Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus

A large wading bird with longish legs and a long bill that curves near the tip. It is brownish above and whitish below Whimbrels look very much like Curlews and have similarly down-curved bills but they are smaller, with shorter bills and obvious stripes through the crown. In flight their smaller size and quicker wing beats are the best ways of separating them, unless they call.

Feeds by probing soft mud for small invertebrates and by picking small crabs and similar prey off the surface.

Mid-April to August. During the breeding season in Scotland, otherwise, passage migrants can be seen on the coast and sometimes inland in suitable habitat, when hearing its distinctive call can be the best clue to its presence.

Breeds across much of subarctic North America, Europe and Asia as far south as Scotland.

In the UK, this species only breeds in north Scotland (500 pairs). It is a passage migrant to other areas in spring and autumn on its way from and to its wintering areas in South Africa. The Shetland and Orkney breeding population has been slowly increasing.

Uncommon passage migrant in Leicestershire and Rutland.