Eurasian whimbrel

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Eurasian whimbrel
N. p. phaeopus
N. p. variegatus

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Numenius
Species:
N. phaeopus
Binomial name
Numenius phaeopus
Eurasian whimbrel range
  Breeding
  Migration
  Non-breeding
Synonyms
  • Scolopax phæopus Linnaeus, 1758

The Eurasian or common whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), also known as the white-rumped whimbrel in North America, is a

Asia and Europe as far south as Scotland. This species and the Hudsonian whimbrel
have recently been split, although some taxonomic authorities still consider them to be conspecific.

Taxonomy

The Eurasian whimbrel was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Scolopax phaeopus.[2] It is now placed with the curlews in the genus Numenius that was introduced by the French ornithologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760.[3][4] The genus name Numenius is from Ancient Greek noumenios, a bird mentioned by Hesychius. It is associated with the curlews because it appears to be derived from neos, "new" and mene "moon", referring to the crescent-shaped bill. The specific epithet phaeopus is the Medieval Latin name for the bird, from Ancient Greek phaios, "dusky" and pous, "foot".[5] The English name "whimbrel" is imitative of the bird's call.[6]

Five subspecies are recognised:[4]

The

conspecific. The two species were split based on genetic and plumage differences.[4][11]

Differences in species

The common whimbrel was traditionally considered a sub-cosmopolitan bird, breeding in Russia and Canada, then migrating to coasts all around the world to spend the winter. However the North American population of whimbrels were considered distinct enough to be considered a separate species from the common whimbrel.[12] In 2020, the New World population was recognised as a separate species, with the whimbrel in North America being assigned to the binomial name Numenius hudsonicus.

Whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus) flying in India, with the distinctive white rump visible
Newfoundland, Canada
. The rump is similar to the rest of the body in patterning

Whilst very similar at an initial glance, there are several features that distinguish whimbrel species in the Old and New World. In appearance, the New World species has a more “faded” appearance, with differences in the supercilium and crown. By far the most significant difference may be seen in the lower half of the bird. Whimbrels in Europe and Asia have a primarily white rump that can be seen in flight, while whimbrel in the New World have a rump similar in colour to the rest of the bird - drab brown with dark streaking.[13] As a result, whimbrel on vagrancy trips to North America may be known as the “white-rumped whimbrel”, while whimbrel vagrants from North America to Europe may be known as “Hudsonian whimbrel”.

When the context of their location is known, both species may be simply known as the whimbrel.

Description

The Eurasian whimbrel is a fairly large wader, though mid-sized as a member of the curlew genus. It is 37–47 cm (15–19 in) in length, 75–90 cm (30–35 in) in wingspan, and 270–493 g (9.5–17.4 oz; 0.595–1.087 lb) in weight.

call is a rippling whistle, prolonged into a trill for the song. The only similar common species over most of this bird's range are larger curlews. The whimbrel is smaller, has a shorter, decurved bill and has a central crown stripe and strong supercilia.[citation needed
]

Distribution and migration

The whimbrel is a migratory bird wintering on coasts in Africa, and South Asia into Australasia.[1] It is also a coastal bird during migration.[15] It is fairly gregarious outside the breeding season. It is found in Ireland and the United Kingdom, and it breeds in Scotland, particularly around Shetland, Orkney, the Outer Hebrides as well as the mainland at Sutherland and Caithness.

Behaviour and ecology

Breeding

The nest is a bare scrape on tundra or Arctic moorland. Three to five eggs are laid. Adults are very defensive of nesting area and will even attack humans who come too close.

Food and feeding

This species feeds by probing soft mud for small

blue tiger butterflies[16]

Conservation

The whimbrel is listed in the

Avian flu to which it is susceptible.[1]

The whimbrel and the Hudsonian curlew are considered to be

conspecific.[1][18]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22693178A86585436.en
    . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Linnaeus, Carl (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 146.
  3. ^ Brisson, Mathurin Jacques (1760). Ornithologie, ou, Méthode contenant la division des oiseaux en ordres, sections, genres, especes & leurs variétés (in French and Latin). Vol. 1. Paris: Jean-Baptiste Bauche. Vol. 1, p. 48, Vol. 5, p. 311.
  4. ^
    Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2021). "Sandpipers, snipes, coursers"
    . IOC World Bird List Version 11.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  5. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4
    .
  6. ^ "Whimbrel". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  7. doi:10.18194/ws.00031
    .
  8. PMID 27901077
    .
  9. doi:10.1111/jav.01938
    .
  10. ^ "BirdLife".
  11. PMID 31796810
    .
  12. ^ "bou splits with aou relevance=23 October 2022". aba. 20 September 2011.
  13. ^ "Hudsonian=24 October 2022". birdguides. January 2010.
  14. ^ "Whimbrel". All About Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
  15. ^ Birds. Collins Pocket Guide. 1998. p. 156.
  16. ISSN 1037-258X
    .
  17. ^ "Species". Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA). Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  18. ^ "Whimbrel species".

External links

Look up eurasian whimbrel in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Numenius phaeopus.
Wikispecies has information related to Numenius phaeopus.
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