Curlew, common name for any member of a genus of birds, the largest members of the sandpiper family. All curlews are long-legged shorebirds, buff in color with varying amounts of black markings on the back and wings. Sizes range from 28 to 60 cm (11 to 23.6 in), but much of this length is bill—the bill of the 60-cm Eurasian curlew, for example, may reach a length of 15 cm (6 in). As its name suggests, the spectacular long-billed curlew, of the North American prairies, has an equally long bill. The common name whimbrel is used in America for a species of Curlew that is also found in Eurasia; in British usage whimbrel applies to any of several small curlews. The Eurasian whimbrel nests on the arctic tundra; the American subspecies winters in South America and is commonly seen on both coasts during migration.

Once an abundant, heavily hunted game bird, the Eskimo curlew, smallest of the American species (36 cm/14 in long), was thought to be totally extinct by the mid-20th century. However, in recent years small numbers have been seen in migration, mostly on the Texas coast. A small population apparently survives, nesting in the arctic tundra and wintering in South America. Eskimo curlews can be distinguished from small individuals of the abundant whimbrel by their shorter, straighter bills and pale cinnamon wing linings.

Scientific classification: Curlews make up the genus Numenius of the family Scolopacidae, order Charadriiformes. The Eurasian curlew is classified as Numenius arquata, the long billed curlew as Numenius americanus, the whimbrel of Eurasia as Numenius phaeopus, its American subspecies as Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus, and the Eskimo curlew as Numenius borealis.