The term CURLEW is a type of wading bird that can be found in many parts of the world. The crossword solutions SNIPE (5 letters), WHIMBREL (8 letters), and SHORE (5 letters) all refer to different species of curlew. The snipe is a small, brown-colored bird with a long bill, while the whimbrel is a larger, grey-brown bird with a curved bill. The SHORE curlew is a large, brown-colored bird with a long, down-curved bill. All three species of curlew inhabit wetland areas, such as marshes, mudflats, and coastal areas.