Numenius hudsonicus
The Hudsonian Whimbrel (Numenius hudsonicus) is a charismatic, medium-sized shorebird, instantly recognizable by its distinctive downcurved bill and striped head pattern, earning it the moniker 'head-striped curlew.' Averaging 40-46 cm (16-18 in) in length with a wingspan of 75-80 cm (30-31 in) and weighing 270-493 g, its plumage is mottled brown above with paler, streaked underparts, often with a buffy wash on the flanks. A crucial field mark differentiating it from the similar Eurasian Whim...
Breeds in open arctic and subarctic tundra; migrates and winters along coastal mudflats, estuaries, and sandy beaches, typically in treeless environments at low elevations.
Feeds primarily on crustaceans (crabs, shrimp), marine worms, and various insects (beetles, larvae) found in intertidal zones; also consumes berries (e.g., crowberries) and insect larvae on breeding grounds.
Hudsonian Whimbrels are primarily diurnal, active foragers, often seen methodically probing soft substrates or pecking at the surface for prey. Outside the breeding season, they are highly gregarious, forming dense, cohesive flocks that roost on open beaches or offshore sandbars at high tide. Dur...
The Hudsonian Whimbrel has a vast breeding range across the arctic and subarctic tundras of North America, encompassing Alaska, the Canadian Arctic archipelago, and the Hudson Bay lowlands, extending eastward to Newfoundland. A small breeding population also occurs in extreme northeastern Siberia...
Least Concern
- The Hudsonian Whimbrel was historically considered a subspecies of the Eurasian Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) before being elevated to full species status in 2021. - It undertakes one of the longest migratory journeys of any shorebird in the Americas, with some individuals traveling up to 30,000...