Eurasian curlew

    Numenius arquata

Castilian: Zarapito real

Catalan: Becut

Gallego: Mazarico real

Euskera: Kurlinta handia

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Charadriiformes

Family: Scolopacidae

Migratory status: Winter resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

On the National List of Threatened Species, it appears in the “Of Special Interest” category, except in Galicia, where it appears as “In Danger of Extinction”. In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Endangered”.

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THREATS

The loss of habitat due to reforestation and land clearing and the reduction of feeding areas caused by agricultural intensification, the use of herbicids, farming changes and the destruction of natural vegetation. Disturbances during mating season and dogs released into the wild are also significant.

Length / size: 48-57 cm / 89-106 cm

Identification: Large wader that is characterised by its long, curved bill. During mating season its back has dark feathers with suede-coloured markings; its neck, breast, and upper flanks are cream-coloured and its legs are bluish. The difference between males and females is bill size: the female's is longer. Its plumage is similar during the rest of the year but the colours are duller.

Song: Its song is a short, rhythmic guffaw. Its call is a fluty and powerful whistle, a "kur leeee" sound.

Diet: It feeds on insects when in interior areas, and on mollusks, crustaceans and worms in coastal areas; it captures these at a certain depth thanks to its long bill, which it uses as a probe.

Reproduction: It places its nest in a small depression, which it covers with scraps of plant matter and feathers. Both adults are responsible for incubation and caring for the chicks, which are able to move about the surrounding areas shortly after being born.

HABITAT

In winter it occupies coastal areas, such as marshes and estuaries, but when breeding it moves inland in search of backwaters, lakes or bogs.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: In winter, three-fourths of the population are distributed in Galicia, Cantabria and Asturias. And currently it only breeds in Terra Chá, in Lugo Province.

In Castile and León: When wintering, it is routinely distributed in El Páramo (León), Tierra de Arévalo-La Moraña (Ávila), Tierra de Medina (Valladolid), Villafáfila (Zamora), La Nava Lake (Palencia) and the Ebro Swamp (Burgos).

Movements and migrations: A good part of the northern, central and eastern European populations are migrants, and they appear in their wintering areas in September, and later abandon them in March. Our coasts are good wintering areas.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 2000-8700 wintering individuals.

In Castile and León: