Eurasian Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
The Eurasian Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) is a common sandpiper found in 199 countries, weighing about 365 g. The Eurasian whimbrel, historically known as the white-rumped whimbrel in North America, is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae.
About the Eurasian Whimbrel
The Eurasian whimbrel, historically known as the white-rumped whimbrel in North America, is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is one of the most widespread of the curlews, breeding across much of subarctic Palearctic region and Europe as far south as Scotland. This species and the Hudsonian whimbrel were split in 2019, although some taxonomic authorities still consider them to be conspecific.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Eurasian whimbrel is a fairly large wader, though mid-sized as a member of the curlew genus. It is 37–47 cm (15–19 in) in length, 75–90 cm (30–35 in) in wingspan, and 270–493 g (9.5–17.4 oz; 0.595–1.087 lb) in weight. It is mainly greyish brown, with a white back and rump (subspecies N. p. phaeopus and N. p. alboaxillaris only), and a long curved beak with a kink rather than a smooth curve. The usual call is a rippling whistle, prolonged into a trill for the song.
What the Eurasian Whimbrel sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Luxembourg, Montserrat, St. Barthélemy, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Iraq, Jordan, Wallis & Futuna.
When to see it
The Eurasian Whimbrel can be seen all year round, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Eurasian Whimbrel?
- The Eurasian whimbrel is a fairly large wader, though mid-sized as a member of the curlew genus. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Eurasian Whimbrel?
- The Eurasian Whimbrel is a large sized bird weighing about 365 g.
- Where can you see a Eurasian Whimbrel?
- The Eurasian Whimbrel occurs in 199 countries, including the United States, Sweden, Australia, Chile and Spain.
- What does a Eurasian Whimbrel sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Eurasian Whimbrel on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Eurasian Whimbrel?
- The Eurasian Whimbrel is most easily confused with the Eurasian Curlew, the Long-billed Curlew and the Far Eastern Curlew.
Learn the Eurasian Whimbrel for real
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