Definition

Numenius arquata (noun): A large Eurasian wading bird of the sandpiper family, Scolopacidae, characterized by its long, downcurved bill, mottled brown plumage, and a distinctive, far-carrying, bubbling call. It is commonly known as the Eurasian curlew or simply the curlew.

Usage

• Numenius arquata is the scientific (Latin) name used for precise biological classification.
• In general English, the common name Eurasian curlew is used.
• It functions as a singular noun. The plural form is Numenius arquata (as species names are typically treated as invariable) or, more commonly in non-scientific contexts, Eurasian curlews.

Examples

• The haunting call of Numenius arquata is a classic sound of wetlands and moorlands.
• Conservationists are monitoring the declining population of Numenius arquata across its range.
• We spotted a flock of Eurasian curlews probing the mudflats for worms.

Advanced Usage

• In ornithological and conservation texts, the binomial nomenclature Numenius arquata is standard to avoid ambiguity with other curlew species (e.g., the Long-billed Curlew, ).
• The genus name comes from Greek, referring to the new moon, a shape echoed by the bird's bill. The species name is from Latin, meaning "bow-shaped."

Variants and Related Words

• Eurasian curlew (n): The standard English common name.
• Curlew (n): A broader term that can refer to several species within the genus . Context usually specifies which one.
• Wader (n) / Shorebird (n): General terms for birds in the order Charadriiformes, like sandpipers and plovers, to which belongs.
• Numenius (n): The genus encompassing all curlew species.

Synonyms

• Eurasian curlew
• Common curlew (an older, now less precise name)

Related Phrases / Idioms

• None specific to the scientific name. Idioms in English use the common name "curlew," such as in poetic or descriptive language evoking its call or habitat (e.g., "the curlew's cry").

Noun

1. common Eurasian curlew