Far Eastern Curlew

Far Eastern Curlew
This species is defined as a Review Species . Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page .

Scientific Name: Numenius madagascariensis

Malay Name: Kendi Besar Timur

Chinese Name: 大杓鹬

Range: Breeding Range: East and South-east Siberia, North-east China. Wintering mainly in Australia.

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 60-66 cm

Identification: A large wader similar to the Eurasian Curlew, but larger and longer billed and appears more uniform with browner/buffier underparts. In flight shows uniform light brown back and rump and heavily marked underwings.

Similar looking species: Eurasian Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew

Habitat: Mudflats and sandflats.

Behaviour/Ecology: Generally congregates in large flocks to migrate or roost but may feed alone. Feeds mainly by probing for invertebrates from deep burrows. 

Local Status: Vagrant

Conservation Status: Endangered (BirdLife International 2017)

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Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Note that records currently under review are also not displayed, and the list may not be a full list of records of this species in Singapore. For more details, check the database here.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis
Average number of individuals by week based on Singapore Bird Database data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024 (all records)
Early date 01 Oct 1948
Late date 27 Jan 1989
Bar chart not displayed for this species; no records in the given time period.
Only five past accepted records, with the most recent one on 3 Nov 2007 at Sungei Buloh.
Far Eastern Curlew at Bali. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Far Eastern Curlew at Bali. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Far Eastern Curlew at Bali. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Far Eastern Curlew at Bali. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Far Eastern Curlew)

References:

BirdLife International. (2017). Numenius madagascariensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22693199A118601473.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Far Eastern Curlew. Retrieved on June 12, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/far-eastern-curlew.

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