Eurasian whimbrel

The Eurasian whimbrel was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Scolopax phaeopus.{{cite book | last=Linnaeus | first=Carl | author-link=Carl Linnaeus | year=1758 | title= Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis | volume=1 | edition=10th | page=146 | publisher=Laurentii Salvii | location=Holmiae (Stockholm) | language=Latin | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/727053 }} It is now placed with the curlews in the genus Numenius that was introduced by the French ornithologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760.{{ cite book | last=Brisson | first=Mathurin Jacques | author-link=Mathurin Jacques Brisson | year=1760 | title=Ornithologie, ou, Méthode contenant la division des oiseaux en ordres, sections, genres, especes & leurs variétés | volume=1 | language=fr, la | at=[https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/36010447 Vol. 1, p. 48], [https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/36294657 Vol. 5, p. 311] | place=Paris | publisher=Jean-Baptiste Bauche }}{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen | date=July 2021 | title=Sandpipers, snipes, coursers | work=IOC World Bird List Version 11.2 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/sandpipers/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=22 November 2021 }} The genus name Numenius is from Ancient Greek noumenios, a bird mentioned by Hesychius. It is associated with the curlews because it appears to be derived from neos, "new" and mene "moon", referring to the crescent-shaped bill. The specific epithet phaeopus is the Medieval Latin name for the bird, from Ancient Greek phaios, "dusky" and pous, "foot".{{cite book | last= Jobling | first= James A | year= 2010| title= The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names | url= https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling | publisher= Christopher Helm | location = London | isbn = 978-1-4081-2501-4 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling/page/n276 276], [https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling/page/n301 301]}} The English name "whimbrel" is imitative of the bird's call.{{Cite OED |Whimbrel }}

Five subspecies are recognised:

• N. p. islandicus Brehm, C.L., 1831 – breeds mainly in Iceland, but also in Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Scotland; winters mainly in West Africa, but ranges from southwestern Europe to Benin and Togo{{cite journal |last1=Gunnarsson |first1=T. G. |last2=Guðmundsson |first2=G. A. |title=Migration and non-breeding distribution of Icelandic Whimbrels Numenius phaeopus islandicus as revealed by ringing recoveries |journal=Wader Study |date=2016 |volume=123 |issue=1 |pages=44–48 |doi=10.18194/ws.00031 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301347892}}{{cite journal |last1=Alves |first1=J. A. |last2=Dias |first2=M. P. |last3=Méndez |first3=V. |last4=Katrínardóttir |first4=B. |last5=Gunnarsson |first5=T. G. |title=Very rapid long-distance sea crossing by a migratory bird |journal=Scientific Reports |date=2016 |volume=6 |issue=1|pages=38154 |doi=10.1038/srep38154 |pmc=5128861 |pmid=27901077|bibcode=2016NatSR...638154A }}{{cite journal |last1=Carneiro |first1=C. |last2=Gunnarsson |first2=T. G. |last3=Alves |first3=J. A. |title=Faster migration in autumn than in spring: seasonal migration patterns and non-breeding distribution of Icelandic whimbrels |journal=Journal of Avian Biology |date=2019 |volume=50 |issue=1 |doi=10.1111/jav.01938|doi-access= }}
• N. p. phaeopus (European whimbrel{{cite web|url= https://ebird.org/species/whimbr1 | title=BirdLife.}}) (Linnaeus, 1758) – nominate, breeds from Norway to north central Siberia; winters in Africa and south and southeast Asia
• N. p. alboaxillaris Lowe, 1921 – breeds from western Kazakhstan to southwestern Siberia (rare, endangered); winters in south and east Asia
• N. p. rogachevae Tomkovich, 2008 – breeds in north central Siberia; winters in east Africa and west India
• N. p. variegatus (Scopoli, 1786) – breeds in northeastern Siberia; winters in India to Australia

The Hudsonian curlew (Numenius hudsonicus) was formerly considered to be conspecific. The two species were split based on genetic and plumage differences.{{Cite journal | last1=Tan | first1=H.Z. | last2=Ng | first2=E.Y.X. | last3=Tang | first3=Q. | last4=Allport | first4=G.A. | last5=Jansen | first5=J.J.F.J. | last6=Tomkovich | first6=P.S. | last7=Rheindt | first7=F.E. | date=2019 | title=Population genomics of two congeneric Palaearctic shorebirds reveals differential impacts of Quaternary climate oscillations across habitats types | journal=Scientific Reports | volume=9 | issue=1 | pages=18172 | doi=10.1038/s41598-019-54715-9| pmid=31796810 |pmc=6890745 | bibcode=2019NatSR...918172T | doi-access=free}}

The common whimbrel was traditionally considered a sub-cosmopolitan bird, breeding in Russia and Canada, then migrating to coasts all around the world to spend the winter. However the North American population of whimbrels was considered distinct enough to be considered a separate species from the common whimbrel.{{cite web|url= https://blog.aba.org/2011/09/bou-splits-with-aou-relevance.html | title=bou splits with aou relevance=23 October 2022|work=aba| date=20 September 2011 }} In 2020, the New World population was recognised as a separate species, with the whimbrel in North America being assigned to the binomial name Numenius hudsonicus.

