Whimbrel

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Whimbrel
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)

Whimbrel ( Numenius phaeopus )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Plover-like (Charadriiformes)
Family : Snipe birds (Scolopacidae)
Genre : Curlews ( numenius )
Type : Whimbrel
Scientific name
Numenius phaeopus
( Linnaeus , 1758)
Whimbrel on Yas
Whimbrel in Iceland
Whimbrel of the subspecies N. p. hudsonicus on Acapulco Beach

The curlew ( Numenius phaeopus ) is much smaller than the curlew with a wingspan of around 80 cm , the beak is also shorter and the top of the head is striped light and dark. The call of this species of bird resembles a bright trill.

In Central Europe the whimbrel is a regular migrant in autumn and spring. It can be seen most frequently on the coasts, but also regularly inland. Individual whimbrels occasionally over-summer on the coasts of northwest Central Europe.

Appearance

The whimbrel reaches a body length of 40 to 46 centimeters. Males weigh between 268 and 550 grams. Females reach a weight between 315 and 600 grams. Compared to the very similar Curlew, the Whimbrel has relatively shorter legs and a shorter and more evenly curved beak. The parting is strikingly dark brown and is divided in two by a light, cream-colored central line. The back, chest and flanks are densely spotted. The rump is white, which distinguishes it from the dwarf and Eskimo curlew , both of which have brown rump.

Newly hatched young birds are light yellowish-brown on the upper side and whitish-beige on the underside of the body. On the chest, the color turns into a more intense beige. On the top of the head there are two parallel black stripes that run into each other on the forehead and in the neck. The rein stripe is short, narrow and dark and only indistinct in some individuals. The eye stripe is wider and more pronounced. There are four parallel dark stripes on the coat and front back. In the lower back there is similar to the young birds of the curlew a dark annular spot that includes a brighter spot. The legs and toes are bluish gray and the claws are dark gray.

distribution and habitat

Distribution areas of the whimbrel: red-brown = breeding areas, yellow = wintering areas, blue = non-breeding areas

The breeding area of ​​the whimbrel extends over the tundras and the boreal taiga zone in northern Eurasia. There are larger distribution gaps in Central and Eastern Siberia. The species is also found in western and northern Alaska and northwestern Canada. Whimbrels are predominantly long-distance migrants. Their main wintering areas are found on the coasts of Africa, the Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia and Australia. Only single individuals overwinter on the coasts of Western Europe and the North Sea coast. In contrast, the winter population on the Atlantic coast of Africa is 50,000 individuals.

Whimbrels live in northern moors, moored lake shores, salt meadows and when they regrow after forest fires, but always close to the water. During the passage they can be observed on sandy, muddy, but above all on rocky coasts. In the tropical winter quarters they stay on coral reefs, in mangrove swamps and on open coasts.

food

The Whimbrel locates its food visually to a very large extent, so that the prey mainly consists of surface-dwelling organisms. On the coasts, crabs, prawns, sandhoppers and sea snails like sea snails and whelks are its main food. In the inland it mainly eats insects and their larvae as well as snails and earthworms. Vegetarian food plays a role, especially during the breeding season. The berries of the black crowberry have a special meaning .

Reproduction

Whimbrel egg

Whimbrels are true to their territory, which means that after arriving in the breeding area they are often re-mated with the partner bird from the previous year. The curlews' courtship flight is similar to that of the curlew. The males rise about 150 to 300 meters at an angle of 45 ° and then begin to draw wide circles. Fluttering climbs alternate with flat gliding phases, in which the wings are bent stiffly downwards, the head is raised and the neck is drawn in. After landing they let out a whimpering call several times. Courtship behavior on the ground also includes presenting the white rump by spreading the tail.

The nest is pushed into the ground vegetation by the birds. It is a shallow hollow that is sparsely covered with parts of the plant in the immediate vicinity. The breeding season begins in May. The clutch usually consists of four eggs, less often three or five. The eggs are oval to top-shaped and have a smooth, slightly shiny surface. They resemble the curlew eggs , but are smaller and usually darker. They are light green or light olive in color with darker blobs, spots, and speckles. Individual eggs can also have a rough scribble drawing. The first young birds hatch from the 3-4 eggs from the end of May. They leave the nest as soon as the down has dried and are led by both parent birds for a period of five to six weeks. The young fledged in July.

Duration

The European breeding bird population is estimated at 160,000 to 360,000 breeding pairs. About 100,000 to 250,000 breeding pairs are found in Iceland. European countries with more than 8,000 breeding pairs are Finland, Norway, the European part of Russia and Sweden.

The Whimbrel is considered to be one of the species that will be particularly affected by climate change. A research team that, on behalf of the British environmental authority and the RSPB, examined the future development of the distribution of European breeding birds on the basis of climate models, assumes that the range of the whimbrel will decrease significantly by the end of the 21st century and shift to the north. Most of the current range no longer offers this species suitable habitats, new potential ranges on Svalbard , Novaya Zemlya and the adjacent regions in northeastern Russia cannot compensate for the loss of area according to these forecasts.

supporting documents

literature

  • Hans-Günther Bauer, Einhard Bezzel and Wolfgang Fiedler (eds.): The compendium of birds in Central Europe: Everything about biology, endangerment and protection. Volume 1: Nonpasseriformes - non-sparrow birds. Aula-Verlag Wiebelsheim, Wiesbaden 2005, ISBN 3-89104-647-2 .
  • Peter Colston , Philip Burton: Limicolen - All European wader species, identifiers, flight images, biology, distribution. BlV Verlagsgesellschaft, Munich 1989, ISBN 3-405-13647-4
  • Erik Kumari: The Whimbrel. Numenius phaeopus . Die neue Brehm-Bücherei, Volume 501. (2nd, unchanged edition; reprint of the 1st edition from 1977). Westarp-Wissenschafts-Verlags-Gesellschaft, Hohenwarsleben 2004, 64 pages, ISBN 3-89432-838-X
  • Collin Harrison and Peter Castell: Fledglings, Eggs and Nests of Birds in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Aula Verlag, Wiebelsheim 2004, ISBN 3-89104-685-5

Web links

Commons : Whimbrel  album with pictures, videos and audio files

Single receipts

  1. ^ Bauer et al., S: 461
  2. ^ Bauer et al., P. 461
  3. Colston et al., P: 182
  4. ^ Harrison et al., P. 144
  5. Bauer et al., P. 461 and p. 462
  6. Bauer et al., P. 462
  7. Colston et al., P. 182
  8. Colston et al., P. 183
  9. Bauer et al., P. 462
  10. Colston et al., P. 183
  11. ^ Harrison et al., P. 144
  12. Bauer et al., P. 462
  13. ^ Brian Huntley, Rhys E. Green, Yvonne C. Collingham, Stephen G. Willis: A Climatic Atlas of European Breeding Birds , Durham University, The RSPB and Lynx Editions, Barcelona 2007, ISBN 978-84-96553-14-9 , S. yy