The Eurasian whimbrel, also 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 have recently been split, although some taxonomic authorities still consider them to be conspecific.
Region
Subarctic Palearctic (breeding) and Old World coasts (non-breeding)
Typical Environment
Breeds on open tundra, wet moorlands, and boggy heath across Iceland, Fennoscandia, and northern Russia, with the range reaching south to parts of Scotland. Outside the breeding season, it frequents intertidal mudflats, sandy and rocky shores, saltmarshes, coastal lagoons, and mangroves. It roosts communally on saltmarsh or sandbanks near high-tide lines and uses exposed flats for feeding as tides recede. Migratory stopovers include estuaries and coastal headlands where abundant marine invertebrates are available.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A long-distance migrant, the Eurasian whimbrel breeds across the subarctic Palearctic and winters widely along Old World coasts. It shows a distinctive pale central crown stripe and bold supercilium, and typically flashes a white lower back and rump in flight. Its long, downcurved bill is adapted for probing mud and sand for crabs, worms, and other invertebrates. Recently split from the Hudsonian whimbrel of the Americas, which lacks the prominent white rump.
A Hudsonian whimbrel in Newfoundland, Canada. The rump is similar to the rest of the body in patterning, unlike the Eurasian whimbrel, which has a white rump.
Temperament
wary and alert
Flight Pattern
strong flier with direct, swift wingbeats; powerful, sustained migratory flights
Social Behavior
Typically forms loose flocks on migration and in winter, often roosting communally on saltmarsh or sandbanks. On the breeding grounds, pairs defend territories on open tundra or moorland and nest on the ground in shallow scrapes. Both sexes participate in incubation and chick rearing.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Display calls are a rippling, fluting series of accelerating whistles, often delivered in flight. Contact and alarm calls include sharp, repeated ‘pip’ or ‘tittering’ notes that carry over coastal flats. Vocalizations are clear and penetrating, aiding communication over windy shorelines.
