This rare water bird can even bring its own "spoon" to eat?

Recently, the monitoring team of Hubei Shennongjia National Park recorded the rare water bird, White-rumped Curlew , during an investigation, which means that the species has officially become a new member of the Shennongjia bird record.

The White-rumped Curlew not only occupies the honorable position of second-level protection in my country's "National Key Protected Wildlife List", but also is listed on the "IUCN Red List of Endangered Species" due to its endangered status and is classified as a near-threatened species.

The newly discovered White-rumped Curlew

As an indispensable part of the wetland ecosystem, the White-rumped Curlew is inextricably linked to the aquatic environment and is a typical representative of wading birds. They prefer to live in vast swamp wetlands, tidal flats, and open grasslands with lush aquatic plants.

When foraging, the white-rumped curlew uses its long, slightly curved beak like a spoon to accurately and calmly capture prey in the water. These scenes not only reveal their survival wisdom, but also reveal their indescribable leisure and coolness, which makes people admire them.

01

The pronunciation of alternative plover is different

Charadriiformes is an important part of birds, including three groups: shorebirds, gulls and auklets, which are small and medium-sized wading birds, seabirds that are good at swimming and flying, and seabirds that can dive.

Although the word "plover" originally meant a small bird with a straight bill and no hind toe, within the broad order Charadriiformes, shorebirds are somewhat unique in that they are small to medium-sized birds with long, slender, slightly curved bills.

Shorebirds are the most diverse and numerous group in the wading bird world, and people often refer to them as "snoopers". Globally, there are more than 200 species of shorebirds, and in China, this vast land, there are more than 70 species of shorebirds.

From the perspective of biological taxonomy, the Charadriiformes is subdivided into several families and genera, including the Painted Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Clipper, Crossbilled Sandpiper and Phalarope. Among them, the Clipper family has many species and is the largest branch in the Charadriiformes.

Various shorebirds

The most recognizable species of snipe are the Curlews, known for their long, slender, and cleverly curved bills, which allow them to easily dig up shellfish, crabs, loaches, and other delicacies from deep in the sand.

Its Latin name "Numenius" comes from ancient Greek, meaning "crescent", which aptly describes the elegant crescent-like shape of its beak.

The pronunciation of the word "杓" in the name "杓鹬" has become a hot topic in academic and public circles in recent years. Traditionally, this word is often pronounced as "sháo", which is pronounced the same as "勺", which is a metaphor for the shape of the curlew's beak like a delicate wooden spoon.

This interpretation is vividly reflected in the Qing Dynasty's Bird Catalogue, which not only depicts a medium-sized curlew, but also gives it the nickname "oil can" because its beak is as slender as the handle of an oil can, implying that it is plump. This nickname is still widely circulated among the people in Northeast China. The Handbook of Chinese Bird Names also follows the ancient pronunciation and marks "curlew" as "sháo yù".

Bird Album

However, with the changing times, another pronunciation "biāo" gradually emerged. This pronunciation associates "杓" with the handle of the Big Dipper in the night sky. Although it is imaginative, it deviates from the original meaning of the word and historical heritage.

In ancient Chinese astronomy, the dipper (biāo) refers to the three stars Yuheng, Kaiyang and Yaoguang located in the handle of the dipper.

From the perspective of promoting the traditional culture of the Chinese nation, the author tends to retain and promote the traditional pronunciation "sháo", so that the name of the snipe can continue to carry the ancient people's delicate observation and profound understanding of the beauty of nature.

02

Long-billed Curlew is a master hunter

Globally, there are currently about nine species of the genus Curlew (considering that some species may be on the verge of extinction, the specific number changes from time to time), and my country is fortunate to be the natural habitat of four of these Curlews.

These graceful birds are named the Lesser Curlew, the Intermediate Curlew, the White-rumped Curlew, and the Greater Curlew, based on the significant differences in the length of their bills. The White-rumped Curlew and the Greater Curlew are particularly noteworthy because their bills are similar in size, but they are distinguished by their unique plumage characteristics.

From top to bottom: Little Curlew, Middle Curlew, Greater Curlew, White-rumped Curlew

The name of the White-rumped Curlew aptly describes its appearance: its upper body is covered with light brown feathers dotted with black-brown vertical spots, like a delicate natural painting; its waist is a striking white, which is particularly eye-catching when flying.

What is even more amazing is the exquisite design of the beak of the white-rumped curlew: not only is it amazingly long, easily more than three times its head, but it is also slender and gracefully curved downward. Such a physiological structure gives it the ability to explore the mysteries of nature, whether it is soft soil or hidden rock crevices, it cannot escape its precise and powerful beak tip.

In their foraging habits, white-rumped curlews display an almost ritualistic elegance, especially when it comes to crabs. They first throw the crabs into clear running water to wash them repeatedly, then use their sharp beaks to precisely remove the crab's pointed legs, and finally leisurely enjoy the most plump part of the crab's belly. Their exquisite dining style is breathtaking.

In terms of living habits, white-rumped curlews tend to move in small groups, maintaining close contact and tacit understanding with each other. They are alert, walk slowly and steadily, and look up from time to time. Once they find danger approaching, they immediately flap their wings and fly high, while making a unique "go-ee" sound, which is both a warning to their companions and a silent protest against danger.

03

Wetland treasures are better protected

A wetland treasure, the White-rumped Curlew, has become an indispensable part of the global wetland ecosystem with its unique posture and ecological value.

As outstanding representatives of wetland wading birds, they not only paint a magnificent picture of nature with their elegant migration tracks, but also quietly maintain the material circulation and energy flow of the wetland ecosystem through their daily foraging activities . They are indispensable "scavengers" and "regulators" in nature.

Leisurely White-rumped Curlew

The presence of white-rumped curlews is an important indicator of the health of the wetland ecological environment. Their population size, distribution range and living conditions directly reflect the overall condition of the wetland ecosystem.

However, in recent years, with the intensification of environmental pollution, habitat loss and fragmentation, the living environment of the White-rumped Curlew is facing unprecedented challenges, and its population has dropped sharply, becoming an endangered species that urgently needs protection.

Faced with this grim situation, each of us should take the responsibility of protecting the White-rumped Curlew and its habitat. We should create a safe and suitable living environment for the White-rumped Curlew by strengthening wetland protection, reducing pollution emissions, and restoring ecological diversity. Let us work together to allow the White-rumped Curlew to continue to fly freely on the earth and become an eternal elf in the wetland ecosystem.

END

References:

1. Birds of China (Volume 1), edited by Zhao Zhengjie, Jilin Science and Technology Press, June 2001

2. "Preliminary Observation on the Reproduction Habits of White-rumped Curlew", author Zhao Jiang, "Songliao Journal (Natural Science Edition)" Issue 03, 2001

3. "Handbook of Chinese Bird Names", edited by Hang Fulan and Chang Jiachuan, China Forestry Publishing House, February 1997

4. "Written on World Curlew Day: Is "杓" pronounced as sháo or biāo? ", Zhihu, author Acrocephalus

Author: Wei Deyong

Member of Guangdong Shenzhen Writers Association

Reviewer: Liu Kun and Li Peiyuan