Slender-billed Curlew

The Slender-billed Curlew, Numenius tenuirostris, occupies a tragic place in ornithological history as one of the world's rarest and likely extinct migratory shorebirds. Historically, the species migrated between breeding grounds in the steppe regions of Siberia and wintering areas in the Mediterranean basin. Its decline was precipitated primarily by the loss of wetland habitats across its migratory route and, historically, by significant hunting pressure during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Physically, the species was distinguished by its narrow, slender wings and a notably pointed tail, features that aided its long-distance migrations. It was often characterized by its relatively small size compared to other curlews and distinctive streaking patterns. Despite extensive international conservation efforts and survey initiatives launched in the latter half of the 20th century, confirmed sightings became vanishingly rare, and the species has not been reliably recorded in the wild for several decades.