Eurasian Whimbrel | 31 May 2024

Why in News?

Recently, a long-distance migratory bird, the Eurasian or common whimbrel, tagged with a Global Positioning System (GPS) transmitter was captured on camera in the state of Chhattisgarh.

Key Points

  • According to the Ornithologists and state forest officials, the migratory bird was flying mammoth distances and stopped over in Chhattisgarh, owing to the presence of wetlands in the Berla area of Bemetara district, about 70 km from Raipur.
  • It is the first time in India such a GPS-tagged bird is being spotted and photographed.
  • There is a greater need to restore such aquatic biodiversity habitat and wetlands facing loss of vegetation and encroachment.

Eurasian Whimbrel

  • It is a wading bird in the large family Scolopacidae.
  • Scientific Name: Numenius phaeopus
  • Distribution:
    • They have an extensive range that spans across five continents: North America, South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.
    • They breed in the subarctic regions of Siberia and Alaska during the summer months before migrating south to wintering grounds in southern USA, Central America, South America, Africa, and South Asia, including Nepal.
  • Habitat: Winters mainly along the coastline, coastal wetlands, mangroves, marshes, and larger rivers.
  • Features:
    • A fairly large greyish-brown bird with a long, decurved bill with a kink.
    • It has a distinct head pattern with dark eye-stripes and crown-sides.
    • It is mottled dark brown above, pale below, with much brown streaking on the throat and breast.
    • Whimbrels are known for their high-pitched call consisting of a repetitive series of seven notes.
  • Conservation Status: