Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
- FamilyScolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
- GenusNumenius (Curlews)
- SpeciesNumenius phaeopus (Whimbrel)
About the Whimbrel
The Eurasian whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), historically known as the white-rumped whimbrel in North America, is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is one of the most widespread of the curlews, breeding across much of subarctic Palearctic region and Europe as far south as Scotland. This species and the Hudsonian whimbrel were split in 2019, although some taxonomic authorities still consider them to be conspecific.
The Eurasian whimbrel was formally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Scolopax phaeopus. It is now placed with the curlews in the genus Numenius that was introduced by Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760.
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". The English name "whimbrel" is imitative of the bird's call.
Five subspecies are recognised: N. p. phaeopus (Linnaeus, 1758) – nominate... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Whimbrel in Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve
Hudsonian Whimbrel
Numenius hudsonicus
Long-billed Curlew
Numenius americanus
Willet
Tringa semipalmata
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
Least Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla
Sanderling
Calidris alba
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularius
Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa melanoleuca
Short-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus griseus
Lesser Yellowlegs
Tringa flavipes
Marbled Godwit
Limosa fedoa
Western Sandpiper
Calidris mauri
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Whimbrel in Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Whimbrel sighting in Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, based on 32 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Whimbrel in Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve?
August has the highest sighting rate for Whimbrel in Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve in our monthly data.