The Eurasian Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) is a medium-sized wader, closely related to the larger Eurasian Curlew but smaller, with a shorter bill. It breeds across boreal and tundra habitats in northern Eurasia, and migrates long distances to coastal nonbreeding grounds in Africa, Asia and Australasia.

What does a Eurasian Whimbrel sound like? The Eurasian Whimbrel makes a few different calls, one of the most commonly heard is a fast, rippling series of piping whistles, all pitched at a similar level, quite different from the slower, rising whistle of the Eurasian Curlew. During display flights, male Whimbrels give slow, repeated single notes, then switch to a wild, bubbly trill. On its nonbreeding grounds, the rapid, piping whistles are often heard as birds fly between coastal roosts and feeding areas or as they gather at high tide in large, noisy flocks. Eurasian Whimbrels also make harsher, shrill calls in flight or when alarmed.

Listen to examples of Whimbrel calls below.