The Whimbrel is a large, long-legged shorebird instantly known by its long, smoothly downcurved bill and boldly striped crown. Grayish-brown and cryptically patterned, it is one of the bigger shorebirds to pass through Michigan, and it uses that curved bill to probe deep into mud and sand and to pluck crabs and other prey. Its call is a distinctive, rippling series of short whistles, often given in flight, that carries across the shoreline as flocks move along the Great Lakes.
Whimbrels breed on the Arctic and subarctic tundra and are extraordinary long-distance migrants, some flying vast nonstop distances over open ocean between staging areas. In Michigan they occur as passage migrants, chiefly along Great Lakes shorelines, where flocks stop briefly on beaches, mudflats, and grassy openings during a fairly narrow migration window, especially in late spring. Their large size, curved bill, and whistling calls make a passing flock of Whimbrels a memorable event for shorebird watchers along the lakes.
Probes mud and sand with its long, downcurved bill for marine and aquatic invertebrates, and is especially fond of crabs and other crustaceans, which it deftly extracts and dismembers. On migration and the breeding grounds it also takes insects and, in late summer, berries.
Look for a large grayish-brown shorebird with a long, smoothly downcurved bill and a boldly striped crown. Its size, curved bill, and rippling whistled call distinguish it from other Great Lakes shorebirds.
As a passage migrant in a fairly narrow window, chiefly in late spring and again in fall, along Great Lakes shorelines. It nests on the Arctic and subarctic tundra and does not breed in the state.
It probes for invertebrates and is especially fond of crabs and other crustaceans, along with insects and, later in the season, berries. Its long curved bill is well suited to extracting prey from burrows in mud and sand.
Juveniles are like adults but with slightly shorter bills and neater buff-edged back feathers. Bill length keeps growing after fledging, so short-billed birds in fall are usually young.
Other birds you might be looking at instead.
Pick the park — it takes less than ten seconds.
Start typing the bird's name, then pick it from the list.
Suggest a birding spot to add to the map. I'll review it before it appears.
Thanks! Your suggestion has been sent for review.
Found something wrong or out of date? Tell me what to fix — it goes straight to my inbox. (No email needed.)
Thank you — your note is on its way. I appreciate the help keeping this accurate.