WHIMBREL

Source:

IndianExpress

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Context

• First the time, a long-distance migratory bird, the Eurasian or common whimbrel, tagged with a Global Positioning System (GPS) transmitter was captured on camera in the state of Chhattisgarh.

Details

Taxonomy and Classification

• Scientific Name:Numenius phaeopus
• Common Names:Whimbrel, Hudsonian Curlew (in North America)
• Family:Scolopacidae
• Order:Charadriiformes

Physical Description

• Size:Length ranges from 37 to 47 cm (14.6 to 18.5 inches); wingspan is 76 to 89 cm (29.9 to 35 inches).
• Weight:Typically between 270 to 493 grams (9.5 to 17.4 ounces).
• Plumage:Mottled brown and grey with a distinctive crown stripe and a white underbelly.
• Bill:Long, down-curved bill, ideal for probing mudflats for food.
• Legs:Long and greyish-blue, adapted for wading.

Distribution and Habitat

• Breeding Range:Tundra regions in North America, Europe, and Asia.
• Non-breeding Range:Coastal regions in South America, Africa, South Asia, and Australasia.
• Habitat:Prefers coastal wetlands, estuaries, mudflats, and sandy beaches during migration and wintering. Breeding habitats include tundra and moorland.

Migration

• Patterns:Whimbrels are long-distance migrants, with some populations traveling from the Arctic breeding grounds to southern Africa and South America.
• Routes:Known for their trans-oceanic flights, particularly across the Atlantic Ocean.
• Timing:Migration occurs primarily in spring and autumn.

Diet and Foraging

• Primary Diet:Invertebrates such as crustaceans, mollusks, and worms.
• Foraging Behavior:Probes into mud and sand with its long bill; also feeds on insects, small fish, and occasionally berries during the breeding season.

Reproduction

• Breeding Season:Typically from late May to early July.
• Nesting:Ground nests on the open tundra; simple scrapes lined with lichens, moss, and grass.
• Clutch Size:Usually 3 to 5 eggs.
• Incubation Period:Approximately 24 to 28 days.
• Chick Development:Precocial chicks leave the nest soon after hatching and are cared for by both parents.

Behavior and Ecology

• Social Structure:Generally solitary or in small groups during breeding; forms larger flocks during migration and wintering.
• Vocalizations:Loud, bubbling calls; also emits a distinctive “cur-lee” sound, especially during flight.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List:Least Concern, but some populations face threats from habitat loss and climate change.
• Conservation Efforts:Protected under various international agreements, including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the United States and the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA).

Sources:

IndianExpress