Vertebrate Zoology

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curlew

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

curlew , common name for large shore birds of both hemispheres, generally brown and buff in color and with decurved bills. There are eight species, belonging to the genus Numenius. The long-billed curlew, N. americanus, its bill almost one third the body length (about 2 ft/61 cm), is now rare in the E United States; it frequents salt marshes, prairies, and tidal creeks in the West. In summer it eats locusts and other injurious insects. The Hudsonian and the nearly extinct Eskimo curlews migrate from arctic breeding grounds to South America. The bristle-thighed curlew summers and nests in Alaska and winters on South Pacific islands, where it feeds on the eggs of other birds. The curlew makes a nonstop flight between breeding grounds. Some of the godwits and ibises are called curlews. Curlews are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Charadriiformes, family Scolopacidae.

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curlew

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

cur·lew / ˈkərˌloō; ˈkərlˌyoō/ • n. (pl. same or curlews ) a large wading bird (genus Numenius) of the sandpiper family, with a long down-curved bill and brown streaked plumage. Its several species include the North American long-billed curlew (N. americanus).

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curlew

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

curlew Long-legged wading bird with a down-curved bill and mottled brown plumage. Often migrating long distances, it feeds on small animals, insects and seeds, and nests on the ground, laying two to four eggs. Length: to 48–62cm (19–25in). Species Numenius arquata.

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curlew

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

curlew †quail; wading bird with musical cry. XIV. ME. cor-, curlu(e) — (O)F. courlieu, var. of courlis, orig. imit. of the bird's cry, but prob. assim. to OF. courliu courier, messenger, f. courre run (cf. CURRENT), lieu place :- L. locus (cf. LOCAL).

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T. F. HOAD. "curlew." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "curlew." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-curlew.html

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curlews

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | | Copyright

curlews
1. See SCOLOPACIDAE.

2. (stone-curlew) See BURHINDIAE.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "curlews." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "curlews." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-curlews.html

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curlew

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

curlew •Yalu • igloo • Oulu •Honolulu, KwaZulu, lulu, Zulu •Pagalu • Angelou • ormolu •superglue • curlew

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Curlew in danger of being wiped out unless farmers protect habitat, says... Newspaper article from: Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales); 2/12/2002
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