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Anyone who is visiting the Middle East or any other part of the species, 
range, which may extend eastwards to Pakistan, and is able to assist 
should contact Adam Gretton at ICBP. 
Because of the difficulty of obtaining the key reference books in many 
parts of the species' range, an identification sheet, with drawings by 
Craig Robson, has been produced and will be widely distributed. We 
reproduce the contents of the sheet and the line drawings below as a 
contribution to the conservation of the species. 
Please write to: Adam Gretton, ICBP, 32 Cambridge Road, Girton, Cambridge 
CB3 OPJ, Great Britain. Tel: 0223-277318. 
Identification of Slender-billed Curlew 
Until recently, the identification of Slender-billed Curlew Numenius 
tenuirostris was hindered by the lack of accurate references. The 
standard European field guides are seriously misleading, with 
illustrations showing Slender-billed Curlew as decidedly long-billed (bill 
length intermediate between Whimbrel N. phaeopus and Curlew 
N. arquata ) . This, combined with the rarity of the species, resulted in 
a lack of clarity about the key identification criteria. Most recent 
works, such as BWP, Shorebirds and Birds of the Middle East and North 
Africa , are very accurate and have greatly reduced the confusion regarding 
this species. Excellent photographs and useful notes were published 
following observations in Morocco in the 1987-88 winter (van den Berg 
1988). Previously published photographs are also relevant (Marchant, 
1984; Porter, 1984). 
These notes, which are based on recent observations in Morocco, are 
intended to summarise the key identification features (indicated by lines 
on the drawings). 
The overall impression of Slender-billed Curlew is of a small, compact 
curlew with a very different "jizz" to Curlew. Body length is, on 
average, 70% that of Curlew (and slightly smaller than that of Whimbrel), 
whilst bill length is 55 - 60% that of Curlew (only 7 - 9cm). The bill is 
generally all dark, without the prominent flesh-coloured base to the lower 
mandible of Curlew. It is noticeably thinner at the base and tapers to a 
finer point than that of its congener. Slender-billed Curlew appears very 
"neat" and round-bodied, with short bill, neck and legs; in comparison, 
Curlew seems rather "gangly". Slender-billed Curlew's prominent round 
black flank spots are particularly obvious at close range. When walking, 
it has a distinctive "nodding" action of the head, which is reminiscent of 
Little Whimbrel N. minutus or Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda . 
Although at times it runs rapidly, its movements can also be rather slow 
and deliberate. In flight, the short bill is particularly prominent as 
well as the very white flanks, underwing and rump/lower back. 
