whimbrel

The whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) is a wading bird in the family Scolopacidae, a curlew-like shorebird. It has a long, down-curved bill used to probe mud for invertebrates.

It measures about 40–46 cm in length, with brown upperparts and pale underparts. The crown displays bold dark stripes and a pale line over the eye, and both the bill and legs are long.

The species breeds in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America, and migrates to tropical coasts and wetlands in Africa, the Caribbean, South America, and southern Asia. It is commonly found on coastal mudflats, estuaries, and tundra wetlands during breeding and on migration or wintering grounds.

Whimbrels forage by probing in soft mud for crustaceans, mollusks, and marine worms, and they may also pick prey from surface vegetation. They are highly migratory, with long-distance movements between breeding and wintering areas, and several populations are divided into distinct subspecies.

Breeding involves open-ground nests on the tundra, usually with a clutch of three to four eggs incubated by both parents for several weeks. Chicks are precocial and leave the nest soon after hatching.

The IUCN Red List classifies the whimbrel as Least Concern due to its wide range and relatively large population, though local declines can occur from habitat disturbance and loss at breeding and wintering sites.