Hudsonian Whimbrel
Numenius hudsonicus
哈德森杓鹬
Introduction
A wader in the family Scolopacidae. This is one of the most widespread curlew species, breeding across much of subarctic North America. Two subspecies are recognized: N. h. rufiventris breeding in Alaska and northwestern Canada, and N. h. hudsonicus breeding in the Hudson Bay area to northeastern Canada. Split from the Eurasian whimbrel in 2019 based on genetic and morphological differences and separate breeding ranges.
Description
A fairly large wader, though mid-sized for a curlew. Body length ranges from 37–47 cm, wingspan 75–90 cm, and weight 270–493 g. Plumage is mainly greyish brown, with a rump pattern uniform with the upperparts. The most distinctive feature is the long curved bill, which has a kink rather than a smooth curve; it is longest in the adult female.
Identification
Over most of its range, the only similar common species are larger curlews. This species is smaller than larger curlews with a shorter, decurved bill. It also differs in having a central crown stripe and strong supercilia (eyebrows).
Distribution & Habitat
A migratory coastal bird that winters on coasts in southern North America and South America. In Colombia's mangroves, whimbrel roost sites are located in close proximity to feeding territories and away from potential sources of mainland predators, though not necessarily away from areas of human disturbance.
Behavior & Ecology
Feeds by probing soft mud for small invertebrates and by picking small crabs and similar prey off the surface. Berries become an important dietary component before migration. Nests are bare scrapes on tundra or Arctic moorland, with a clutch of 3–5 eggs. Adults are very defensive of the nesting area and will even attack humans who approach too closely. The call is a rippling whistle, prolonged into a trill for the song.
Conservation
Near the end of the 19th century, hunting on migration routes took a heavy toll on populations. Numbers have since recovered, though the species remains classified as of High Conservation Concern in North America.
Culture
The English name is imitative of the bird's call. The genus name Numenius derives from Ancient Greek noumenios, a bird mentioned by Hesychius, apparently from neos ('new') and mene ('moon'), referring to the crescent-shaped bill.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Genus
- Numenius
- eBird Code
- whimbr3
Vocalizations
Subspecies (2)
-
Numenius hudsonicus hudsonicus
breeds Hudson Bay area to northeastern Canada; winters to Caribbean and southward to southern Argentina
-
Numenius hudsonicus rufiventris
breeds Alaska and northwestern Canada; winters coastal central California southward to southern Chile
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.