The Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) is a medium-sized wader with a downcurved bill and a distinctive striped head pattern, somewhat smaller and slighter than its close relative the Eurasian Curlew. It measures 40–46 cm with a wingspan of 76–89 cm, and its brown-grey plumage is densely streaked. The bill is downcurved but shorter than the Curlew's, and the surest mark is the head: two dark crown stripes separated by a pale central band, plus a clear eyebrow stripe, in contrast to the Curlew's more evenly streaked, plain head. In flight a pale wedge shows up the back.
The call is highly characteristic — a fast, rolling, even whistle delivered in a series of about seven similar notes, "pipipipipipi," quite unlike the Curlew's melodic "kuur-li." The Whimbrel breeds on open mires and mountain heaths in northern Sweden as well as coastal meadows, with both parents incubating a usual clutch of 4 eggs laid in a shallow scrape, and vigorously defending the nest and young against predators, corvids and raptors with loud alarm calls and aerial attacks. It feeds on insects and their larvae, crustaceans, snails, small fish and worms taken from wet ground and shorelines, supplementing this in late summer and during migration with berries such as crowberry and bilberry, an important energy source before the long flight to its African wintering grounds. The Swedish population is estimated at 8,000–12,000 pairs, arriving in April–May and departing in July–September; on migration it can also be seen at coasts and lowland lakes further south.
Read about this species in Swedish →