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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Scolopacidae
  4. ›
  5. Numenius
  6. ›
  7. Eurasian Whimbrel
Eurasian Whimbrel
Photo · Hobbyfotowiki

BirdUp · Species

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus(Linnaeus, 1758)

Updated 21 March 2026

Origin: Native
Order
CHARADRIIFORMES
Family
Scolopacidae
Genus
Numenius

At a glance

The Eurasian Whimbrel is a large bird, about 40–45 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
40–45 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does an Eurasian Whimbrel look like?

The Eurasian Whimbrel is a large bird, about 40–45 cm long and weighing 268–600 g.

The Eurasian whimbrel, also known as the white-rumped whimbrel in North America, is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is one of the most widespread of the curlews, breeding across much of subarctic Palearctic region and Europe as far south as Scotland. This species and the Hudsonian whimbrel have recently been split, although some taxonomic authorities still consider them to be conspecific.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
40–45 cm
Weight
268–600 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see an Eurasian Whimbrel?

The Eurasian Whimbrel is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does an Eurasian Whimbrel eat?

The Eurasian Whimbrel feeds on intertidal invertebrates, usually foraging in flocks or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

4 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Eurasian Whimbrel live in Australia?

The Eurasian Whimbrel is native to Australia, recorded across 48 of Australia’s bioregions, with a core range spanning patchily in subarctic tundra of Palearctic.

BreedingPatchily in subarctic tundra of Palearctic: north-east Greenland and north Scotland through subarctic Russia to Chukotskiy Pen. (north-east Russia)

Non-breedingWidespread on temperate to tropical Palearctic coasts: south British Isles, Madeira to Cape Verde (Macaronesia, north-west of north Africa), west Mediterranean, Africa, Indian Ocean and associated gulfs, bays and islands, Australasia to North and north South is. (New Zealand) and Melanesia, north to Ryukyu Is. (=Nansei Shoto, south Japan) and east to Micronesia; rare farther east in Polynesia

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Breeding
  • Vagrant

8 regions recorded