Whimbrel (species: Numenius phaeopus) in Lizard Island area: all known taxa (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Numenius phaeopus
Whimbrel


©Mike Baird: Whimbrel

©Ceri Pearce: Whimbrel at swamp behind Watson's Bay, Lizard Island

©Charlie Shuetrim: Two Whimbrels on the shore at Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Scolopacidae
Genus Numenius
Species Numenius phaeopus

Colours

                   

Distinguishing features

The Whimbrel has a long, downcurved black bill that is pink at its lower base. The bird is brown above and paler brown below. There is a darker stripe from the base of the bill through the eye. At Lizard Island, Whimbrels have a white patch on the lower back that is clearly visible in flight, although Simpson et al (2004) state that this character is variable across its wider distribution.

Size

  • Up to 43 cm (Length of specimen)

Wingspan

  • Wingspan data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Similar taxa

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Web resources

References

  • Domm, S. (1977). Sea birds and waders of the Lizard Island area, The Sunbird, 8: 1-8. LIRS catalog number 4.
  • Smith, G.C. (1987). The birds of Eagle Island, a tropical sand cay on the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia, The Sunbird, 17(1): 1-11. LIRS catalog number 245.