Eurasian Curlew

The Eurasian curlew is a very large wader, measuring 50–60cm long with an 89–106cm wingspan and weighing 410–1,360g. Its plumage is mainly greyish brown, set off by a white back, greyish-blue legs and an exceptionally long, smoothly downcurved bill. The sexes look alike, although an adult female generally has the longer bill. A whimbrel is smaller and has a shorter bill with a distinct kink rather than the curlew's even curve. (Wikipedia, Eurasian curlew account)

Across most of its range the Eurasian curlew migrates, wintering in Africa, southern Europe and southern Asia; the eastern orientalis subspecies breeds from western and central Siberia to northeast China. Outside breeding time the birds are highly social but generally wary. They probe soft mud for small invertebrates and also take crabs and earthworms from the surface. The nest is a bare meadow scrape, where four eggs are incubated by both adults for roughly four weeks. (Wikipedia, Eurasian curlew account)