Scientists declare Slender-billed Curlew extinct, second bird species to disappear in Europe

The extinction of the slender-billed curlew is not an isolated event, but a symptom of a wider crisis that threatens European biodiversity, ready to have repercussions on human activities as well.

This curlew European bird has been officially declared extinct.
Specimen of Numenius tenuirostris exhibited at the MUSE in Trento. Photo taken from Wikipedia.

The Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris), also known as the Little Curlew, has been declared extinct by scientists. This sad news, confirmed by a recent study published in the journal Ibis, marks a tragic loss for European biodiversity.

This is the second bird species to disappear from the continent this century, after the Canary Islands oystercatcher in the 1940s.

Its extinction is not only a mourning for nature lovers, but a wake-up call that resonates loudly throughout Europe, highlighting the fragility of ecosystems and the crucial role that biodiversity plays in human well-being.

A symbolic species of migratory nature

The Slender-billed Curlew was an extraordinary migratory bird. With its slender body, about 40 centimetres tall, its pale neck and its characteristic long, curved bill, it crossed thousands of kilometres every year, breeding in the peat bogs of Western Siberia and Central Asia and then wintering in the wetlands of the Mediterranean, including Italy.

Extinction, Europe, birdwatching.
The disappearance of the curlew did not happen by chance, but is the result of a lethal combination of factors, many of which are linked to human activity. The destruction of natural habitats has been a major cause, as agricultural expansion and the reclamation of wetlands, both in breeding and wintering sites, have deprived the bird of essential places to nest and feed.

The last confirmed sighting was in 1995, in the Merja Zerga lagoon in Morocco, and since then, despite the efforts of ornithologists and conservationists, it has not been possible to trace it. The probability that the species is extinct is estimated at 96%, a figure that reflects the outcome of decades of unstoppable decline.

The causes of an extinction announced

The disappearance of the curlew did not happen by chance, but is the result of a lethal combination of factors, many of which are linked to human activity. The destruction of natural habitats has been one of the main causes, as agricultural expansion and the reclamation of wetlands, both in breeding and wintering sites, have deprived the bird of essential places to nest and feed.

Added to this was hunting, particularly intense in regions such as Puglia and Tuscany, where the curlew, not very wary of humans, was easy prey.

As the species became rarer, the demand for specimens for private collections increased, accelerating its decline. Pollution, climate change and the slow reproductive rate of the species completed the picture, making it impossible for the population to recover.

A warning signal for Europe

The extinction of the Slender-billed Curlew is not an isolated event, but a symptom of a wider crisis threatening Europe’s biodiversity. It is the first migratory bird species declared extinct on the continent and the second overall this century, underlining the accelerating rate of wildlife losses.

Migratory birds like the curlew are valuable indicators of ecosystem health: their ability to connect nations and continents through their migratory routes makes them sentinels of environmental change on a global scale.

When a species like this disappears, it is a sign that natural habitats are collapsing, that ecological networks are breaking, and that human pressures are passing the point of no return.

This event is particularly alarming for Europe because it shows that even a continent rich in resources and scientific knowledge is not immune to biodiversity loss. The IUCN Red List recently raised the threat level for 16 more migratory coastal bird species, a warning that the Slender-billed Curlew could be just the first of many.

The importance of biodiversity for us humans

Rich biodiversity is not a luxury, but a vital necessity for humanity. Healthy ecosystems, of which birds like the curlew are an integral part, provide essential services: they regulate climate, purify water, pollinate crops and maintain fertile soil.

Birds, biodiversity, Europe.
Biodiversity is vital to humanity. Healthy ecosystems, of which birds like the curlew are an integral part, provide essential services, such as water purification, pollination and the maintenance of fertile soil.

The loss of a single species can trigger cascading effects, destabilising entire ecological networks. For example, the curlew, feeding on invertebrates in wetlands, helped control populations of these organisms, helping to preserve the balance of coastal habitats.

Its absence could lead to imbalances that, over time, will also have repercussions on human activities, such as fishing or agriculture.

Furthermore, biodiversity has inestimable cultural and spiritual value. The song of the curlew, once familiar in marshes and along the coast, was part of Europe's natural heritage. Losing these voices means impoverishing our connection with nature, a bond that affects our mental health and sense of belonging in the world.