020). There is a preference for placing nests near conspicuous objects on the landscape, such as cowpies or rocks, which has been documented in other shorebird species (Coates et al. 2019, Coates et al. 2021). Juveniles use grassland, steppe, pasture, and agricultural habitats with slightly higher average vegetation heights (Fellows and Jones 2009, Hartman and Oring 2009, Stocking et al. 2010).
During migration, habitat use includes dry short-grass prairie, alkali lakes, playa lakes, wet coastal pasture, tidal mudflats, salt marsh, and agricultural fields (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009, Page et al. 2014, Duggar and Duggar 2020, Coates et al. 2021). In the non-breeding range, a wide variety of coastal and inland habitats are used. Mud flats and salt marshes of tidal estuaries are the primary non-breeding habitat (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009, Page et al. 2014, Duggar and Duggar 2020, Coates et al. 2021). Agricultural fields have become an increasingly utilized habitat in the non-breeding range in California (Page et al. 2014, eBird 2024), Texas, and northern México (Page et al. 2014, Olalla-Kerstupp et al. 2015b, eBird 2024). Sandy beaches are occasionally used (Duggar and Duggar 2020).
During migration, habitat use includes dry short-grass prairie, alkali lakes, playa lakes, wet coastal pasture, tidal mudflats, salt marsh, and agricultural fields (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009, Page et al. 2014, Duggar and Duggar 2020, Coates et al. 2021). In the non-breeding range, a wide variety of coastal and inland habitats are used. Mud flats and salt marshes of tidal estuaries are the primary non-breeding habitat (Sedgwick 2006, Fellows and Jones 2009, Page et al. 2014, Duggar and Duggar 2020, Coates et al. 2021). Agricultural fields have become an increasingly utilized habitat in the non-breeding range in California (Page et al. 2014, eBird 2024), Texas, and northern México (Page et al. 2014, Olalla-Kerstupp et al. 2015b, eBird 2024). Sandy beaches are occasionally used (Duggar and Duggar 2020).
Reproduction
Egg laying begins in April in Washington, by early May in Saskatchewan. Clutch size is 3-5 (usually 4); eggs are laid over 4-7 days. Incubation lasts 28-30 days, by both sexes (Redmond and Jenni 1986). Nestlings are precocial. Young are tended by both parents, brooded at night for several days after hatching. Females usually depart when young are 2-3 weeks old; males tend young until fledging at 41-45 days. Age of first breeding probably is 2-3 years for females, 3-4 years for males. One brood per year. Fledging success is greater for early nesters (Redmond and Jenni 1986). Annual productivity is low. See Allen (1980) for details on nesting and brooding behavior. Often nests in loose colonies. Reported breeding density up to one pair per 24 ha; sometimes only one pair per several hundred ha. Breeding density was about 5-7 males per 100 ha in Idaho (Redmond and Jenni 1986), 1 pair per 6-7 sq km in Saskatchewan, up to 15 territories in 10.4 sq km in Washington (Allen 1980), 0-9 nests per ha in Oregon (Pampush and Anthony 1993), 0.64-2.36 males per sq km in northern Utah (Paton and Dalton 1994). In Oregon, nest success was 0.65-0.69 (Pampush and Anthony 1993). In Utah, 2 of 10 monitored nests were successful (Paton and Dalton 1994).
The likelihood of nest hatching at least one egg has historically been low (Pampus and Anthony 1993, Paton and Dalton 1994). Recent nest success estimates include 14% at 2 sites in Idaho (Coates et al. 2021), 12%-40% at five grassland sites in Iowa and Wyoming (Coates et al. 2019), 29%-31% in Nebraska (Hartman and Oring 2009, Gregory et al. 2011), 23-33% in Oregon and Washington (Stocking et al. 2010). Low nest success is due to nest predation by mammals and birds (Hartman and Oring 2009, Stocking et al. 2010, Gregory et al. 2011, Coates et al. 2019, Coates et al. 2021).
The likelihood of nest hatching at least one egg has historically been low (Pampus and Anthony 1993, Paton and Dalton 1994). Recent nest success estimates include 14% at 2 sites in Idaho (Coates et al. 2021), 12%-40% at five grassland sites in Iowa and Wyoming (Coates et al. 2019), 29%-31% in Nebraska (Hartman and Oring 2009, Gregory et al. 2011), 23-33% in Oregon and Washington (Stocking et al. 2010). Low nest success is due to nest predation by mammals and birds (Hartman and Oring 2009, Stocking et al. 2010, Gregory et al. 2011, Coates et al. 2019, Coates et al. 2021).
