Whimbrel
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus )
The Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus ) with a wingspan of about 80 cm is much smaller than the curlew, and the beak is shorter and the top of the head is striped light and dark. The call of this bird resembles a bright trills.
In Central Europe, the Whimbrel is a regular migrant in autumn and spring. It is most common on the coasts, periodically but can also be observed inland. Individual Whimbrels estivate occasionally along the coasts in the north- west of Central Europe.
Appearance
The Whimbrel reaches a body length between 40 and 46 centimeters. Males weigh 268-550 grams. Females reach a weight of 315-600 grams. Compared to the curlew very similar, the Whimbrel relatively shorter legs and a shorter and more evenly curved beak. The apex is strikingly dark brown and is bisected by a bright, creamy white center line. Back, chest and flanks are spotted tight. The rump is white, which, among other dwarf and distinguishes him from the Eskimo curlew, which have both brown rump.
The newly hatched chicks are yellowish brown light on the top and beige whitish on the underparts. On the chest, the color changes into a more intense beige. On the top of the head there are two mutually parallel black stripes that run on the forehead and neck with each other. The reins Streif is short, narrow and dark, and in some individuals only indistinctly. The eye-streak is wider and more pronounced. On the mantle and the upper back are four parallel dark stripes. On the rear back is found similar to the young birds the curlew, a dark ring-shaped stain that includes a lighter patch. The legs and toes are bluish gray and the claws are dark gray.
Distribution and habitat
The breeding grounds of the Whimbrel bird extends across the tundra and Boreal Taiga zone in northern Eurasia. Larger distribution gaps there are in central and eastern Siberia. The type also occurs in western and northern Alaska and in the northwest of Canada. Whimbrels are predominantly long-distance migrant. Their main wintering areas are found on the coasts of Africa, the Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia and Australia. On the coasts of Western Europe and on the North Sea coast overwinter only single individuals. The winter population on the Atlantic coast of Africa, however, is 50,000 individuals.
The Whimbrels live in northern bogs, swampy lake shores, beach meadows and in the re-growth after forest fires, but always close to the water. During the passage can be observed on sandy, muddy but especially on rocky shores. In the tropical winter quarters he stayed in the coral reefs in mangrove swamps and on open coasts.
Food
The Whimbrel locates its food to a very large extent visually, so that the prey mainly consists of oberflächenbewohnenden organisms. On the coasts of crabs, shrimp, sand hoppers and sea snails are like banks and whelks its main food. Inland it eats mainly insects and their larvae and snails and earthworms. Especially during the breeding season vegetable food plays a role. Of particular importance are the berries of crowberry.
Reproduction
Whimbrels are revier loyal, thus it comes after arrival in the breeding area frequently to Wiederverpaarung with the partner bird of the previous year. The courtship of Whimbrels similar to the curlew. The males rise at an angle of 45 ° about 150 to 300 feet high, and then begin to draw wide circles. Fluttering climbs take turns with flat sliding phases from where the wings stiff bent downward, where the head and the neck are retracted. After landing, they can repeatedly hear a whimpering cry. For courtship behavior on the ground includes, but is a presentation of the white rump by a spreading of the tail.
The nest is pressed by the birds in the ground vegetation. It is a shallow bowl that is sparsely covered with plant parts of the immediate surroundings. The breeding season begins in May and runs similar to the curlew. The nest consists usually of four eggs, rarely three or five. The eggs are oval to top-shaped and have smooth, slightly glossy surface. They resemble the eggs of the curlew, but are smaller and usually darker. They have light green or light olive color with darker blotches, dots and speckles. Individual eggs may also have a rough Kritzelzeichnung. From late May to slip the first young birds from 3-4 eggs. They leave the nest as soon as the dunes are dried and are led by two parental birds over a period of five to six weeks. In July the young are fledged.
Stock
The European breeding bird population is estimated at 160000-360000 breeding pairs. Approximately 100,000 to 250,000 breeding pairs occur in Iceland. European countries with more than 8,000 breeding pairs are Finland, Norway, the European part of Russia and Sweden.
The Whimbrel is one of the species that will be particularly affected by climate change. A research team that examined the future diffusion trend of European breeding birds on the basis of climate models for the UK Environment Agency and the RSPB, assumes that decrease until the end of the 21st century, the area of distribution of the rain curlew significantly and will move to the north. The majority of today's distribution area offers this kind are no suitable habitats more new potential distribution areas on Svalbard, Novaya Zemlya and the adjoining regions in the north- east of Russia can not compensate for the loss of area for these forecasts.