Scientific Name: Numenius phaeopus
Malay Name: Kendi Gajah Erasia
Chinese Name: 中杓鹬
Range: Breeding in the sub-Arctic region of Asia and Europe. Winters in Africa, south Asia and into Australasia.
Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: islandicus, phaeopus, alboaxillaris, rogachevae, variegatus.
Local Subspecies: phaeopus (Common migrant)
Size: 40-46 cm
Identification: A fairly large greyish-brown bird with with a long, decurved bill witrh a kink. Prominent black lateral crown stripe and eyestripe. Broad whitish supercillium and buffish-white neck and breast with dark streaks. Legs and feet dull grey. Although large, it is considered mid-sized compared to other curlews. Compared to the larger curlews, it has a shorter bill.
Habitat: Winters mainly along the coastline, coastal wetlands, mangroves, marshes and larger rivers.
Behaviour/Ecology: A gregarious species that feed mainly on invertebrates by probing, and picking up occasional small crabs and similar prey.
Local Status: Uncommon migrant
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)
Location: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Mandai Mudflats, Chek Jawa at Pulau Ubin and any other mudflats.
- Bird List Revision for January 2020 (Revisions)
Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):
Eurasian Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2013 to Jun 2023
BirdLife International. (2016). Numenius phaeopus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22693178A86585436.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Eurasian Whimbrel. Retrieved on November 21, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/eurasian-whimbrel.