Curlew
Numenius arquata
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The curlew's bubbling call is one of the defining sounds of the Sefton Coast. Once common across Britain as a breeding bird, numbers have crashed — it's now red-listed and considered one of the UK's most threatened birds. The Sefton Coast is important for wintering curlews from northern Europe. They probe the mud with that extraordinary long curved bill, pulling out worms and small crabs. Hearing one call at dusk over the marsh is something you don't forget.
At a Glance
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Scolopacidae |
| Habitat | Coastal marsh · Farmland · Estuary · Mudflat |
| Diet | Worms, crabs, molluscs probed from mud and soil with long bill |
| UK population | Around 65,000 wintering birds, declining. Breeding population collapsed by 46% since 1995 |
| Sefton Coast | Regular wintering birds; small numbers present year-round on the Sefton marshes |
| Conservation | UK Red List |
Where to See It
Marshside fields and lagoon edges. Farmland around Hesketh Bank. Occasionally the beach and dunes at Formby.
Identification
Large brown wader. Very long, strongly decurved bill. Streaked brown plumage. No wing bar in flight. Call — a rising bubbling 'cur-lee' — is unmistakeable.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Listen as much as look. The call carries a long way over open marsh. They often feed in fields behind the sea wall before heading to the estuary.
Conservation Status
UK Red List
This species is on the UK Red List for Birds (BoCC5), indicating serious concern about its population decline or unfavourable conservation status. Monitoring this species on the Sefton Coast contributes to national population tracking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Curlew endangered in the UK?
The Curlew is on the UK Red List and has declined by 46% since 1995. The UK holds around 25% of the European breeding population, making it particularly important for global conservation. Wintering birds from northern Europe are still common on the Sefton Coast.
How do I identify a Curlew?
The Curlew is unmistakeable — Britain's largest wader, with a very long, strongly downward-curved bill. The bubbling, rising 'cur-lee' call is one of the most distinctive bird sounds in Britain. The Whimbrel is similar but smaller with a shorter, less curved bill and a striped crown.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.