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Whimbrel
(Numenius phaeopus)
Size: 38-43 cm; wing span 75-90 cm
Weight: 310-490 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Whimbrels are medium-sized, long-billed shorebirds. They have
a dark grey-brown with light-grey streaked head, neck and chest,
with two prominent parallel dark-brown stripes running the length
of the cap. The belly and vent are off-white with some brown
streakng, while the wings are boldly scalloped light and dark
grey-brown. The uppertail is barred.
Their plumage is
cryptic, i.e.
camouflaged, against the background of a mudflat.
The dark-grey bill is long and curved downwards, with a lighter,
pinkish base of the lower mandible.
Females
have a longer bill than
males.
Legs and feet are grey.
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Twitcher's tip |
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Compared to other members of
the Numenius family, Whimbrels are by far the most vociferous.
Their calls
carry over long distances.
The correct identification of waders ("shorebirds"), e.g. of the
Calidris, Tringa, Actitis and
related families or of the Charadrius, Pluvialis and related genera
in the field can be quite tricky. We have therefore made an attempt to
give some advice HERE.
"Raptors"
(or "birds of prey"), most prominently, but also some species of
waders, show a pronounced
"dimorphism", i.e.
a difference between male and female birds - not just in the appearance
of the plumage, but in
other, important properties, such as size or strength.
Here we
explain why.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Whimbrel
at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
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The global distribution of the Whimbrel is available
HERE
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There are 7 extant races of Whimbrels, which are a migratory species.
They breed in various subarctic areas, in North America,
Europe,
as far South as Scotland, and Asia.
The various races spend the northern winters along the coastlines
of southern North America, South America, Africa,
Arabia
and of southern Asia into
Australasia.
During their migration they can be found in (mostly coastal) wetlands
along their relatively well-defined migration routes.
Whimbrels, race "phaeopus",
are winter visitors to the near-coastal areas of Arabia,
including the coastline of Oman.
Whimbrels' preferred habitats are coastal estuaries,
mangrove swamps and mudflats.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "phaeopus"
A Whimbrel, nominate race "phaeopus", was seen
by us on the Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat,
in August-September 2009. It stayed near a pond where it
foraged along the edges, but also in the nearby arboretum.
Race "variegatus"
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Photos |
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Race "phaeopus"
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ADULT |
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FEMALE |
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Lateral view of a female(?) Whimbrel making the rounds of a pond
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]
This Whimbrel was often seen by us wading just inside the water
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]
Whimbrel venturing a bit deeper into a pond
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]
Dorsal view of a Whimbrel
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]
Race "variegatus"
Whimbrels, race "variegatus", have
also been photographed by us in
Australia.
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Food, Diet |
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Although normally specialised on molluscs and crustaceans, Whimbrels
have been seen by us to also take fruit (see photos below).
Sometimes a Whimbrel going further "inland" can win a prize
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]
This Whimbrel obviously liked the taste of dates
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, September 2009]
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Call(s)/Song |
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For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own; are welcome.
More Whimbrel sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
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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.