Birds · Charadriiformes · Scolopacidae

Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The whimbrel is a large wader with a long, downcurved bill and a striking pale stripe on the crown. It breeds on the tundra and peat bogs of northern Eurasia and North America and winters on coasts across five continents. Its Spanish name comes from its call: a rapid series of seven whistled notes, unmistakable across the marshes. In winter it specialises in crabs, which it extracts from their burrows with its curved bill.

Weight

270 g – 600 g

Size

37 cm – 47 cm

Lifespan

25 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

TundraOceanFreshwaterOmnivore Diurnal Bird Tundra Ocean Freshwater

37countries 24parks13same family

Fun facts

GeneralIts curved bill pulls crabs out of their burrows in the mud.
Its call is a series of seven rapid, descending whistles that gives it away without being seen, and that has earned it onomatopoeic names in several languages.
Its curved bill is adapted to crab burrows: it follows the curve of the tunnel and pulls the crab out, then tears off its legs before swallowing it.
The populations that breed in Alaska cross the Pacific to Oceania without stopping, a flight of several days over open ocean.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Bogs and tundra when breeding; saltmarsh and beaches on passage
Sexual maturity: 2 years
Gestation / incubation: 22 days
Litter / clutch size: 4

Sources consulted: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_whimbrel