The Whimbrel
Fuerteventura Fauna: A closer look at The Whimbrels in Fuerteventura.
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The Whimbrel or Numenius phaeopus
An Article by DaveG with the Voice Fuerteventura
As you go along the shoreline on Fuerteventura you may see this striking bird working its way along the rocks or on the softer sand..
CRABS & CRUSTACEANS
It will be using its long beak to probe the sand and under seaweed, searching for crabs and other small creatures to feed on. It is also known to eat berries and insects.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
The Whimbril is a Curlew but not the one we would be used to seeing and hearing with its familiar call, which is the Eurasian Curlew. The Whimbril has a shorter, lesser curved beak and is generally a smaller bird than the Eurasian Curlew. It can be identified by stripes on its head. It is 37–47 cm (15–19 in) in length, 75–90 cm (30–35 in) in wingspan, and 270–493 g (9.5–17.4 oz) in weight.
BREEDING
The Whimbrel on Fuerteventura is native, non-breeding. Many travel miles to the arctic and breed on the tundra. Their nests are bare scrapes on tundra or arctic moorland. They have 3 to 5 eggs and are highly defensive of their nest site. Non-breeders may remain in the wintering grounds all year.
WHERE TO FIND THEM
I took these photos on the foreshore near Fuerteventura airport. ( See Area 4 on The Voice Fuerteventura Bird watcher´s map below)
