AnimaliaHighest rank in taxonomy. Groups all life into domains: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, etc.IUCN LCInternational Union for Conservation of Nature — the world authority on species extinction risk, using standardized criteria. — Least Concern — widespread and abundant; not at immediate risk of extinction.In ProgressCurrent stage of this record in the editorial review workflow. Recent Sighting
Numenius phaeopus
Whimbrel
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Detailed Texts Multi-lang
A large, heavily built shorebird distinguished by its long, slender bill that curves distinctly downward, especially near the tip. The plumage is cryptically patterned with mottled greyish-brown and buff upperparts, a pale belly, and a heavily streaked breast. Its most reliable field mark is the bold head pattern, featuring dark brown crown stripes divided by a pale narrow median stripe, alongside a prominent pale supercilium over a dark eye-line. In flight, Eurasian subspecies show a clean white rump, whereas American subspecies exhibit a uniform dark brown back.
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Julia Trouin
TaxonomyBiological classification ranks placing this species within the tree of life, from Kingdom down to Genus.
PhylumRank below Kingdom. Groups organisms sharing a fundamental body plan (e.g., Chordata = vertebrates and some invertebrates).Chordata
ClassRank below Phylum. Subdivides by structural traits (e.g., Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Insecta).Aves
OrderRank below Class. Groups related families sharing common ancestry (e.g., Carnivora, Primates).Charadriiformes
FamilyRank below Order. Groups closely related genera (e.g., Felidae = cats, Canidae = dogs).Scolopacidae
GenusRank just above Species. The first word in the two-part binomial scientific name.Numenius
Taxonomic AuthorityThe scientist who first formally described and published this species, followed by the year of publication.(Linnaeus, 1758)
Record Completeness
96%Coming soon
Ecology & StatusHow this species lives: habitat preferences, diet, behavior, population status, and role in its ecosystem.
OriginWhether the species is native (evolved here), endemic (found only here), or introduced by human activity.
Native
Population TrendDirection of change in population size over time: increasing, stable, decreasing, or unknown.
Decreasing
Breeding SeasonTime of year when this species typically reproduces or flowers.
Year Round
Trophic RolePosition in the food chain: producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, decomposer, or parasite.
Carnivore
Recent SightingsWhether this species has been observed in the wild in Costa Rica within recent years.
Yes
Habitat SummaryOverview of the specific ecosystems and environments where this species is found in Costa Rica. Multi-lang
Breeds in open, damp subarctic tundra, taiga bogs, hummocky heathlands, and shrubby arctic meadows. During its extensive migrations and wintering periods, it becomes strictly coastal, localizing in expansive muddy estuaries, mangrove swamps, intertidal sandflats, saltmarshes, and rocky reefs where decapod crabs are abundant.BehaviourDaily activity patterns, movement, territory use, foraging style, and seasonal behavioral changes. Multi-lang
A highly migratory, diurnal shorebird that forms immense, cohesive flocks during migration but maintains strict feeding spacing. They feed by walking steadily along shorelines, using a mix of rapid visual pecking and deep, tactical bill probing. Their alarm call is a highly distinctive, rapid, rippling trill of 5 to 7 whistling notes that can be heard over great distances across coastal mudflats.Social ActivitySocial structure: whether the species is solitary, paired, or colonial; hierarchy and communication. Multi-lang
Exhibits dynamic sociability. Highly territorial and aggressively defensive over expansive nesting ranges, chasing away skuas and gulls. During migration and wintering, they gather into extensive, highly cooperative social roosts that can total thousands of birds, gathering together at high tide on isolated islands or mangrove keys for collective safety.Feeding GuildWhat the species eats, how it forages or hunts, and its role as a consumer in the food web. Multi-lang
Carnivore (intertidal crustacean specialist and opportunistic berry-feeder utilizing deep tactile and visual probe-feeding).Trophic Chain DetailsSpecific interactions in local food webs: prey species, predators, competitors, and scavengers. Multi-lang
Functions as a high-level secondary consumer within coastal intertidal networks. Its predatory regime heavily emphasizes decapod crustaceans, especially fiddler crabs, shore crabs, and ghost shrimp, alongside marine worms and beetles; on subarctic nesting grounds, they switch to eating crowberries and blueberries. Adults are preyed upon by peregrine falcons and eagles.Reproductive BehaviourMating strategies, courtship displays, nesting or spawning behavior, and parental care. Multi-lang
Monogamous with strong multi-year pair bonds and intense site fidelity. The male aggressively defends a large territory with steep, whistling aerial display flights. The nest is a shallow scrape in open tundra moss or hummocks, subtly lined with dry grasses and lichens. The female lays 4 olive to buff eggs heavily splotched with brown. Both sexes share incubation duties for 22 to 26 days. The precocial chicks are highly independent, leaving the nest within hours of hatching to seek out insects while protected by both parents. The female often departs first, leaving the male to guide the brood until they fledge.Physical Measures
Length (cm)
40.0 - 46.0 cm
Weight (Grams)
270 g - 510 g
Offspring per cycleTypical number of young (live births, eggs, or seeds) produced by one adult in a single reproductive event or breeding season.3 - 4
Sexual DimorphismObservable physical differences between males and females of the same species (e.g., size, coloration, features).Yes
Lifespan
Sexual MaturityAge at which the individual becomes capable of reproducing for the first time.
2 - 3 Years
Gestation / IncubationDuration from fertilization to birth (mammals) or to hatching (egg-laying species).
22 - 26
Lifespan EstimatedExpected duration of life from birth to natural death under wild conditions.
Males11 - 24 Years
Females11 - 24 Years
Sexual DimorphismPhysical differences in size, coloration, or morphology between males and females of this species.
Males Multi-lang
No plumage differences. Exhibits structural reverse sexual dimorphism; adult males have notably shorter bill lengths (averaging 10-15% shorter) and possess significantly lower average body masses than adult females.
Females Multi-lang
Identical cryptic plumage patterns, but features a dramatically elongated, down-curved bill and exhibits a much heavier, stouter body mass profile across all seasons compared to the male.
Evolutionary AdaptationsInherited traits and behaviors that improve the species' survival and reproduction in its specific environment. Multi-lang
The downward curvature of its long bill matches the natural architecture of underground burrows made by intertidal crabs, allowing the bird to easily reach around corners and extract prey with minimal excavation.
Possesses specialized salt glands situated above the eye orbits that actively excrete excess sodium concentrated from its marine diet and water intake, allowing prolonged survival in hyper-saline coastal zones.
Main ThreatsDocumented pressures reducing the population: habitat loss, hunting, disease, climate change, and invasive species. Multi-lang
Severely impacted by habitat loss due to the drainage and conversion of coastal wetlands, climate-induced changes drying up northern nesting mires, and intense hunting pressures in specific flyway stopover jurisdictions.
Interesting FactsSurprising or notable facts that highlight what makes this species unique or ecologically important. Multi-lang
During autumn migration, individual Whimbrels are capable of performing staggering direct transoceanic flights, travelling non-stop from eastern Canada to South America, a distance of over 4,000 kilometers, in less than six days.
On their wintering grounds, they display a brilliant anti-predator foraging strategy where they aggressively defend individual feeding territories that perfectly align with areas of high crab density, visually assessing crab sizes to maximize caloric intake.