Eskimo Curlew - BirdForum Opus

The species Eskimo Curlew is possibly extinct.

A single Eskimo Curlew in the flock of American Golden Plovers
Artwork by Szabi

Identification

30cm.

Probably extinct. Bred Canadian Arctic; wintered to southern South America.

In the 1800s, large numbers wintered in south-central South America, migrating via north-east North America and south on the Atlantic coast. Vagrants were recorded in Greenland and northern Siberia, also on the Falkland Islands. In the Western Palearctic vagrants were recorded from September to October in Ireland and Britain (last in 1887). Whether extinct or supported by an infinitesimally sized population, chance of future transatlantic vagrancy is virtually null.
No authenticated records since the early 1960s. Thought by some to still survive in very small numbers, unconfirmed reports have continued into the 21st century - both on wintering grounds and along former migration routes. Virtually all of these reports relate to single birds, save one observer's unsupported claim to flocks numbering 20-150 individuals (citation needed).

This is a monotypic species^[1].

Bred on Arctic tundra, otherwise on natural grassland or farmland.

The diet included insects such as grasshoppers.

Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/

BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Eskimo Curlew. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 9 October 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Eskimo_Curlew

An authentic photograph and information is available here: