Hudsonian Whimbrel Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesHudsonian Whimbrel
Adult
Large shorebird with a long body, long neck, and small head. Most distinctive features are the long curved bill and striped head.
© Sharif Uddin / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, August 23, 2020Adult
Large-bodied shorebird with a long, curved bill. In flight note brownish color overall.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 30, 2010A large, brownish shorebird with a striped head and long, downcurved bill.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, December 25, 2011Adult
Heavy-bodied shorebird with a striped crown and pale eyebrow.
© Tim Lenz / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 19, 2012Adult (with Long-billed Curlew)
Smaller than a Long-billed Curlew with a shorter bill. Note striped crown and pale eyebrow.
© DigiBirdTrek CA / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, July 09, 2017Probes into soft surfaces for invertebrates and small crabs, which it swallows whole.
© Andy Johnson / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 25, 2013Adult
In migration, frequents various coastal and inland habitats, including fields and beaches. Winters in tidal flats and shorelines, occasionally visiting inland habitats.
© Carlos Eduardo Soares / Macaulay LibraryRio Grande do Sul, February 04, 2018Adult
Widespread shorebird. Breeds in northern North America and migrates to South America.
© Bryan Calk / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 26, 2019Sometimes occurs in large flocks during migration.
© Don DesJardin / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, April 08, 2019Similar SpeciesLong-billed Curlew
Long-billed Curlew is larger than Hudsonian Whimbrel, with a longer bill and a plain, unstriped crown.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryGeorgia, September 28, 2016Similar SpeciesLong-billed Curlew
In flight, Long-billed Curlew has rusty patches in the wings while Hudsonian Whimbrel has entirely brownish wings.
© Chris McCreedy - no playbacks / Macaulay LibraryArizona, January 11, 2017Similar SpeciesEurasian Whimbrel
Eurasian Whimbrel and Hudsonian Whimbrel were formerly treated as a single species (Whimbrel). Their ranges do not overlap, but stray individuals of both species appear outside of their normal ranges. The best way to distinguish the two species is by rump pattern: Eurasian Whimbrel has a white or white-barred-with-brown rump while Hudsonian Whimbrel has a rump that is uniformly colored and barred like the rest of its upperparts.
© Mehmet Salih Bilal / Macaulay Libraryİzmir, September 10, 2023Search species and articles
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