Whimbrel Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements
The Whimbrel, with its tall build and long legs, is a fascinating wading bird, known for its distinct, curved bill. Its dark crown and pale cheeks help make it easily recognisable in the wild.
In this article, we’ll learn about the Whimbrel’s diet, the predators that threaten it, and size measurements that highlight its unique traits. Read on to learn more.
Table of Contents
The Dietary Habits Of The Whimbrel
Let’s take a look at what a Whimbrel eats throughout the year and what keeps their chicks healthy.
What Does A Whimbrel Eat?
Whimbrels have a varied diet that changes with the seasons. In the breeding season, they mostly eat insects, which are easy to find in the tundra where they nest. As summer arrives, berries also become an important part of their meals.
When they migrate and settle for winter, they tend to eat more marine foods, like crabs, worms, and small sea creatures, which they catch with their long, curved bills. Fiddler crabs are particularly important to their winter meals.
What To Feed A Baby Whimbrel?
Insects are the primary food source for Whimbrel chicks, which adult birds easily find in their tundra breeding areas. The insects provide essential protein and nutrients for the rapidly growing chicks during their early development stages.
Breeding Habits Of Whimbrels
Whimbrels prefer nesting in tundra regions, where they often utilise raised areas like hummocks or small ridges near shrubs for visibility and shelter from the wind. Their nests are simple scrapes in the ground, commonly lined with leaves, grasses, or lichens, creating a soft and hidden place for the eggs.
The breeding season begins when males perform impressive flights in the air to attract mates and define their territory. These displays work as a mating call and a way to scare away rivals.
Once paired, both partners share the duties of incubating the eggs, which usually range from 3 to 4, along with caring for the chicks once they hatch. The chicks are precocial, meaning they can move around quickly after hatching, often leaving the nest within hours to start feeding themselves under their parents’ supervision.
Territorial behaviour plays an important role in whimbrel breeding. The birds defend their nesting areas fiercely, even against humans if they get too close. This instinct tends to decrease after the chicks have hatched and become more independent, allowing the parents to ease their guard slightly as they prepare for migration.
Do Whimbrels Mate For Life?
Whimbrels do not mate for life. While they pair up during the breeding season, they often select new mates in later years. Each breeding season, they come together to share tasks such as incubating their eggs and looking after their young, but these partnerships do not last for life. Once the breeding season is over, these ties usually end, and they may form different pairs in the following season.
The Size & Weight Of Whimbrels
Let’s look at the weight and size of a Whimbrel, including their wingspan and length that make them well-suited for migration.
How Much Does A Whimbrel Weigh?
A Whimbrel typically weighs between 270 and 450 grams, ideal for a bird that makes long migrations and forages in various locations, from Arctic tundras to tropical mudflats.
How Big Is A Whimbrel?
Falling into the medium to large category of shorebirds, Whimbrels usually measure around 40 to 46 cm in length and have a wingspan of about 71 to 81 cm. This size makes them stand out in their environments, being slightly smaller than some related species like the curlew, yet larger than many other shorebirds.
Are Whimbrels Under Threat?
The IUCN currently classifies Whimbrels as “Least Concern,” suggesting they are not in immediate danger globally. However, issues like habitat loss, climate change, and hunting in certain regions pose risks to local populations.
In the UK, the Whimbrel appears on the Red List of conservation concern due to its scarcity as a breeding species.
What Eats A Whimbrel?
Whimbrels are at risk from a range of predators, notably eagles, especially in open areas such as tundra and coastal habitats. Nesting sites are particularly vulnerable to foxes, which prey on eggs and young birds.
Where Can I See Whimbrels In The UK?
The Shetland Islands are recognised as significant breeding sites for Whimbrels in the UK, offering an excellent chance to see these birds, particularly during the breeding season from mid-May to August. Orkney and the Western Isles also support smaller populations, making them good locations for spotting these birds.
The Wildlife Watchpoint at Lizard Point in Cornwall is also an excellent spot for birdwatching, where whimbrels are frequently seen alongside other seabirds. This location, as the southernmost tip of mainland Britain, provides opportunities to view a wide range of migratory and coastal birds.
Whimbrels can often be spotted in coastal areas and sometimes inland throughout the UK during migration. Since they are passage migrants in most of the UK, timing your visits during spring and autumn migrations can greatly improve your chances of catching a glimpse of them.
SEE ALSO: Whimbrel Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)
Frequently Asked Questions
The difference between a Curlew and a Whimbrel mainly lies in size and bill shape. Whimbrels are generally smaller than Curlews and have a shorter, more distinctly curved bill.
A Whimbrel typically stands about 40 to 46 cm in height, making it a medium to large shorebird.
Predators of the Whimbrel include eagles and foxes, with eagles threatening adult Whimbrels in open areas and foxes preying on their eggs and young at nesting sites.
Whimbrels are not considered endangered globally as they are classified by the IUCN as “Least Concern.” However, in the UK, they appear on the Red List of conservation concern due to their scarcity as a breeding species.
