The
Eurasian curlew has a brownish-black upper beak, and the base
of its lower beak-which is long and curved at the tip-is pink.
Their bluish-gray legs are long and slim, and the area extending
from their crowns to their napes is dark brown with brownish-black
vertical spots. Eurasian curlews also have fine brownish-black
vertical spots on their light brown faces, necks, and the area
extending from the front part of their necks down to their chests,
and their white bellies are covered with fine brown vertical
lines.
Behavior:
Eurasian
curlews are often found at the mouths of rivers, shoals, and
intertidal zones, and during the winter, their population in
Taiwan can increase by several hundred. They forage for food
by sticking their long beaks into soft mud and pecking for crustaceans,
shellfish, and polychaetes just beneath the surface, though
they will occasionally feed on fish, amphibious reptiles, and
mollusks as well. A cautious bird that is easily disturbed,
Eurasian curlews fly at a fairly fast speed with their necks
tucked in despite the low rate at which they beat their wings.
When resting, they tend to stand on one leg while laying their
head and long beak on their shoulders. Eurasian curlews usually
arrives in Taiwan in September just in time for the winter season,
and leave the following April.
Habitat:
Eurasian
curlews are common winter visitors in Taiwan, though some are
residents. They can be found throughout Europe and Asia in areas
south of the frozen tundra. The greatest number of Eurasian
curlews can be found in Taiwan in the winter near the Tatu River
mouth, with more than 300 birds recorded there in one season.
