CR

Eskimo Curlew

Numenius borealis

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Eskimo Curlew faces extinction primarily due to massive historical overhunting during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when millions were killed during migration for commercial markets. Habitat loss across its breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra and wintering areas in South American pampas has eliminated critical stopover sites. The species' extremely low population numbers, possibly fewer than 50 individuals, make it vulnerable to stochastic events and limit breeding opportunities.

Threat summary

Habitat

Breeds in Arctic tundra of northern Canada and Alaska, preferring open areas with scattered vegetation near water sources. Winters in grasslands and pampas of southern South America, particularly in Argentina, utilizing short-grass prairies and agricultural areas during migration.

Marine intertidal· majorShrubland· majorGrassland· majorRocky areas· majorDesert· major

Conservation measures underway

Species managementSpecies recoveryLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Eskimo Curlew classified as Critically Endangered?
Eskimo Curlew is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Eskimo Curlew faces extinction primarily due to massive historical overhunting during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when millions were killed during migration for commercial markets. Habitat loss across its breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra and wintering areas in South American pampas has eliminated critical stopover sites. The species' extremely low population numbers, possibly fewer than 50 individuals, make it vulnerable to stochastic events and limit breeding opportunities.
Where does Eskimo Curlew live?
Eskimo Curlew occurs in Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, and Mexico (plus 3 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Eskimo Curlew?
The main threats to Eskimo Curlew are 2.1, 5.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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