Numenius borealis

Curlew Cur"lew (k[^u]r"l[=u]), n. [F. courlieu, corlieu, courlis; perh. of imitative origin, but cf. OF. corlieus courier; L. currere to run + levis light.] (Zo["o]l.) A wading bird of the genus {Numenius}, remarkable for its long, slender, curved bill. [1913 Webster]

Note: The common European curlew is {Numenius arquatus}. The long-billed ({Numenius longirostris}), the Hudsonian ({Numenius Hudsonicus}), and the Eskimo curlew ({Numenius borealis}, are American species. The name is said to imitate the note of the European species. [1913 Webster]

{Curlew Jack} (Zo["o]l.) the whimbrel or lesser curlew.

{Curlew sandpiper} (Zo["o]l.), a sandpiper ({Tringa ferruginea} or {Tringa subarquata}), common in Europe, rare in America, resembling a curlew in having a long, curved bill. See Illustation in Appendix. [1913 Webster]