Whimbrel Bird Facts (Numenius phaeopus)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Whimbrel is a medium-sized shorebird with distinctive features. It has a long, downcurved bill, brown-streaked plumage, and a prominent dark crown stripe bordered by pale supercilium. Its legs are bluish-grey, and its wings show a pale V-shaped wedge in flight.

Males and females look similar in appearance, although females are slightly larger. Juveniles have slightly shorter bills and buffier underparts. During the breeding season, adults may show slightly richer colouration.

Size

Length

40cm to 46cm

Wingspan

76cm to 89cm

Weight

270g to 493g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown White

Secondary Colour

Buff

Beak Colour

Brown Grey

Leg Colour

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Whimbrel is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Whimbrel is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Whimbrel can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Whimbrel can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Whimbrel is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Whimbrel is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Whimbrel can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Whimbrel is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Whimbrel can be found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Whimbrel is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Whimbrel is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Whimbrel is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Whimbrels breed in subarctic regions across North America and Eurasia, favouring open tundra and moorlands. During migration and winter, they are found along coastlines, mudflats, and estuaries worldwide.

In the UK, Whimbrels are common passage migrants. They are seen along coasts during spring and autumn. They also winter in small numbers in southern coastal areas of England and Wales.

Whimbrels live on moorlands and uplands in northern Scotland, with Shetland hosting the majority of the UK’s breeding population of up to 470 pairs in the 1990s. Orkney, the Outer Hebrides and the extreme north of the Scottish mainland have also recorded established breeding grounds.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 4,000 meters

Climate zones

Arctic, Temperate, Tropical, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Whimbrel. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Algeria Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Cape Verde Cayman Islands China Christmas Island Colombia Comoros Congo Côte D'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor (Timor-Leste) Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Ethiopia Falkland Islands Finland France French Guiana Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong India Indonesia Iran Israel Jamaica Japan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Liberia Libya Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Maldives Mali Malta Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Moldova Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Nigeria North Korea Oman Pakistan Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Peru Philippines Puerto Rico Réunion Russia Rwanda Saint Barthelemy Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea Sri Lanka Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands Switzerland Taiwan Tanzania Thailand The Bahamas The United Kingdom Togo Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Uganda United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Belarus Estonia Faroe Islands Greenland Iceland Latvia Norway Russia Sweden United States of America

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Belize Bulgaria Chile Costa Rica Curaçao Ecuador Gibraltar Italy Macedonia Malaysia Micronesia Portugal Spain Sudan Turkey Uruguay

Species that pass through the area during migration

Albania Azerbaijan Belgium Canada Cyprus Denmark Fiji Guadeloupe Hungary Iraq Lebanon Poland Qatar Romania Saint Pierre and Miquelon Syria Trinidad and Tobago Ukraine

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Afghanistan British Virgin Islands Burkina Faso Grenada Jordan Liechtenstein Slovenia Tajikistan US Virgin Islands

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Whimbrel demonstrates remarkable agility, particularly during its long-distance migrations. Its ability to navigate complex coastal environments and perform aerial displays suggests high manoeuvrability.

Strength 65

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst not exceptionally strong for its size, the Whimbrel's ability to undertake long-distance flights and probe deeply into sand or mud for prey indicates a respectable level of strength.

Adaptability 90

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Whimbrels show impressive adaptability, thriving in diverse habitats from Arctic tundra to tropical coastlines. Their varied diet and ability to adjust migration routes further exemplify their adaptability.

Aggressiveness 40

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Generally not considered aggressive, Whimbrels are gregarious outside breeding season. However, they likely display some territorial behaviour during nesting, warranting a moderate score.

Endurance 95

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Whimbrel's endurance is exceptional, with individuals capable of flying up to 4,000 km (2,485 miles) non-stop during migration. This remarkable feat, combined with their long-distance migratory pattern, justifies a very high endurance rating.

Diet

Whimbrels have a varied diet, primarily consisting of marine invertebrates such as crabs, shrimp, and molluscs, including snails and slugs. During the breeding season, they also consume insects, berries, and small vertebrates.

Their long, curved bill is perfectly adapted for probing deep into sand, mud, or vegetation to extract prey. They also pick berries and flower buds from bushes.

Behaviour

Whimbrels are often seen probing the ground with their long bills, searching for prey in a deliberate, methodical manner. They are highly gregarious outside the breeding season, forming large flocks during migration and on wintering grounds.

These birds are known for their impressive long-distance flights, often covering thousands of kilometres non-stop during migration.

Vocalisation

The Whimbrel's call is a distinctive, rippling whistle, often described as a series of 7 notes sounding like 'tee-tee-tee-tee-tee-tee-tee'. This call is frequently given in flight and can be heard over long distances.

During breeding season, males may perform aerial displays accompanied by a bubbling song. In courtship or in defence of a nest site, a scream-like whistle is heard.

Nesting & Breeding

Whimbrels form monogamous pairs and breed in the Arctic and subarctic regions. The breeding season typically begins in late May or early June, coinciding with the short Arctic summer.

Nests are simple scrapes on the ground, often in areas with low vegetation. The female usually lays 4 eggs, which are olive-green with brown spots, providing excellent camouflage.

Both parents incubate the eggs for about 24-28 days, with the female doing most. Chicks are precocial and can leave the nest within hours of hatching, fledging after 35-40 days.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While currently listed as Least Concern, Whimbrel populations face threats from habitat loss, particularly in coastal areas and staging sites along migration routes. Climate change impacts on their Arctic breeding grounds are also a growing concern.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting key wetlands and coastal habitats.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

1,000,000 - 2,300,000 individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

Look for Whimbrels along coastal mudflats, beaches, and estuaries during migration
Listen for their distinctive, rippling call, often given in flight
Observe their unique feeding behaviour, probing deeply into sand or mud
In the UK, watch for them during spring and autumn migrations along the coast
Use a spotting scope to appreciate their distinctive bill shape and plumage details

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Eurasian Whimbrel, Common Whimbrel

Family:

Scolopacidae

Average Lifespan

11 years

Max Lifespan

24.2 years ^[4]

Predators

Adult Whimbrels are preyed upon by large raptors such as Peregrine Falcons and Gyrfalcons. Eggs and chicks are vulnerable to Arctic foxes, gulls, and jaegers.

Did You Know?

Whimbrels can fly up to 4,000 km (2,485 miles) non-stop during migration. One highly accomplished whimbrel, nicknamed Winnie, was tracked, completing a 5,000 km (3,200 mi) distance in only 146 hours, racking up a speed of almost 22 miles per hour.
Their scientific name 'phaeopus' means 'dusky foot' in Greek.
Some Whimbrels use different migration routes for spring and fall journeys.

References

1
website: BirdLife International. 2016. Numenius phaeopus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22693178A86585436.
View source
2 3
report, 2015: Wetlands International
4
website, 2012: Robinson and Clark, The Online Ringing Report: Bird ringing in Britain & Ireland in 2011
View source