Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Description:

This is a large wader at 37–47 cm (15–19 in) in length, 75–90 cm (30–35 in) and 270–493 g (9.5–17.4 oz) in weight. It is mainly greyish brown, with a white back and rump, and a long curved bill (longest in the adult female) with a kink rather than a smooth curve. It is generally wary. 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.

Habitat:

This whimbrel was at the edge of the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, CA.

Notes:

This was one of the lowest tides of the year, and the whimbrel was foraging on a rock that would normally not be exposed.

Species ID Suggestions

22 Comments

Ava T-B 11 years ago

Thanks, Susi!

Susi T-B 11 years ago

Nice capture of feeding behavior.

Ava T-B 11 years ago

Thanks, drmo!

drmo 11 years ago

Great photo

Ava T-B 12 years ago

There's an article in this month's Audubon Magazine about amazing migrations like the Whimbrel's: http://www.audubonmagazine.org/articles/...

Ava T-B 12 years ago

Thanks andyarct; whimbrels are particularly photogenic I think.

andyarct 12 years ago

Excellent series of photos!!

Arun 12 years ago

Thanks and Welcome ....

Ava T-B 12 years ago

Thanks for the "hunter" suggestion Arun; I've added it to the mission.

Arun 12 years ago

Please consider putting this spotting in the ‘Hunter’ mission at
http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8463...

Ava T-B 12 years ago

Thanks birdlady and Martin!

MartinOdino 12 years ago

Beautiful capture!

birdlady6000 12 years ago

Great shots!

Ava T-B 12 years ago

Thanks Ismael. The first and third pictures were a surprise to me because I was shooting from a distance and didn't realize she/he had a crab in his/her beak.