Where do Whimbrels nest?

How deep does a whimbrel nest get?

The interior of the bowl averages about 5.6 inches across and 1.5 inches deep. Blue-green to brownish or buff. Downy and active, may leave nest within one to two hours. Whimbrels are a joy to experience on the breeding grounds, where the male performs dramatic aerial song flights.

What is the habitat of a whimbrel?

Whimbrel Life History. Habitat. On their wintering grounds, Whimbrels feed mostly on tidal mudflats and sandflats; they also forage in saltmarshes, lagoons, estuaries, and on reefs and rocky shorelines where small crabs are available.

How many whimbrels are there in the world?

Because Whimbrels nest in remote areas, information about their population trends is lacking. Partners in Flight estimates the global breeding population at 1.8 million. The species rates a 12 out of 20 on the Conservation Concern Score, indicating it is a species of low conservation concern.

What does a whimbrel look like?

The whimbrel is a large wading bird. It has longish legs and a long bill which curves near the tip. It is brownish above and whitish below. In flight, it shows a white ‘V’ shape up its back from its tail.

What does a Whimbrel bird look like?

An elegant, brownish shorebird with a very long, curved bill, the Whimbrel announces itself with effervescent, piping calls. It occupies open habitats—tundra for nesting; and mudflats, beaches, and saltmarshes the rest of the year.

How far do whimbrels fly?

Some migrating Whimbrels make a nonstop overwater flight of 4,000 km (2,500 miles) from southern Canada or New England to South America. In many regions, the primary winter food of the Whimbrel is fiddler crab. The curve of the Whimbrel’s bill nicely matches the shape of fiddler crab burrows.

What does the whimbrel eat?

The Whimbrel is like a smaller version of the Curlew; it breeds on moorlands and uplands and can be seen at coastal habitats as it passes through on migration. On its breeding grounds, it feeds on ground insects, snails and slugs, swapping these tasty morsels for crustaceans, shrimps and molluscs when migrating.

How many whimbrels are in the world?

Whimbrels breed around the world at high northern latitudes. The Canadian Wildlife Service estimates the worldwide population at 797,000 birds and the North American population at 57,000. They have a widespread range and can be found on the coasts of six continents in the winter.

Are there whimbrels in Washington State?

Whimbrels are seen in Washington mostly during migration, but there are a few winter records from the coast. Some non-breeding birds summer on the coast as well. Migrating birds start coming through the Washington outer coast and Puget Sound in early April, are common from mid-April through mid-May,…

How to identify curlew and whimbrel waders?

The curlew and whimbrel are both large, brown waders with long, downcurved bills. Distinguishing them can be tricky at long range, but if you’ve got a good view and know what you’re looking for, it shouldn’t be too hard.

What do whimbrels do?

Whimbrels probe with their long bills into mudflats or wet sand for invertebrates such as crabs, walking slowly through areas where water is very shallow. Flocks moving in migration, or between roosting and feeding areas, vocalize often.

What does a longbill bird look like?

A robust, large shorebird with a very long, curved bill and relatively long neck and legs. The wings are long and pointed; the tail is short. Larger than a Willet, smaller than a Long-billed Curlew. Mostly brownish above, with pale feather edges, tan below, with neat dark stippling.

Where do whimbrels migrate to?

They migrate between arctic nesting areas and wintering grounds as far south as Bolivia, sometimes having to skirt hurricanes as they fly over open ocean. Whimbrels are relatively large shorebirds that live on open tundra, beaches, and mudflats, so a scan of their habitat is usually sufficient to turn them up.

Do whimbrels fly direct or stopover?

In around 80% of the cases, Whimbrels make a flight to a stopover area (frequently in Britain and Ireland) – ‘stopover behaviour’ – while in the remaining 20% of cases the migratory flight is non-stop – ‘direct behaviour’ (Figure 1A; Carneiro et al. 2019a). What are the reasons behind these two behaviours?

What do whimbrels eat?

Whimbrels feed mostly on crabs and other marine invertebrates, which they extract from sand or mud using their outrageous bills. They also eat berries and insects when available. They migrate between arctic nesting areas and wintering grounds as far south as Bolivia, sometimes having to skirt hurricanes as they fly over open ocean.

How do whimbrels eat fiddler crabs?

The curve of the Whimbrel’s bill nicely matches the shape of fiddler crab burrows. The bird reaches into the crab’s burrow, extracts the crab, washes it if it is muddy, and sometimes breaks off the claws and legs before swallowing it.

What is a Whimbrel bird?

What’s most noticeable about a whimbrel is its long, down-turned bill, perfect for snatching crabs and other crustaceans out of the wet sand. The eastern whimbrel. CBS News Johnson said, “The whimbrel are pretty big for shorebirds. I mean, they stand probably almost about a foot tall, long legs, long necks. But they’re lighter than they look.

What is the difference between the whimbrel and curlew?

The Whimbrel is very similar to the Curlew, but a little smaller and with a striking face pattern. Its eerie call is a series of seven whistles; listen out for it around the coast as its passes through on migration. Classified in the UK as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern 4: the Red List for Birds (2015).

How can you tell if a whimbrel is real?

Listen for their mellow, piping whistles for advance notice that the birds are around. Numenius, the genus assigned to Whimbrel, means “new moon” in Greek, a reference to the bird’s bill shape, which resembles a crescent moon.

What is the difference between a whimbrel and a curlew?

Whimbrels feed in small groups and roost in large flocks, often with other waders. The Whimbrel is larger and bulkier than the Little Curlew, N. minutus, which has a shorter less curved bill. The Eastern Curlew, N. madagascariensis, is the largest curlew, with a much longer bill and legs.

Where do whimbrels live?

Whimbrels are found mainly on the coast, on tidal and estaurine mudflats, especially near mangroves. They are sometimes found on beaches and rocky shores. Whimbrels feed on intertidal mudflats by day and night, on worms, crustaceans and occasionally fish and nestling birds.