ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Whimbrel

Whimbrel

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Whimbrels are not easy to find; relatively few pass through, and those birds seldom linger for more than an hour or so in any spot. Furthermore, they tend to skulk in vegetation, making them hard to see.


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Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus

At-a-Glance


• Incubation: 27-28 days

• Clutch Size: 4 eggs

• Young Fledge: 35-42 days after hatching

• Typical Foods: aquatic invertebrates and fruit
Description
Our only regularly occurring curlew, whimbrels are easily recognized by their long, downcurved bill and striped head.

Habitat and Habits
Whimbrels breed in the high Arctic, and one must travel there to hear their song, an eerie rolling whistle. Calls suggest a yellowlegs, but are more rapid and tinnier, with more notes to a series. Preferred habitats include mudflats, marshes, and sometimes grassy expanses of airports.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
Breeding takes place in Arctic Canada and Alaska. Nests are on the ground in depressions of moss or other vegetation.