[Objectives] The physiological and ecological characteristics associated with the basal metabolic rate (Rbm) of birds correlate closely with their geographic distribution. In order to understand the ecophysiological characteristics of the Little Curlew Numenius minutus in the Wenzhou area, we measured their body temperature (Tb) and metabolic rate (Rm, metabolic rate was expressed as ml of O2 consumed per h), and calculated their thermal conductance (C) at ambient temperature (Ta) from 5 to 42.5 ℃. [Methods] Metabolic rate (ml/h) was estimated as the rate of oxygen consumption in an open-flow respirometry system (TSE, Germany). Basal metabolic rate was calculated for each individual as the average of 10 lowest consecutive oxygen consumption recordings (about 5 min) (Fig. 1). Thermal conductance [ml/(g.h.℃)] was calculated at each temperature using the formula:C = Rm/(Tb﹣Ta). F value was calculated as F = (Rbm/predicted Rbm)/(C/predicted C). All data were analyzed by SPSS (version 21.0). The effects of ambient temperature on body temperature, metabolic rate, and thermal conductance were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. The metabolic rates at different ambient temperatures were directly compared using independent sample t-test. Linear, or exponential, models were fitted where appropriate to describe the relationship between metabolic rate or thermal conductance and ambient temperature. All results were expressed as the mean ± SE, and P< 0.05 was taken to be statistically significant. [Results] There was no significant difference in initial body temperature over an ambient temperature range of 5﹣35 ℃, as Little Curlews could maintain their body temperature at 42.8 ± 0.1 ℃ (Fig. 2). There was, however, a significant variation in final body temperature over the same temperature range. The mean body temperature reached 43.7 ℃ when the ambient temperature was 42.5 ℃ (Fig. 2). The thermal neutral zone was 27.5﹣40.0 ℃, and the meanmetabolic rate within the thermal neutral zone was 221.31 ± 6.01 ml/h, accounting for 141% of the expected value based on the bird’s body mass (Fig. 3). Below the lower critical temperature, metabolic rate increased with declining ambient temperatures, and the relationship between metabolic rate and ambient temperature could be described as Rm (ml/h) = 587.10﹣11.78 Ta (℃). At a 5﹣27.5 ℃ ambient temperature range, the thermal conductance was 0.11 ± 0.00 ml/(g.h.℃), representing 212% of the expected value based on the bird’s body mass (Table 1). However, the thermal conductance increased exponentially from 27.5 ℃ to 42.5 ℃ as described by the equation lg C [ml/(g.h.℃)] = 0.070 + 0.006 Ta (Fig. 4). The F value was 1.21. [Conclusion] The findings suggested that Little Curlews were able to adapt to the environment by implementing a relatively high level of basal metabolic rate, wider thermal neutral zone, high body temperature, and intensity of chemical thermoregulation. These properties would enable the birds to readily acclimate to their environments and survive in relatively cold areas.