For other uses, see Curlew (disambiguation). For other uses of Numenius, see Numenius. The curlews /ˈkɜːrljuːz/, genus Numenius, are a group of eight species of birds, characterised by long, slender, downcurved bills and mottled brown plumage. The English name is imitative of the Eurasian curlew's call, but may have been influenced by the Old French corliu, messenger, from courir , to run. It was first recorded in 1377 in Langland's Piers Plowman Fissch to lyue in þe flode..Þe corlue by kynde of þe eyre.