The little curlew (Numenius minutus) is a wader in the large bird family Scolopacidae.

[2] The genus name Numenius is from Ancient Greek noumenios, a bird mentioned by Hesychius.

It is associated with the curlews because it appears to be derived from neos, "new", and mene, "moon", referring to the crescent-shaped bill.

[3] It is mainly greyish-brown, including the underwings, with a white belly, and a short, for a curlew, curved bill.

[citation needed] This bird breeds in loose colonies in forest clearings in river valleys.