Whimbrel or Curlew ? (1 Viewer)

[RockyRacoon]

I was told, by another birder, that the easiest way to tell Whimbrels from Curlews in flight is by the speed of their wingbeats? Is this true? Because if it is I might have one last year on holiday...

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

There's some difference but I wouldn't say it's the easiest way to tell them apart because it's a hard thing to judge in isolation and under different conditions. Bill shape is useful as is the tone of the wing (much darker and less contrasting on Whimbrel, but again not always easy to assess). Of course the most helpful feature is the call and fortunately Whimbrel call very regularly in flight.

 

[Edward woodwood]

call is the best Jake!

Tim

 

[Jane Turner]

The wing beats are a great deal faster, but as Tim says, the call is the best clue. Though I did once have a flock of 45 Whimbrel overhead giving their less often heard Curl -eee call. That threw me.

 

[Conorbirda2]

Call definately. Also rump is usually whiter/cleaner and goes into a V on the back.

 

[Dimitris]

Call definately. Also rump is usually whiter/cleaner and goes into a V on the back.

Unless u live in America or u are very lucky in Europe...(I'm talking about the American variant that has brown instead of white on its rump...)

 

[scampo]

Having viewed a mixed flock in Northumberland over several days with my two sons, the three of us concluded that it can be v-e-r-y difficult to spot the difference between the two species at times until they finally fly and call (whatever the books say!).

 

[roger hill]

Hi Scampo
I agree that some curlew with strong head patterns get you thinking that it might be a whimbrel.
But i dont think that you would see a whimbrel and think that it was a curlew.

Regards Roger.

 

[Ghostly Vision]

The wing beats are a great deal faster, but as Tim says, the call is the best clue. Though I did once have a flock of 45 Whimbrel overhead giving their less often heard Curl -eee call. That threw me.

Hi Jane

those would have been Curlew, which give exactly that call

Sean

 

[Jane Turner]

Hi Jane

those would have been Curlew, which give exactly that call

Sean

*slap*

I'm serious....

From BWP

Although 2-syllable Whining-call may produce 'cur-lee' sound on breeding grounds (see above), evidence suggests a call much closer to typical note of N. arquata may occur outside breeding season only.

It may be significant, but the only time I've heard passagIe Whimbrel give the "cur lee" call has been early in the spring and when there has been a largish migrating flock.

 

[Ghostly Vision]

Very painful Jane, and very interesting too.

I think the best non-call way to sort Whimbrel out at distance, in flight or otherwise, is bill shape/length.

Sean

 

[Jane Turner]

I find something very distinctive at very large range in feeding action, which I'm pretty sure is caused by bill length. Not much use in flight though.

That said I'm struggling to recall a time, bar those two examples, where I haven't heard the call and looked for the bird....

 

[scampo]

Hi Scampo
I agree that some curlew with strong head patterns get you thinking that it might be a whimbrel.
But i dont think that you would see a whimbrel and think that it was a curlew.

Regards Roger.

Well, you would think so, wouldn't you? I suspect many were of varying ages, but the size was no indicator. We are not experienced whimbrel watchers but did spend a long time looking at the birds. It was a memorable few afternoons spent in a truly beautiful coastal spot in Northumberland.

 

[roger hill]

Hi scampo
When you catch up with an obvious whimbrel take the the time to study it. Look at its feeding action,the way it holds itself.
They are generally darker birds.
proprtionally shorter necked with a smaller head compared to curlew.
the bill is shorter,darker.looks black with some birds showing a lighter basal third to the lower mandible.(beware juvenile curlew).
another consideration should be time of year. because whimbrel are a passage migrant and dont tend to turn up until late april/may and then again july/august. Although birds do tend to hang around later than august. Ive seen whimbrel on the scillys in october.
Whimbrel (to quote collins)winter on african coasts,rarely in europe.

 

[scampo]

There is no question that the flock was mixed whimbrel and curlew; and it was in late July. It was the distinctness of their calls that first gave them away on their flight from the coastal rock pools to the nearby cliff-top meadow. It was the pinnacle of our late afternoon's birding and was a sight and sound we won't forget. We'll be there again this coming July.

We needed someone such as yourself there with us, in truth - but, to even quite "experienced" birders as my son and me, as I suppose, we are, we were very surprised at how similar the species seemed to be when viewed feeding in a mixed flock.

 

[Nutcracker]

in Northumberland.

Of course, in Northumberland, you also have to be aware of the occasional Slender-billed Curlew in the flock . . . .

o

 

[scampo]

Of course, in Northumberland, you also have to be aware of the occasional Slender-billed Curlew in the flock . . . .

o

Now you're whetting my appetite. I just hope this year's weather matches the excellence of last year's. What a county!

 

[Ghostly Vision]

Of course, in Northumberland, you also have to be aware of the occasional Slender-billed Curlew in the flock . . . .

o

(Groan) Only a matter of time Peter...........

 

[Jane Turner]

I always think Whimbrels have a kind of 'flat capped look!

They are often accompanied by a whippet and a packet of woodbines too!

 

[scampo]

Amusingly enough, no-one has yet described the Whimbrel's call in this thread! In Norfolk, Whimbrels are called 'Seven Whistlers' which is a BRILLIANT aide memoire! They always seem to do their 'ti ti ti ti ti ti ti' as they fly off! But yes, Jane: I've heard 'em 'cor-leeeee' as well! At the risk of sounding a pr*t, I always think Whimbrels have a kind of 'flat headed' or capped look!
Here's a WAV of one!
http://www.10x50.com/Sound_files/whimbrel_w.wav

I think so, David: "It was the distinctness of their calls that first gave them away on their flight from the coastal rock pools... "


Steve