What does a Whimbrel 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.

Is a Whimbrel a sandpiper?

There are three large Sandpipers who winter along the Texas Gulf Coast that resemble each other. I am speaking of Curlews, Godwits and Whimbrels. After a bit of practice you can tell them apart, but they can be confusing especially if you just get a glimpse.

Is a Whimbrel a type of Curlew?

Long-billed Curlew Long-billed Curlews are larger with a longer bill than Whimbrels with a plain crown, unlike Whimbrels which have a striped crown.

What does the Whimbrel eat?

Diet. Includes insects, crustaceans, berries. On breeding grounds may feed mostly on insects at first, but berries (such as crowberry and cranberry) become major part of diet by late summer. On coast, often eats many crabs, also amphipods and other crustaceans, marine worms, small mollusks.

Are whimbrel endangered?

Least Concern (Population decreasing)Eurasian whimbrel / Conservation status

How tall is a whimbrel?

Description. The whimbrel is a large shorebird that is about 14 inches in length. It has a long, down-curved dark brown bill and long gray legs.

Where do Whimbrels breed?

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.

Is a whimbrel a migratory bird?

From July through late September, Whimbrel migrate southward from their Arctic and sub-Arctic breeding grounds and some spend up to a month with us along our coast. While in Massachusetts, Whimbrel spend almost all of their time in the saltmarshes feeding on fiddler crabs—an important staple in their diet.

Do Whimbrels migrate?

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.

What kind of bird is a whimbrel?

shorebirds
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. Along the coast, look for them on a falling or newly low tide; as the tide rises, they move to high-tide roosts, often in saltmarshes or on small islands.

What is a bunch of curlews called?

A group of curlews is called a curfew, a salon, or skein of curlews.