West Malaysia -?Whimbrel (1 Viewer)

[Nooblee]

Caught some in flight. Please help, thanks!

 

[ChrisBish]

Whimbrel for photo 1, Curlew (sp? not sure what you you get in Malaysia) for #2.

 

[Nooblee]

I've attached better pics

Here are better shots for comparison
(Top 3 shots same bird)
I guess they are Whimbrels.

I thought the top and bottom birds were of the same species but under different exposures. I might be wrong though...

Thanks for the help!

 

[RafaelMatias]

All Whimbrel IMO.

 

[chris butterworth]

Another for all Whimbrel. The head pattern (obvious dark bands on the sides of the crown making the supercillium look very bold and clear) and bill shape (evenly down curved, not straight on the basal half before starting to curve ) are wrong for either Eurasian or Far-eastern Curlew, the two species that winter on the Malay peninsula.

Chris

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Agree with whimbrel.

 

[viator]

Yes all are Whimbrel

 

[ChrisBish]

Didn't think the head pattern looked right on the first shot of the second bird (photo 2 in post 1) but the new photos do make it a Whimbrel for me too.

 

[Southern Frogmouth]

Didn't think the head pattern looked right on the first shot of the second bird (photo 2 in post 1) but the new photos do make it a Whimbrel for me too.

Hi Chris,

Not all Whimbrel show an obvious eye-stripe behind the eye as this bird proves. For me the bill on the 2nd photo indicated Whimbrel, but is difficult to assess on a lone bird.

Cheers

Roy

 

[Frogfish]

I am not at all good IDing waders, in fact I'm very poor, but my initial impression was that by bill length alone (as a proportion to head size) they were all Whimbrel. How accurate is using that proportion as a guide ? Thank you !

 

[Andy Hurley]

I think bill shape is more important, as Curlew bill length are variable and so can be confusing especially juv males. The best feature in the bill is that for Whimbrel it is evenly curved, while Curlew bends down more towards the end.

 

[ChrisBish]

I've seen some extremely short billed Curlew where the bill shape is very hard to judge (or very Whimbrel-like), especially depending on head position. Some Curlew also show a more distinct head pattern than expected: http://www.sognet.org.uk/Images/Curlew_3_Two_Tree_261202.jpg

 

[Southern Frogmouth]

I've seen some extremely short billed Curlew where the bill shape is very hard to judge (or very Whimbrel-like), especially depending on head position. Some Curlew also show a more distinct head pattern than expected: http://www.sognet.org.uk/Images/Curlew_3_Two_Tree_261202.jpg

Immature males are the worst and probably the birds you are talking about as males have the shorter bills and juvs/1st winters can have well-marked head patterns. Numenius are not easy that's for sure.

Cheers

Roy

 

[Samuel Perfect]

The best feature in the bill is that for Whimbrel it is evenly curved, while Curlew bends down more towards the end.

Visa versa 8-P