The Whimbrel is a large curlew with a strongly striped head and a boldly curved bill, making it one of the most recognizable shorebirds in flight. It makes extraordinary long-distance migrations, sometimes flying nonstop from Alaska to South America. During migration it relies heavily on ripe berries on the tundra to fuel its flights.
Best time to see a Whimbrel
The best time to see a Whimbrel is December–May, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 20,096 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Whimbrel? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Whimbrel sightings near you
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