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceous
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN3B
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | S3B | Yes |
| Manitoba | SXB | Yes |
| British Columbia | S4B | Yes |
| Saskatchewan | S3B | Yes |
United StatesN4
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| California | S2 | Yes |
| Florida | S2N | Yes |
| Utah | S3 | Yes |
| Wyoming | S3B | Yes |
| South Carolina | S2N | Yes |
| New Mexico | S3B,S4M | Yes |
| South Dakota | S3B | Yes |
| Montana | S3B | Yes |
| Iowa | SXB | Yes |
| North Carolina | SNA | Yes |
| Illinois | SXB | Yes |
| Navajo Nation | S3M | Yes |
| Washington | S2B,S2N | Yes |
| Kansas | S1B,S2N | Yes |
| Georgia | S3 | Yes |
| Idaho | S2B | Yes |
| Minnesota | SXB,SNRM | Yes |
| Alabama | S2N | Yes |
| Louisiana | S3N | Yes |
| Colorado | S2B | Yes |
| Oklahoma | S2B | Yes |
| Nevada | S2B | Yes |
| Arizona | S1B,S3N | Yes |
| Nebraska | S3 | Yes |
| North Dakota | S2 | Yes |
| Wisconsin | SXB | Yes |
| Oregon | S3B | Yes |
| Mississippi | SNA | Yes |
| Texas | S3B,S5N | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - Residential & commercial development | Large (31-70%) | Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 1.1 - Housing & urban areas | Large (31-70%) | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 1.2 - Commercial & industrial areas | Large (31-70%) | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 2 - Agriculture & aquaculture | Large - restricted | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Large - restricted | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 3 - Energy production & mining | Small (1-10%) | Unknown | High - moderate |
| 3.3 - Renewable energy | Small (1-10%) | Unknown | High - moderate |
| 5 - Biological resource use | Small (1-10%) | Negligible or <1% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 5.1 - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Small (1-10%) | Negligible or <1% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 5.1.3 - Persecution/control | Small (1-10%) | Negligible or <1% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 6 - Human intrusions & disturbance | Small (1-10%) | Negligible or <1% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 6.1 - Recreational activities | Small (1-10%) | Negligible or <1% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 7 - Natural system modifications | Pervasive (71-100%) | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | High - moderate |
| 7.1 - Fire & fire suppression | Pervasive (71-100%) | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | High - moderate |
| 7.1.2 - Suppression in fire frequency/intensity | Pervasive (71-100%) | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | High - moderate |
| 8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Pervasive (71-100%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Pervasive (71-100%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 9 - Pollution | Pervasive - large | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluents | Pervasive - large | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 9.3.3 - Herbicides and pesticides | Pervasive - large | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 11 - Climate change & severe weather | Large (31-70%) | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 11.1 - Habitat shifting & alteration | Large (31-70%) | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
Roadless Areas (55)
California (7)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Mountain | Los Padres National Forest | 913 |
| Glass Mountain | Inyo National Forest | 52,867 |
| Juncal | Los Padres National Forest | 12,289 |
| Malduce Buckhorn | Los Padres National Forest | 14,177 |
| Santa Cruz | Los Padres National Forest | 21,182 |
| Sespe - Frazier | Angeles National Forest | 4,254 |
| Tequepis | Los Padres National Forest | 9,080 |
Idaho (5)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek | Caribou-Targhee National Forest | 118,582 |
| Borah Peak | Salmon-Challis National Forest | 130,463 |
| Italian Peak | Caribou-Targhee National Forest | 141,158 |
| Lemhi Range | Salmon-Challis National Forest | 308,533 |
| Palisades | Caribou-Targhee National Forest | 122,002 |
Montana (11)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - Swan | Lolo National Forest | 118,485 |
| Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - Swan | Lewis and Clark National Forest | 344,022 |
| East Pioneer | Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest | 145,082 |
| Freezeout Mountain | Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest | 97,305 |
| Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area | Gallatin National Forest | 143,991 |
| Madison | Gallatin National Forest | 127,859 |
| Middle Mtn. / Tobacco Roots | Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest | 96,487 |
| North Absaroka | Gallatin National Forest | 159,075 |
| Snowcrest Mountain | Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest | 97,649 |
| Tash Peak | Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest | 61,312 |
| Ten Lakes #683 | Kootenai National Forest | 48,545 |
Nevada (4)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Bald Mtn. | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 41,598 |
| Pearl Peak | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 71,405 |
| Ruby - Secret Pk. | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 6,749 |
| South Schell | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 125,614 |
New Mexico (2)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Candian River | Cibola National Forest | 7,149 |
| Candian River | Cibola National Forest | 7,149 |
North Dakota (8)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Collar / Bennett - Cottonwood | Dakota Prairie Grasslands | 19,697 |
| Durler | Dakota Prairie Grasslands | 12,464 |
| Durler | Dakota Prairie Grasslands | 12,464 |
| Long X Divide | Dakota Prairie Grasslands | 10,099 |
| Sheyenne | Dakota Prairie Grasslands | 14,537 |
| Sheyenne | Dakota Prairie Grasslands | 14,537 |
| Venlo | Dakota Prairie Grasslands | 5,317 |
| Venlo | Dakota Prairie Grasslands | 5,317 |
Oregon (2)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Hellhole | Umatilla National Forest | 65,679 |
| Twin Mountain | Wallowa-Whitman National Forest | 58,533 |
South Dakota (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Creek | Buffalo Gap National Grassland | 24,666 |
Texas (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek | National Forests in Texas | 1,447 |
Utah (4)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| North Pavant | Fishlake National Forest | 53,262 |
| Oak Creek | Fishlake National Forest | 54,053 |
| Pine Valley Mountains | Dixie National Forest | 57,673 |
| Wellsville | Wasatch-Cache National Forest | 1,717 |
Wyoming (10)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Grayback Ridge | Bridger-Teton National Forest | 295,113 |
| Gros Ventre Mountains | Bridger-Teton National Forest | 106,418 |
| Middle Fork | Shoshone National Forest | 51,772 |
| Monument Ridge | Bridger-Teton National Forest | 17,720 |
| Pacific Creek - Blackrock Creek | Bridger-Teton National Forest | 24,658 |
| Palisades | Targhee National Forest | 1,121 |
| Phillips Ridge | Bridger-Teton National Forest | 10,108 |
| West Slope Tetons | Targhee National Forest | 47,448 |
| West Slope Winds | Bridger-Teton National Forest | 143,252 |
| Wilderness Study Area | Targhee National Forest | 51,961 |
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