The long-billed curlew (Numenius americanus) is named for its long bill which curves downward and measures and, at 11.3–21.9 cm (4.4–8.6 in), rivals the bill of the larger-bodied Far Eastern curlew as the longest bill of any shorebird. The only other bird with a long bill is the Whimbrel, but its bill isn't nearly as long. Females have a longer bill with a more pronounced curve at the tip than males. The long-billed curlew is the largest sandpiper native in North America. Its genus name, Numenius, means “of the new moon,” and describes the slender, curved shape of the bird’s bill. The breeding habitat is grasslands in west-central North America.
