The
curlews ,
genus Numenius, are a group of eight species of
birds, characterised by long, slender, downcurved bills and mottled brown
plumage. They are one of the most ancient lineages of
scolopacid waders, together with the
godwits which look similar but have straight bills. In
Europe "curlew" usually refers to one species, the
Eurasian curlew Numenius arquata.