CURLEW SANDPIPER AND STONE-CURLEW

Here are two wading birds which have the word ‘curlew’ as part of their names. Neither are at all closely related to the Curlew itself and both have different reasons for adopting the name. Curlew Sandpipers (below) are called that because, of the ‘sandpipers’, they have long, downcurved bills, as well as a taller, more long-necked, long-legged, and so Curlew-like structure, like a miniature Curlew. Stone-curlews don’t look like Curlews but have very Curlew like calls, which are often heard after dark. So, in a sense, they are named after the Curlew in the same way that the Curlew itself was named, after the ‘curleee’ call.