File:Flying Whimbrel.jpg, with the distinctive white rump visible]]

File:Hudsonian Whimbrel, Bonavista, Newfoundland 1.jpg, Canada. The rump is similar to the rest of the body in patterning]]

Whilst very similar at an initial glance, there are several features that distinguish whimbrel species in the Old and New World. In appearance, the New World species has a more “faded” appearance, with differences in the supercilium and crown. By far the most significant difference may be seen in the lower half of the bird. Whimbrels in Europe and Asia have a primarily white rump that can be seen in flight, while whimbrel in the New World have a rump similar in colour to the rest of the bird - drab brown with dark streaking.{{cite web|url= https://www.birdguides.com/articles/identification/hudsonian-whimbrel/ | title=Hudsonian=24 October 2022|work=birdguides| date=January 2010 }} As a result, whimbrel on vagrancy trips to North America may be known as the “white-rumped whimbrel”, while whimbrel vagrants from North America to Europe may be known as “Hudsonian whimbrel”.

When the context of their location is known, both species may be simply known as the whimbrel.

The Eurasian whimbrel is a fairly large wader, though mid-sized as a member of the curlew genus. It is {{cvt|37|–|47|cm}} in length, {{cvt|75|-|90|cm}} in wingspan, and {{cvt|270|-|493|g|oz+lb}} in weight.{{Cite AllAboutBirds|Whimbrel}} 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. The only similar common species over most of this bird's range are larger curlews. The whimbrel is smaller, has a shorter, decurved bill and has a central crown stripe and strong supercilia.{{cn|date=March 2022}}

The whimbrel is a migratory bird wintering on coasts in Africa, and South Asia into Australasia. It is also a coastal bird during migration.{{cite book |title=Birds |series=Collins Pocket Guide |year=1998 |page=156}} It is fairly gregarious outside the breeding season. It is found in Ireland and the United Kingdom, and it breeds in Scotland, particularly around Shetland, Orkney, the Outer Hebrides as well as the mainland at Sutherland and Caithness.

The nest is a bare scrape on tundra or Arctic moorland, often in low vegetation or moss but rarely in deep grass or marshland. Three to five eggs are laid. The mother remains motionless until a potential threat draws too close, then flies off a short distance and walks around making noises to try to lure the threat away. The chicks are fluffy, yellow and black, with a short beak (unlike the adults) and strong scaly grey legs. Within a couple weeks of hatching they become quite mobile on the ground, and soon thereafter, the nest is abandoned.

This species feeds by probing soft mud for small invertebrates and by picking small crabs and similar prey off the surface. Before migration, berries become an important part of their diet. It has also been observed taking insects, specifically blue tiger butterflies{{cite journal |last=Woodall |first=P.F. |year=1996 |title=Whimbrel feeding on Blue Tiger butterflies |journal=Sunbird |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=46–48 |issn=1037-258X |publisher=Queensland Ornithological Society}}

The whimbrel is listed in the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds. Near the end of the 19th century, hunting on the Eurasian whimbrel's migration routes took a heavy toll on its population, which has since recovered.{{ cite web | title=Species| url=https://www.unep-aewa.org/en/species | publisher=Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) | access-date=14 November 2021}} It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and has been negatively impacted by climate change, habitat destruction and outbreaks of Avian flu to which it is susceptible.

The whimbrel and the Hudsonian curlew are considered to be conspecific.{{cite web|url= https://ebird.org/science/status-and-trends/whimbr | title= Whimbrel species}}

In Iceland, home to 1/3rd of the world's breeding population, the populations are crashing in most areas. Development is considered the most likely cause.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbl.is/frettir/loum-og-spoum-faekkar-ognvaenlega | title=Lóum og spóum fækkar ognvænlega | date=2025-05-16}}

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{{Wiktionary}}

• [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Whimbrel.html Whimbrel Species Account] – Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Whimbrel – [http://sabap2.adu.org.za/docs/sabap1/290.pdf Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds].
• [http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i2650id.html Whimbrel – Numenius phaeopus] – USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
• [http://www.ccb-wm.org/programs/migration/Whimbrel/whimbrel.htm Whimbrel Migration Studies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829222518/http://www.ccb-wm.org/programs/migration/Whimbrel/whimbrel.htm |date=2011-08-29 }} – The Center for Conservation Biology, College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University
• {{field guide birds of the world|Numenius phaeopus}}
• RSPB [http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/w/whimbrel/index.aspx Birds by Name: Whimbrel]
• {{InternetBirdCollection|whimbrel-numenius-phaeopus|Whimbrel}}
• {{VIREO|Whimbrel}}
• {{IUCN_Map|22693178/166245989|Numenius phaeopus}}
• {{Xeno-canto species|Numenius|phaeopus|Whimbrel}}

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Eurasian whimbrel

Category:Birds of Eurasia

Eurasian whimbrel

Eurasian whimbrel