The Eurasian Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) is an old-world shorebird species that breeds in small numbers in northeastern Greenland with its breeding range spreading out from Iceland south to northern Scotland across Scandinavia east through northern and central Russia to northeastern Siberia (Hayman et al. 1986, Brazil 2009, Mullarney and Zetterstrom 2009). There is also a small population breeding in the steppes of Kazakhstan (Smith et al. 2025). This species is highly migratory with the entire breeding population moving to warmer southern climates to spend the winter months (O’Brien et al. 2006). The Eurasian Whimbrel winters from southwestern Europe, along coastal Africa, through the Middle East, India, Sri Lanka, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands east to Taiwan and south through the Philippines and Indonesia to Australasia (Hayman et al. 1986, Smith et al. 2025).

 

In 2025, Whimbrel was split into 2 species, the Eurasian Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) found in the Old World and the Hudsonian Whimbrel (Numenius hudsonicus) found in the Americas (Clements 2025). There are 4 recognized subspecies of the Eurasian Whimbrel (Smith et al. 2025).  The nominate subspecies (Numenius phaeopus phaeopus) and breeds throughout the northwestern Palearctic and winters from Africa to India (Clements 2025, Smith et al. 2025). The second subspecies (Numenius phaeopus alboaxillaris) have a more isolated range breeding in the steppes of Kazakhstan and southwestern Siberia with birds wintering on islands and coasts of the western Indian Ocean (Clements 2025, Smith et al. 2025). The third subspecies (Numenius phaeopus rogachevae) breeds in north-central Siberia and winters presumably to the coast of the Indian Ocean (Clements 2025, Smith et al. 2025). The fourth subspecies (Numenius phaeopus variegatus) breeds in northeastern Siberia and winters from eastern India eastward to Taiwan and southward through the Philippines and as far south as Indonesia to Australia (Clements 2025, Smith et al. 2025).

 

In North America, the Eurasian Whimbrel has been found on both coasts. On the East Coast the Eurasian Whimbrel is a rare to casual migrant with records from the Great Lakes region and in coastal regions from Newfoundland south to Florida, including Bermuda, Cuba and islands in the Caribbean, and as far south as Brazil (ebird database 2026). These records mostly pertain to the nominate subspecies (Numenius phaeopus phaeopus) (Smith et al. 2025).

 

The Eurasian Whimbrel is a rare regular spring and fall migrant in the Western Aleutian Islands; casual in the Central Aleutian Islands, Gambell and on the Pribilof Islands (West 2008). These records mostly pertain to the subspecies (Numenius phaeopus variegatus) (Gibson and Kessell 1997). South of Alaska, this species is currently an accidental migrant vagrant with 1 Yukon record, a few records for British Columbia, 2 records for Washington, 1 record for Oregon and 4 records for California (e-bird database 2026).

 

Most standard field guides show the Eurasian Whimbrel, but usually it is shown as the Eurasian subspecies. It was only recently split into a full species in 2025 from the North American Hudsonian Whimbrel (Clements 2025). The Eurasian Whimbrel is a medium-sized curlew measuring 40-46 cm in length, with a wingspan of 76-89 cm and weighing 315-600 grams (Brazil 2009, Mullarney and Zetterstrom 2009). The Eurasian Whimbrel is a species that has a long, decurved bill (Jonsson 1992). The upperparts are gray-dark brown, variably marked with pale buff (Hayman et al. 1986). The underparts are pale buff, with a white belly and vent (Hayman et al. 1986, Sibley 2000). The neck and breast have gray-dark brown streaks, the axillars barred, and the abdomen pale and mostly unmarked (Hayman et al. 1986, Brazil 2009). It has a blackish-brown crown with a pale central stripe and a conspicuous pale supercilium (Sibley 2000). 

 

There is considerable variation in the amount of white on the rump and tail between the subspecies. The greatest amount of white if found on the nominate subspecies (N. phaeopus phaeopus), where the back down on to the rump and upper tail coverts are white (Hayman et al. 1986, Sibley 2000). In the subspecies (N. phaeopus variegatus) the back is white, but the rump and upper tail coverts are a pale whitish-brown (Hayman et al. 1986, Sibley 2000).  Sexes are similar in plumage, and there is no seasonal variation (Smith et al. 2025). The female is slightly larger than the male (O’Brien et al. 2006, Smith et al. 2025). Compared to the adult, the juvenile has slightly finer streaking on the breast and broader buff markings on the wing coverts, back feathers, scapulars, and tertials (Hayman et al. 1986, Smith et al. 2025).

 

The Hudsonian Whimbrel (Numenius hudsonicus) is similar in size and shape to the Eurasian Whimbrel (Sibley 2000, Dunn and Alderfer 2017). It is a much darker brownish-golden color overall with a dark back down to the uppertail coverts to the tail and has dark buffy underwings (O’ Brien et al. 2006, Message and Taylor 2005). Also has a dark medium crown stripe and is darker brown underneath on the neck and breast (O’Brien et al. 2006, Smith et al. 2025).

 

The calls include a distinct trilling seven note whistle “hwi pipipipipipi” or “hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-hu” which is commonly given in flight year-round. On breeding grounds only gives a long bubbling trill in display flight. These vocalizations are like Hudsonian Whimbrel (Dunn and Alderfer 2017).

The Eurasian Whimbrel is currently an accidental migrant vagrant in British Columbia with 4 provincial records (Toochin and Cecile 2025). The first record for British Columbia was found and photographed by Mike Force and Doug Kragh at the Fort St. John Sewage Ponds on June 11, 1983 (Campbell et al. 1990b). The second record was a bird found by Mike Bentley at the Sandspit Airport from August 22-24, 1991 (Siddle 1992a). The third provincial record was found by Rick Toochin in the company of a flock of Hudsonian Whimbrel and a male Bar-tailed Godwit at the Sandspit Airport on May 14, 1993 (Toochin and Cecile 2025). The fourth record for British Columbia was a bird found and photographed in the company of a flock of Hudsonian Whimbrel and a Bar-tailed Godwit by Peter Hamel and Margo Hearne at Sandspit Airport from Juny 7-18, 2010 (Toochin and Cecile 2025). To date the spot to find this species is at Sandspit Airport on Haida Gwaii where good numbers of Hudsonian Whimbrel migrate through in both the spring and fall (P. Hamel Pers. Comm.).  Given Whimbrel are most numerous on the outer coast of British Columbia in migration (Campbell et. al. 1990b), keen observers should be on the look out for this species mixed in with large migrating Hudsonian Whimbrel flocks that use the outer coastal flyway (R. Toochin Pers. Obs.). Now that this has been given full species status it is very likely more records will be found of the Eurasian Whimbrel from all shorebird meccas found in British Columbia. 

1.(1) adult June 11, 1983: Michael Force, mobs (RBCM Photo 1086) Fort St. John Sewage Lagoons (Campbell et al. 1990b)

2.(1) adult August 22-24, 1991: Mike Bentley: Sandspit, Haida Gwaii (Siddle 1992a)

3.(1) adult May 14, 1993: Rick Toochin: Sandspit, Haida Gwaii (Toochin and Cecile 2025)

4.(1) adult July 7-18, 2010: Peter Hamel, Margo Hearne (photo) Sandspit, Haida Gwaii Toochin and Cecile 2025)

Thanks to Don Cecile for editing the original manuscript. A special thanks to Margo Hearne for sharing her picture of a Eurasian Whimbrel from Sandspit on Haida Gwaii. All photographs are used with permission of the photographer and are protected by copyright law. These images are not to reprinted, republished or retransmitted without the written consent of the photographer.

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