borealis N. tahitiensis Palnumenius Miller, 1942 The curlews (/ˈkɜːrljuː/) are a group of nine species of birds in the genus Numenius, characterised by their long, slender, downcurved bills and mottled brown plumage.

The English name is imitative of the Eurasian curlew's call, but may have been influenced by the Old French corliu, "messenger", from courir , "to run".

The distribution of curlews has altered considerably in the past hundred years as a result of changing agricultural practices.

[5][6] As of 2019[update], there were only a small number of Eurasian curlews still breeding in Ireland, raising concerns that the bird will become extinct in that country.

The genus Numenius was erected by the French scientist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in his Ornithologie published in 1760.

The Late Eocene (Montmartre Formation, some 35 mya) fossil Limosa gypsorum of France was originally placed in Numenius and may in fact belong there.