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Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
Family: SCOLOPACIDAE
Order: Charadriiformes
Spanish Common Name: Zarapito trinador, Cherelį, Zarceta, Chorlo real, Perdiz de mar
French Common Name: Courlis corlieu
(c) Shawn Carey |
Courtesy Kenn Kaufman |
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Conservation Status
Global Population: 1,550,000
Continental Population: 57,000
Watchlist Status: 
Audubon State of the Birds Status: Severe population declines
The Whimbrel is one of eight species of curlew—large shorebirds with a broad, global distribution. The curlew's genus name, Numenius, means "of the new moon" and describes the Whimbrel's long, crescent-shaped bill, which fits the curve of fiddler crab burrows. Formerly known as the Hudsonian Curlew and considered a separate species until 1957, Whimbrel populations are declining.
Range & Distribution
One subspecies of Whimbrel breeds in two separate populations across the North American Arctic. In North America, Whimbrels are found along the coastal United States in the fall, as they stage for their long migration to Central and South America. They winter from the mid-coasts of the United States through parts of coastal South America, coastal Surinam, north central Brazil, and some Caribbean islands.
A legend for the range map to the right can be found here.
Population Status & Trends
Breeding Bird Surveys have been inconclusive, but local surveys along the Hudson Bay have recorded a drop from 42,500 to 17,000 Whimbrels between 1971 and 2005. Christmas Bird Counts reveal a steady, long-term decline beginning in the late 20th century.
Conservation Issues & Efforts
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regards the Whimbrel as a species of high concern, due to the bird's declining population trends, small population size, and restricted breeding distribution. In the United States, the greatest threat to Whimbrels is the loss of suitable habitat. The degradation and destruction of coastal wetlands continues due to relentless commercial development. On average, coastal states have lost between 30% and 90% of their original wetlands.
In winter, Whimbrels concentrate at key sites in South America, where they face threats from hunters, land developers, and pollution. Juvenile birds remain at these sites for up to two years. One study found that Whimbrels and their prey species on a northern Chilean beach suffered from high cadmium levels, presumably released by a local mining operation. Because the Whimbrel's wide range and migratory pathways span so many countries, groups like the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network try to coordinate efforts to collect population data, protect habitat, and limit pollution.
What You Can Do
Along either coast of the United States, look for this beautiful shorebird during its fall migration. Your local Audubon Society or bird club may have information on prime locations, and may lead trips to "hot spots" like New South Beach in Chatham, Massachusetts—part of the National Seashore system.
Pets, children, and hikers can disturb shorebirds by approaching too closely. Along beaches, wet grassy fields, or marshes, respect the Whimbrels' natural caution, and give them room to forage and rest.
Join a local conservation group to slow development in critical wetlands and to limit access during migration.
If you own suitable habitat, conservation easements, especially with water level management, can be an effective tool for managing land to benefit Whimbrels.
For more actions you can take, including Audubon activities, please visit our resources page.
For More Information
The federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) benefits wetland species by paying landowners not to use critical habitats. For a brief history of the CRP and its benefits, visit the Farm Service Agency's website.
Visit our resources page for more information about this species.
References
Donaldson, G. M.; Hyslop, C.; Morrison, R.I.G.; Dickson, H.L.; and Davidson, I. The Canadian Shorebird Conservation Plan. The Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3: 2000.
Kaufman, Kenn. Lives of North American Birds. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, 1996.
Sibley, David Allen. 2000. The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
Skeel, M. A., and E. P. Mallory. 1996. Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus). In The Birds of North America, No. 219 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and the American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.
U. S. Shorebird Conservation Plan. 2004. High Priority Shorebirds – 2004. Unpublished Report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MBSP 4107, Arlington, VA 22203. 5 pages.
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