Numenius phaeopus
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
Featured photowhimbrel.jpgNumenius phaeopus, the whimbrel, is a large migratory shorebird of the family Scolopacidae, breeding across Holarctic tundra and wintering on tropical and subtropical coastlines worldwide. Adults are 40 to 46 cm long with a wingspan of 75 to 90 cm and weigh 270 to 490 g. The species is characterised by its long decurved bill, striped crown, and far-carrying seven-note rippling whistle. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.
Quick facts
- Habitat
- Breeds on open Arctic and subarctic tundra, moorland, and bogs. Winters on rocky coasts, mangroves, mudflats, sandy beaches, and estuaries in tropical and subtropical regions. Forages both in intertidal zones and inland grasslands.
- Range
- Breeds across Holarctic tundra from Iceland, Scandinavia, and Russia to Alaska and northern Canada. Winters on coastlines of Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Australasia, and South America.
- Size
- 40–46 cm body · 75–90 cm wingspan · 270–490 g
- Plumage
- Adults show brown-streaked upperparts, pale underparts with brown streaking on the breast, a distinctive dark lateral crown stripe framing a pale central crown stripe, and a dark eye-stripe. The bill is long and strongly decurved. The legs are blue-grey. Sexes are similar, though females average larger with a longer bill.
- Song
- The diagnostic call is a rapid, rippling 'ti-ti-ti-ti-ti-ti-ti' — a descending seven-note whistle that is one of the most evocative sounds of coastal migration. Also gives a longer, more varied piping call in territorial contexts.
- Migration
- Long-distance migrant. North American breeders fly south to Caribbean and South American coasts in autumn, some staging at intertidal areas on the Atlantic coast. Some individuals make non-stop overwater flights of over 4,000 km.
- Conservation
- Least Concern (LC)
Overview
Numenius phaeopus is one of eight curlew species in the genus Numenius, ranging from the far larger Eurasian curlew (N. arquata) to the extinct Eskimo curlew (N. borealis). The whimbrel is the most cosmopolitan of the curlews, with breeding populations across the entire Holarctic and wintering grounds spanning every inhabited continent south of the Arctic. Several subspecies are recognised, including the Hudsonian whimbrel (N. p. hudsonicus) of North America and the nominate phaeopus of Eurasia.
Decurved bill and crab-hunting
The strongly decurved bill is a key adaptation for extracting fiddler crabs — a primary food on wintering grounds — from the J-shaped burrows they excavate in tropical mudflats. The bird inserts the curved bill tip into the burrow entrance and follows the burrow's curve to reach the crab without breaking the burrow structure. The same bill geometry allows extraction of molluscs from rock crevices and worms from deep mud. On the breeding grounds the bill is used for probing tundra soil for invertebrates and picking crowberries and cloudberries.
Long-distance migration
Whimbrels perform impressive long-distance migrations, with some North American populations documented making non-stop transatlantic flights of over 4,000 km from Nova Scotia to Caribbean wintering grounds. Geolocator studies have shown individuals staging at specific coastal refuelling sites year after year with remarkable site fidelity. The species is a regular feature of North Atlantic coasts in autumn, where it congregates on rocky shores and grasslands to fuel for long overwater flights.
Sources & further reading (2)
- iucn-red-list — accessed 2026-05-07
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-07
Frequently asked questions
How do whimbrels extract crabs from burrows?
The whimbrel's long, strongly decurved bill follows the J-shaped curve of fiddler crab burrows precisely, allowing the bird to reach the crab without breaking the burrow walls. This bill geometry is a specialist adaptation for intertidal crab-hunting on tropical mudflats and mangrove shores. The same curved bill also probes into rock crevices and deep mud for molluscs and worms.
What does the whimbrel call sound like?
The distinctive call is a rapid, rippling 'ti-ti-ti-ti-ti-ti-ti' — a series of about seven evenly spaced, slightly descending whistled notes delivered in about one second. It is one of the most recognisable shorebird calls and is often heard at night during migration. The call carries far over open water and is frequently the first indication of a passing whimbrel.
Is the whimbrel the same as the Eurasian curlew?
No — whimbrel and Eurasian curlew are distinct species in the genus Numenius. The Eurasian curlew (N. arquata) is much larger (wingspan to 100 cm vs 90 cm for whimbrel) and lacks the dark lateral crown stripe that is a key whimbrel field mark. The whimbrel's seven-note rippling call also differs from the long, haunting whistle of the curlew.
