Breeding Habitat:Grassland
Nest Type:N/A
Migration Status:Neotropical migrant
Nest Location:N/A
During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, populations of many shorebirds, including Long-billed Curlews, were decimated by uncontrolled hunting. Breeding curlews disappeared from large portions of their range during these decades (Andrews and Righter 1992, Stewart 1975). With protection, the populations of most shorebirds breeding in the arctic recovered. However, Long-billed Curlews nest in the grasslands of central and western North America, where habitat destruction and other factors have not allowed for a sustained population recovery during the twentieth century. In fact, its breeding range has continued to contract in some areas such as the Texas panhandle and South Dakota (Oberholser 1974, SDOU 1978). Breeding populations have gradually declined in Utah and other states (Hayward et al. 1976).
Long-billed Curlews breed in short-grass communities, preferring native prairies but also occupying grazed mixed-grass communities and scrub prairie (Stewart 1975). Despite their large size, this species is not particularly conspicuous during the breeding season except for territorial individuals. Hence, its relative abundance may be under-represented along BBS routes. In general, breeding curlews are most numerous on the western Great Plains from eastern New Mexico and the Texas panhandle north to portions of Montana and Alberta, and in the Great Basin from Utah into eastern Oregon (Relative Abundance Map). Records outside of its established breeding range, such as those from California, represent non-breeders or late migrants.
BBS data suggest that Long-billed Curlew populations are declining throughout the western Great Plains, but tend to increase in the Great Basin region (Trend Map). Significant increases occur during 1966-1994 in Idaho, the Dissected Rockies (S65) and Columbia Plateau (S89) strata, and Western BBS Region, while declines are evident in the High Plains (S36) and Great Plains Roughlands (S39) strata and Central BBS Region (Trend List). Small sample sizes preclude analysis of the 1966-1979 trends. After 1980, the trends are generally in a negative direction including significant declines in the Central BBS Region, U.S., and survey-wide population. The survey-wide annual indices are variable but show a slight declining tendency (Survey-wide Annual Indices). Indices for states/provinces and strata also tend to be variable. In Idaho, the increases are most apparent during the 1980s (Idaho Annual Indices). Declines in the High Plains and Great Plains Roughlands strata are fairly consistent throughout the survey period (High Plains Annual Indices) (Great Plains Roughlands Annual Indices).
After the breeding season is over, Long-billed Curlews form flocks and migrate to coastal habitats, mostly from California and Texas into Mexico. While they are most often encountered on tidal flats and other coastal habitats, wintering curlews also occur on inland grassland and agricultural habitats such as those found in the Central Valley of California and in west Texas. Given their tendency to occur as flocks in suitable habitats, their wintering numbers can vary considerably from year to year at many localities and tend to obscure long-term population trends on CBCs.
Andrews, R., and R. Righter. 1992. Colorado birds. Denver Mus.
Natur. Hist., Denver, CO. 442 pp.
Hayward, C.L., C. Cottom, A.M. Woodbury, and H.H. Frost. 1976.
Birds of Utah. Great Basin Natur. Memoirs No. 1. 229 pp.
Oberholser, H.C. 1974. The bird life of Texas, Vol. 1. Univ. of
Texas Press, Austin, TX. 530 pp.
South Dakota Ornithologists Union. 1978. The birds of South
Dakota: an annotated check list. South Dakota Ornithologists
Union, Vermillion, SD. 311 pp.
Stewart, R.E. 1975. Breeding birds of North Dakota. Harrison
Smith, Lund Press, Minneapolis, MN. 295 pp.