Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
We find Whimbrels in the Americas and in Eurasia. The American birds are more buff or tan colored than their grayer cousins in Eurasia. In the Western Hemisphere these birds nest in Alaska, North Western Canada and on the Western edges of Hudson Bay. They spend winters on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North and South America.
Most shorebirds have a well-defined alternate (breeding) plumage and a basic (non-breeding) plumage. Birds in the curlew genus (Numenius), like the Whimbrel, have only subtle differences between seasons.
Today’s science recognizes four subspecies of Whimbrel:
- N. p. phaeopus breeds from Iceland to Siberia, and spends winters along the coasts of Africa and the Indian Ocean.
- N. p. alboaxillaris breeds in Russia near the Caspian Sea, and spends winters on the coasts of the Indian Ocean.
- N. p. variegatus breeds in northeastern Siberia, and spends winters in Melanesia, Micronesia, and Australia.
- N. p. hudsonicus breeds from Alaska to northern Canada, and spends winters along the coasts of North and South America.
I once met a Whimbrel on Isla Clarion, 680 miles off the coast of Colima Mexico. In California, where I’ve met most of these birds, they sometimes get confused with their cousins, the Long-Billed Curlew. A closer examination will reveal that Whimbrels are slightly smaller, and the line through the eye is darker and better defined. There are also two dark stripes over the crown of the Whimbrel that the Long-Billed Curlew lacks.
24 Photos
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: (Numenius phaeopus) Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology in Camarillo, California USA 2011-11-01. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:01 12:16 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/4 |
File Name: D3X4432-Whimbrel |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: (Numenius phaeopus) Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology in Camarillo, California USA 2011-11-01. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:01 12:18 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/3 |
File Name: D3X4434-Whimbrel |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: (Numenius phaeopus) Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology in Camarillo, California USA 2011-11-01. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:01 12:23 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/3 |
File Name: D3X4440-Whimbrel |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: The estuary at the San Dieguito River Mouth in Del MAr California. San Diego County 2008-09-10. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:10 9:16 |
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Location:
San Dieguito River Mouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: jcd0263Whimbrel |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: (Numenius phaeopus) Taken from my kayak on South San Diego Bay. San Diego County, California USA 2005-04-15. |
Date Taken: 2005:04:15 7:38 |
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Location:
Salton Sea |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/9.5, 1/350 |
File Name: JCD0931Whimbrel |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadetree-imaging.com |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: Foraging migrant at the San Diego River Channel near Robb Field. Ocean Beach, San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:22 9:46 |
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Location:
Robb Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: jcd1459Whimbrel |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, www.shadetree-imaging.com |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: (Numenius phaeopus) San Diego River Channel near Robb Field. Ocean Beach, San Diego, California USA 2008-09-22. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:22 10:01 |
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Location:
Robb Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: jcd1485Whimbrel |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, www.shadetree-imaging.com |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: (Numenius phaeopus) Foraging at Camp Surf in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County USA 2010-08-05. |
Date Taken: 2010:08:05 8:24 |
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Location:
Tijuana Slough |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: JCD4313.Whimbrel |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, www.shadetree-imaging.com |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: San Diego River flood control channel. San Diego, California 2010-01-08. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:08 13:42 |
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Location:
Robb Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD5326.Whimbrel |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: (Numenius phaeopus) Worn Adult foraging on the beach near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2009-09-07. |
Date Taken: 2009:09:07 8:01 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD6120.Whimbrel |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadetree-imaging |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: (Numenius phaeopus) Worn Adult foraging on the beach near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2009-09-07. |
Date Taken: 2009:09:07 8:01 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/250 |
File Name: Cut_JCD6120.Whimbrel |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: (Numenius phaeopus) Foraging on the beach at Piedras Blancas, on the Coast of Central California USA 2003-12-21. |
Date Taken: 2003:12:20 17:01 |
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Location:
Piedras Blancas |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/80 |
File Name: JCD_5653Whimbrel |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: (Numenius phaeopus) Foraging on the beach at Piedras Blancas, on the Coast of Central California USA 2003-12-21. |
Date Taken: 2003:12:21 11:38 |
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Location:
Piedras Blancas |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD_5753Whimbrel |
| © 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: Hiking the southern shore at Isla Clarion. Our final island visit of this journey. Colima Mexico. Part of the Archipiélago de Revillagigedo. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:20 9:51 |
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Location:
Southern Shore |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/16.0, 1/800 |
File Name: Whimbrel_D5X9905 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Curlew(Numenius americanus) |
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Description: Foraging at the Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:04:04 9:32 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X3415-LongBilledCurlew |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: The beach by Border Field and the Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:02 10:31 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X1095-Whimbrel |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: The beach by Border Field and the Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:23 9:19 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: D3X1650-Whimbrel |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:09:08 10:40 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X8784-Whimbrel |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: During high tide, shorebirds such as these Whimbrel congregated with the large flocks of Marbled Godwits in sheltered areas of the bay. Waterfowl and shorebirds were the objects of my affection during the half-day I spent exploring Bodega Bay. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:06 13:11 |
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Location:
Bodega Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: Whimbrel_8503944-BodegaBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: During high tide, shorebirds such as these Whimbrel congregated with the large flocks of Marbled Godwits in sheltered areas of the bay. Waterfowl and shorebirds were the objects of my affection during the half-day I spent exploring Bodega Bay. |
Date Taken: 2022:03:06 13:08 |
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Location:
Bodega Bay |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: Whimbrel_8503926-BodegaBay |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Long-Billed Curlew(Numenius americanus) |
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Description: Foraging at the Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:04:04 9:31 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 |
File Name: D3X3404-LongBilledCurlew |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: Fly-over at the Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:04:04 9:44 |
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Location:
Border Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X3446-Whimbrel |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus) |
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Description: With fly by Willet at the Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:09:08 10:40 |
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Location:
Tijuana River Mouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X8783-Whimbrel |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging |
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