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8

Whimbrel

(Numenius phaeopus)
German name(s): "Regenbrachvogel"
Size: 38-43 cm; wing span 75-90 cm
Weight: 310-490 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Whimbrel at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "phaeopus"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Whimbrel - note the short bill (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Quinta de Marim, Ria Formosa, Olhao, Faro, Algarve, Portugal, November 2021]

Near-frontal view of a male Whimbrel (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[October 2018]

Near-lateral view of a male Whimbrel looking sideways; note the comparatively short bill
(photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Alges, Lisbon, Portugal, April 2017]

Near-lateral view of a male Whimbrel (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Alges, Lisbon, Portugal, April 2017]

Near-lateral view of a male Whimbrel issuing its call (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Alges, Lisbon, Portugal, April 2017]

Lateral view of a male Whimbrel (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Pico Island, Azores, November 2018]

Lateral view of a male Whimbrel; note the worn plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[October 2018]

Three resting Whimbrels, probably all males (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sado estuary, Setubal, near Lisbon, Portugal, April 2019]

Lateral view of 2 Whimbrels, probably both males, taking off (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sado estuary, Setubal, near Lisbon, Portugal, January 2023]

Lateral view of a male Whimbrel in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Murraceira, Figueira da Foz, Portugal, February 2019]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Whimbrel; note the comparatively long bill (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Cabo Raso, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, April 2018]

Lateral view of a female Whimbrel (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Cabo Raso, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, March 2017]

Lateral view of a female Whimbrel (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Cabo Raso, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, April 2018]

Lateral view of a female Whimbrel (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Cabo Raso, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, April 2018]

Whimbrels taking walking with the surf; female on the right (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Dafundo, Oeiras, Lisbon, Portugal, March 2018]

PAIR

Group of 4 Whimbrels; based on the length of the bills the bird at centre back is probably a male, the one at the back right a female; the sex of the birds in the foreground is unknown (photo courtesy of R. Normand)
[Damgan (Morbihan), Bretagne, France, August 2020]

Sex unknown

Near-dorsal view of a Whimbrel (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Cabo Raso, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, March 2017]

Dorsal view of a Whimbrel (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Cabo Raso, Cascais, near Lisbon, Portugal, March 2017]

Small flock of Whimbrels walking towards the observer (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Dafundo, Oeiras, Lisbon, Portugal, April 2018]

Small flock of Whimbrels collectively taking a bath (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Dafundo, Oeiras, Lisbon, Portugal, April 2018]

Lateral view of a Whimbrel at take-off (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, April 2018]

Flock of Whimbrels taking off from a beach (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Dafundo, Oeiras, Lisbon, Portugal, March 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Whimbrel in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sado estuary, Setubal, near Lisbon, Portugal, April 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Whimbrel banking to land (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Quinta de Marim, Ria Formosa, Olhao, Faro, Algarve, Portugal, November 2021]

Dorsal view of a Whimbrel in flight, with a clear view of the "white wedge" from rump to back (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita do Ribatejo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, April 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Whimbrel - note the neat plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[October 2018]

Lateral view of a juvenile Whimbrel - note the neat plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[October 2018]

Lateral view of a juvenile Whimbrel (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[September 2016]

Whimbrels, race "phaeopus", have previously been photographed by us in Oman.

Race "variegatus"

Whimbrels, race "variegatus", have been photographed by us in Australia.

Food, Diet

Although normally specialised on molluscs and crustaceans, Whimbrels have been seen by us to also take fruit.

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

whimbrl_20150326_2.m4a (NE NSW) Warning/departure © MD
whimbrl_20150327.m4a (NE NSW) ? © MD
whimbrl_20150327_2.mp3 (NE NSW) ? © MD
whimbrl_20150326.m4a (NE NSW) ? © MD
whimbrl_20160920.mp3 (NE NSW) ? © MD
whimbrl_20160920_2.mp3 (NE NSW) ? © MD

More Whimbrel sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.