Curlew: focus on the largest European wading bird

As part of our winter appeal, we're taking an in-depth look into wading birds. 

They rely on wetlands to survive the colder months, but their habitats are disappearing, and they are facing growing challenges finding enough food and shelter to see them through the colder months. Wetlands are often drained for farming or development, leaving many species without the resources they need to survive the Winter. 

One of the key threats to wading birds is predation, particularly at the egg and chick stage due to an increase of foxes and crows in the countryside. Waders are also long-distant travellers and need places to land and then carry on their journeys. 

This Winter, we’re asking for your help to build a simple, yet potentially lifesaving feature on our farmland at Bere Marsh in Dorset and Lark Rise in Cambridgeshire - a series of shallow, muddy channels to attract wading birds where they can feed and thrive.  

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In the second of our wading bird series, let’s look at the curlew. 

Dr Vince Lea, our CRT Conservation Officer, said the curlew used to be seen at Turnastone Court Farm in Herefordshire about 15 years ago but has become pretty much extinct in that area. 

“Sadly, they weren’t a viable population and were possibly older birds that were struggling to breed, and we haven’t seen them back at the farm since,” he said.  
 
“There are a very small number of curlews breeding in East Anglia. Their strongholds are in upland areas such as the Pennines but threats there come from overgrazing by sheep or conversion of grassland to forestry or woodland. They really need areas of long grass to hide their nests, and this habitat was produced by older farming methods with small numbers of cattle and areas left for hay making.” 

Key facts 

• Appearance: Curlews are large, slender wading birds with long legs and a distinctive long, down-curved bill. They are brown, speckled with darker streaks, which provides them with excellent camouflage in wetland habitats. They are paler underneath, with a light belly. One of the most notable features of the curlew is its striking call. 

• Conservation Status: In 2015, curlews were added to the Red List on the UK Conservation Status Report, the highest conservation priority. Habitat loss, especially in terms of the draining of wetlands and the conversion of traditional agricultural landscapes, has led to a significant reduction in curlew populations. 

• Size: Curlews are large birds, with an average length of around 50 to 60 cm . They have a wingspan of 90 to 110 cm. Males and females are similar in size, though females tend to be slightly larger. 

• Habitat: Curlews are mainly found in coastal areas, salt marshes, and estuaries in winter. They breed in moorlands, grasslands, and upland areas, particularly in the northern and western parts of the UK. The curlew's preferred habitat includes wet, marshy ground, where they can probe the soft earth for food using their long, specialised bills. 

• Lifespan: 10 to 15 years, though many do not survive their first year due to predation or environmental factors. 

How You Can Help 

We need your help to provide the resources and habitats that curlews—and many other wading birds—so desperately need.  

By contributing to our winter appeal, you can make a real difference in the fight to save these remarkable birds. 

With your support, we can restore wetlands, build vital feeding channels, and create safer, more resilient habitats for curlews across our farms. Together, we can help protect these birds for future generations.