The Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) is one of the most distinctive and graceful waders seen along the UAE’s coastlines and wetlands. Recognized by its long, downward-curved bill and haunting call, it’s a bird built for the tides — probing soft mud for crabs, worms, and small invertebrates. Standing tall among shorebirds, the Curlew’s presence marks the rhythm of the changing water; as the tide retreats, it moves in elegant steps across the flats, feeding with slow precision.

In the UAE, it’s mainly a winter visitor and passage migrant, most often seen in places like Ras Al Khor, Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, and Khor Kalba, where intertidal zones and shallow lagoons provide perfect feeding grounds. Globally, the Eurasian Curlew faces population declines due to habitat loss and disturbance, making its arrival along UAE shores a reminder of how critical these protected coastal habitats are. Watching one in the fading light — long bill poised against the reflection of the water — is to glimpse one of nature’s most understated forms of elegance and endurance.