Adult (Hudsonian) © Sharif Uddin eBird S72794154 Macaulay Library ML 257786691
Adult (Hudsonian) © Ryan Schain
Adult (European) © Frank King
Adult (European) © Frank King
Adult © Terence Alexander
+ 5
Adult (Hudsonian) © Tim Lenz
Adult (Hudsonian) (with Long-billed Curlew) © DigiBirdTrek CA
Adult (Hudsonian) © Carlos Eduardo Soares
Adult © Bryan Calk

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

Sign in to see your badges

Identification

POWERED BY MERLIN

Large, brown shorebird with long, decurved bill. Note bold head stripes. Occurs on mudflats, beaches, and coastal marshes. Often in flocks, sometimes mixed with other large shorebirds like Willet or godwits. Extensive global range, breeding on the Arctic tundra and wintering on coastlines as far south as Tierra del Fuego. Generally uncommon to rare inland. Most similar to Bristle-thighed Curlew, which overlaps locally in Alaska and the South Pacific. Whimbrel is colder brown and lacks the bright buffy rump of Bristle-thighed. Also compare with shorter-billed Little Curlew in Asia, and larger curlews like Long-billed, Eurasian, and Far Eastern. Listen for call, a series of short, shrill whistles.

POWERED BY MERLIN