Eskimo Curlew

Numenius borealis

General Status Rank: 
At Risk
ELCODE: 
ABNNF07010
Common Name: 
Eskimo Curlew
Scientific Name: 
Numenius borealis
Synonyms: 
Northern Curlew
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Charadriiformes
Family: 
Scolopacidae
References: 
B004
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

3 years
References: 
R005

Longevity

10 to 30 years
References: 
R005

Economic/Human Considerations

excessive hunting probable cause of current status
References: 
R005
Habitat
upland tundra, barrens, and grassy habitat
References: 
H126
R005
Distribution

Ecozones

Southern Arctic
References: 
R005

Distribution

8/164 (5%)Current Summer distribution unknown; no confirmed nests has been found for the past 100years
References: 
R005
R205
Winter Distribution Description: 
southern South America

Number of Occurrences

No birds seen since 1992; 1-2 verified occurences in the past 20 years
Score: 
A
References: 
R205

Historical Distribution

northwestern coast and barren lands in north
References: 
R005

Area of Occupancy

Unknown distribution changes as it not known where the species nest
Score: 
-
References: 
R005
R205
Population

Population Size

possibly extinct (if alive, 23-100); latest sightings are 23 birds in texas in 1981
Score: 
A
References: 
R005
R205

Density

one pair per 200 to 300 m radius (pre-colapse densities)
Trends

Trends

not recovering; Decline in the past 100 years - no birds seen in NWT since one possible in 1992
References: 
R005
R205
Threats

Threats

Possibly extinct (if alive, 23-100); latest sightings are 23 birds in texas in 1981(unconfirmed) and the last specimen obtained was shot in Barbados in 1963
Score: 
A
References: 
R005

Intrinsic Vulnerability

loss of prairie grassland migration stop;Historical habitats are present; habitat loss mostly on wintering and breeding areas
Score: 
-
References: 
R005
General Status Rank
Rank: 
At Risk
Status Rank Description: 
May be Extinct; No or little reliable sightings for the past 20 years, no nesting evidence in NWT for 100 yrs
S Rank: 
SHB
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Vicky Johnston and S. Carriere mostly based on printed material; Reviewed in 2010;no change; Reviewed by Emily Upham-Mills CWS in 2015, no change
Last Updated: 
January 30, 2018
Status Designations

NWT - Assessment by Species at Risk Committee

NWT SARC Assessment: 
Not Applicable
Species under federal jurisdiction

NWT - Species at Risk Legal Status

NWT Status Rank: 
Not Applicable
Species under federal jurisdiction

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
Endangered
2009; Designated Endangered in April 1978. Status re–examined and confirmed Endangered in May 2000 and November 2009.COSEWIC. 2009. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the Eskimo Curlew Numenius borealis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vii + 32 pp.
References: 
R005
R155
R205

Canada – Species at Risk Legal Status

SARA Status: 
Endangered
2003
References: 
W103

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Gratto-Trevor C (1999) Status report of the eskimo curlew Numenius borealis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R005 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Gratto-Trevor C (1999) Status report of the eskimo curlew Numenius borealis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R005 Return
  • COSEWIC (2009) Update COSEWIC status report for Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis) in Canada. Envrionment Canada - R205 Return
COSEWIC Status
  • Gratto-Trevor C (1999) Status report of the eskimo curlew Numenius borealis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R005 Return
  • Gratto-Trevor, C. (2000) Update COSEWIC status report on the Eskimo Curlew Numenius borealis in Canada,. Interim report - R155 Return
  • COSEWIC (2009) Update COSEWIC status report for Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis) in Canada. Envrionment Canada - R205 Return

Economic Status

  • Gratto-Trevor C (1999) Status report of the eskimo curlew Numenius borealis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R005 Return

Ecozones

  • Gratto-Trevor C (1999) Status report of the eskimo curlew Numenius borealis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R005 Return

Federal Species at Risk Status

  • Government of Canada (2016) Species at Risk Public Registry. http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/default_e.cfm - W103 Return

Habitat

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • Gratto-Trevor C (1999) Status report of the eskimo curlew Numenius borealis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R005 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Gratto-Trevor C (1999) Status report of the eskimo curlew Numenius borealis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R005 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Gratto-Trevor C (1999) Status report of the eskimo curlew Numenius borealis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R005 Return

Longevity

  • Gratto-Trevor C (1999) Status report of the eskimo curlew Numenius borealis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R005 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Johnston, Vicky (2000) Personal Communication . Biologist, Canadian Wildlife Service - H125 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • COSEWIC (2009) Update COSEWIC status report for Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis) in Canada. Envrionment Canada - R205 Return

Population Size

Gratto-Trevor C (1999) Status report of the eskimo curlew Numenius borealis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R005 Return
,
COSEWIC (2009) Update COSEWIC status report for Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis) in Canada. Envrionment Canada - R205 Return

Range Extent

  • Gratto-Trevor C (1999) Status report of the eskimo curlew Numenius borealis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R005 Return
  • COSEWIC (2009) Update COSEWIC status report for Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis) in Canada. Envrionment Canada - R205 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Gratto-Trevor C (1999) Status report of the eskimo curlew Numenius borealis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R005 Return
  • COSEWIC (2009) Update COSEWIC status report for Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis) in Canada. Envrionment Canada - R205 Return

Taxonomy

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Threats

  • Gratto-Trevor C (1999) Status report of the eskimo curlew Numenius borealis in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R005 Return