The Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) is a large shorebird in the sandpiper family Scolopacidae. It is one of the most widespread and familiar shorebirds in North America, known for its long, downcurved bill and whistling call. But where exactly are Whimbrels found around the world? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the Whimbrel’s global range and distribution.
Whimbrel Range and Distribution
Whimbrels have an extremely large range, breeding in subarctic areas across North America and Eurasia. After the breeding season, they migrate along coastlines to wintering grounds in North and South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. Here is an overview of where Whimbrels are found throughout the year:
Breeding Range
During the summer breeding season, Whimbrels nest in various subarctic and boreal forest habitats:
– In North America, they breed across Alaska, in Canada from the Yukon and Northwest Territories east to Newfoundland and Labrador, and in the Hudson Bay Lowlands.
– In Eurasia, they breed from Fennoscandia through Russia, including Iceland, Svalbard and Novaya Zemlya.
– Their breeding habitat consists of open tundra, bogs, wet meadows and stunted forests, often near lakes, rivers or coasts.
Migration Range
Whimbrels are long-distance migrants, traveling along coastlines between their northern breeding areas and southern wintering grounds. Key migration routes include:
– The Atlantic Coast of North America, from Hudson Bay down to South America.
– The Pacific Coast of North America, from Alaska to Chile.
– Coastal East Asia, from Siberian breeding areas down through Southeast Asia to Australia.
– Western Europe down the coast of Africa.
Wintering Range
The Whimbrel winters in coastal habitats across an enormous range:
– Along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North and South America.
– Throughout the Caribbean islands.
– Along the coast of western Africa.
– In southeast Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia.
– In the Middle East along the coasts of the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea.
Their winter habitat includes beaches, mudflats, mangroves and lagoons where they probe for invertebrates.
Key Geographic Areas for Whimbrels
While Whimbrels occupy a huge range globally, there are certain key geographic regions and sites that are particularly important for the species:
Important Breeding Areas
– The Mackenzie River delta in Canada, one of the Whimbrel’s most dense breeding areas with over 250,000 birds.
– Coats Island, Nunavut in northern Canada, supporting over 10% of the global breeding population.
– The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in Alaska, another vital breeding area.
Critical Migration Stopover Sites
– The Copper River delta in Alaska, where hundreds of thousands stop during spring migration.
– James Bay and Hudson Bay in Canada, used by birds migrating between Nesting areas and Atlantic wintering grounds.
– Delaware Bay on the Atlantic Coast of the United States, a key refueling site for thousands of birds.
Major Wintering Regions
– The Caribbean islands, wintering over 200,000 Whimbrels or around half the global population.
– The coast of Suriname and Guyana in South America, supporting 150,000 wintering Whimbrels.
– Southeastern Australia, where 80,000 birds spend the austral summer.
– The Banc d’Arguin in Mauritania, Africa, where 50,000 Whimbrels winter.
Population Status and Threats
Whimbrels have an extremely large population estimated at over 1 million birds globally. However, they face a variety of threats on their breeding and wintering grounds as well as along migratory routes.
Population Trends
According to the IUCN Red List, the overall Whimbrel population is decreasing. However trends vary across their range:
– In North America, populations are declining by around 3% per year.
– Eurasian populations are stable.
– The trend in Australia is unknown.
Major Threats
Some of the major threats faced by Whimbrels include:
– Habitat loss and degradation, especially of coastal wetlands.
– Disturbance from human recreation activities.
– Hunting pressure, especially on wintering grounds in the Caribbean.
– Collisions with human structures and vehicles.
– Climate change impacts on migration timing and breeding habitat.
– Pollution and oil spills along migratory routes and coasts.
Conservation Status and Efforts
Overall, the Whimbrel is evaluated as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. However, ongoing population declines warrant increased conservation attention. Some current conservation actions include:
Legal Protections
– Listed under the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act, prohibiting hunting and egg collection.
– Listed on Appendix II of CITES, regulating international trade.
Habitat Protections
– Identified as a Bird of Conservation Concern in the U.S. and Canada.
– Natural wetland habitats protected at National Wildlife Refuges and across the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network.
Research and Monitoring
– Tracking studies to map migratory routes, identify critical stopover sites, and study responses to habitat change.
– Long-term surveys of breeding and wintering populations to detect population trends.
– Banding studies to understand migration patterns and survival rates.
Conclusion
In summary, Whimbrels are found across an enormous geographic range, breeding in subarctic regions and migrating along coastlines to temperate and tropical wintering areas. Critical habitats and large populations occur along the coasts of North America, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Africa and Australia. Ongoing conservation efforts will be needed to protect this widespread shorebird and halt population declines in regions such as North America. Tracking studies and habitat protections for wetlands and coastal areas will be key to sustaining Whimbrel populations into the future.