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Bristle-thighed Curlew

Numenius tahitiensis

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

The Bristle-thighed Curlew is a world-class traveler that migrates non-stop across the Pacific. Famous for its tool-using intelligence and its namesake 'bristled' legs, it is one of the most unique shorebirds on the planet.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 40-44 cm (16-17 in); Wingspan: 82-84 cm (32-33 in); Weight: 350-800 g (12.3-28.2 oz)

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Colors

Mottled brown and buff upperparts; creamy-white underparts with dark streaking; distinct cinnamon or reddish-buff rump and tail.

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Key Features

Long, downward-curved (decurved) bill
Bright cinnamon-colored rump and tail
Coarse, hair-like feathers (bristles) at the base of the legs
Pale crown stripe and dark eye line

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 7-11 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season May-July (Alaska); September-April (Pacific Islands)

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Diet Insects and berries (crowberries and blueberries) in Alaska; switches to crabs, mollusks, lizards, and the eggs of other seabirds in the Pacific islands.

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Habitat Alpine and subarctic tundra for nesting; tropical coral reefs, sandy beaches, and salt-grass flats for wintering.

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Where Does the Bristle-thighed Curlew Live?

This extraordinary shorebird breeds exclusively in the remote, hilly tundra of western Alaska, specifically within the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and the Seward Peninsula. When the subarctic summer ends, it flies south across the vast Pacific Ocean to winter on a scattered array of tropical islands and atolls. Its primary wintering range includes the Hawaiian Islands, the Line and Phoenix Islands, French Polynesia, and as far south as Fiji and the Cook Islands. Unlike most curlews, it is almost never found on the continental coasts of the Americas during migration.

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7 Countries

550K km² Range

Near Threatened Conservation

US United States Kiribati Marshall Islands French Polynesia Fiji Cook Islands Tonga

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Bristle-thighed Curlew is a remarkable endurance athlete of the bird world, known for performing non-stop migratory flights of over 2,500 miles across the open Pacific Ocean. During the breeding season in the remote Alaskan wilderness, they are spirited and vocal, frequently seen performing undulating flight displays while emitting a loud, melodic whistling call. They are highly territorial during this time, fiercely defending their nesting sites from intruders.

One of their most fascinating behavioral traits is their intelligence. They are one of the few bird species documented using tools; in their wintering grounds, they have been observed picking up stones to crack open the tough shells of albatross eggs. Curiously, the Bristle-thighed Curlew undergoes a unique molt on Pacific islands where nearly half the population becomes flightless for a period, a rare vulnerability for a migratory shorebird that makes them particularly susceptible to introduced predators.

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Camera Tips

Capturing the Bristle-thighed Curlew on a trail camera requires targeting their specific foraging zones. In their tropical wintering range, place cameras near the high-tide line or around rocky outcroppings where crabs congregate. Because these birds are ground-foragers, mount your camera very low—ideally 10 to 15 inches off the ground—angled slightly upward to capture the curve of their bill and the unique 'bristles' on their thighs. If you are in a region with nesting seabirds, placing a camera near the periphery of a colony can often catch curlews scouting for eggs.

Fresh water is a powerful lure for this species on salty Pacific atolls. Setting up a camera near a natural rain puddle or a shallow birdbath in a quiet area can yield excellent results, as they often visit these spots to drink and bathe. Use a fast trigger speed; while they move slowly when stalking prey, they can be quick to take flight if startled. High-resolution video is particularly valuable for this species to document their rare stone-tool-using behavior.

In Alaska, focus your camera placement on hummocks or elevated ridges in the tundra which the birds use as lookout posts. Since the tundra environment is wide and open, use cameras with a long detection range or set them to time-lapse mode during the peak daylight hours of the midnight sun. Be sure to use a sturdy mounting stake, as there are often few trees in their breeding habitat. Avoid placing cameras too close to active nests to prevent causing stress or leading predators to the site.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Bristle-thighed Curlew.

Long-billed Curlew

Much larger with a significantly longer bill and lacks the dark head stripes found on the Bristle-thighed Curlew.

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Frequently Asked Questions

They are primarily diurnal, meaning they are active during daylight hours. In coastal areas, their activity is heavily influenced by the tides; they are most active during low tide when their preferred foraging grounds on reefs and beaches are exposed.

Unless you live on a remote Pacific island or in the Alaskan tundra, you are unlikely to see them in a typical backyard. On islands, providing a shallow, clean source of fresh water for drinking and bathing is the most effective way to attract them.

Their diet is highly seasonal. In Alaska, they eat insects and tundra berries. During the winter on Pacific islands, they eat crabs, mollusks, and occasionally the eggs of other birds, sometimes using stones as tools to break them open.

No, they are quite rare and specialized. They avoid large urban centers and are almost never found on the mainland coasts of the United States or Canada, preferring remote islands and wilderness tundra.

The easiest way to tell them apart is by the rump and tail; the Bristle-thighed Curlew has a bright cinnamon-buff rump and tail, whereas the Whimbrel has a brownish, streaked rump. The Curlew also has a slightly more buff-colored overall appearance.

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