Whimbrel

Common and widespread coastal migrant and non-breeding visitor, often singly or in small flocks, with aggregations at some sites reaching several hundreds.

Large, dark brown, heavily streaked shorebird with strongly downcurved bill and grey or greyish-blue legs. In flight, underwing, including coverts, barred. Head distinctively patterned when seen well, with pale central crown stripe flanked by broad dark brown lateral crown stripes, paler supercilium, darker lores and eyestripe. Ad B: (Mar – Sep) dark brown upperpart feathers have buff triangular notches; throat to breast strongly streaked and flanks laterally barred dark brown; belly and vent whitish. In worn plumage (early autumn) can look very dark above. Ad Nb: (Oct – Feb) Duller and browner overall. Juv: (Aug-Oct) Similar to Ad but more distinctly streaked below and upperpart feathers more distinctly notched whitish. Overall, more distinctly and neatly patterned.

Told from Eurasian Curlew and Far Eastern Curlew by much smaller size, darker overall colouration and shorter bill. In flight, when size can be difficult to judge, barred underwing coverts separate it from Eurasian Curlew, and white back and rump distinguish it from Far Eastern Curlew and (rare) Little Whimbrel. Sleeping birds can be difficult to distinguish from Bar-tailed Godwit, but are darker brown, with a more contrasting head pattern.

Feeds by sight and by probing with bill, frequently preying on crabs and other marine invertebrates. Once caught, a crab’s legs are removed by vigorous shaking before the body is swallowed. May hold temporary feeding territory, which is defended aggressively from other Whimbrel. When flying to roost or on migration, flocks often fly in lines or a ‘v’ formation, when the distinctive call is often heard. When roosting, can utilize trees and other structures (even telegraph wires).

Occurs anywhere along the coastline, but most commonly where mudflats predominate, such as the west coast of the Peninsula and western Sarawak.

Most frequently seen between August and May. Some immature birds oversummer.