Eskimo Curlew

Numenius borealis

by Samantha

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordato
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Numenius
Species: N. borealis

Physical Description

The eskimo curlew is a middle sized newworld shorebird that is thought to be extinct. It is approximately 36 centimeters long (12-14 inches) and weighs 227 grams (half a pound.) They have long legs and a 5-6.5 cm long black bill that curves slightly downward.

Diet and Feeding Habits

The eskimo curlew’s diet consists of mainly ants, freshwater insect’s and the fruit of Black Crowberry. In the coastal areas they prefer to feed on snails. They also eat worms, and other invertebrates found on shores, they eat before and after roosting for the night. Along the Atlantic coast they eat beetles, moths, ants, spider, seeds, and other berries.

Reproduction

The eskimo curlew’s nest are just a hole or depression in the ground. They are lined with decaying leaves and a thin sprinkling of hay. Both parents care for the young.

Habitat

The eskimo curlew uses many habitats during the year all of which are open areas. In breeding grounds they mainly nest in open areas of tundra. There are very few trees and shrubs in their nesting sites. In the wintering grounds (in places like Argentina and Uraguary) they live on the pampas, which could be broad and dry plains or marshy area’s. In spring they spend time feeding from Texas all the way to South Dakota. They can be found marshes, burned-over prairies, old fields, closely grazed pastures, tamed meadows, and in plowed wheat and corn fields. They roost on the coast, but they are not often near water in the inland states.

Role in the Ecosystem

The eskimo curlew is an omnivore, it eats both plants and animals. It eats mainly seeds and berries for plants, for animals it eats shore animals (snails and crabs) incests, and ants. A carnivore only eats meat and a herbivore only eats plants. Its predators are foxes and snowy owls to young eskimo curlew. Their prey are shore animals and insect's.

Bibliography

1. http://www.se.gov.sk.ca/ecosystem/speciesatrisk/eskimocurlew.htm

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskimo_Curlew

3. http://biology.mcgill.ca/undergra/c465a/biodiver/2002/eskimo-curlew/eskimo-curlew.htm

4. http://library.thinkquest.org/25014/profiles/curlew/index.html

5. http://web1.audubon.org/waterbirds/species.php?speciesCode=eskcur&tab=natHistory