Common name: Eurasian Whimbrel
Scientific name: Numenius phaeopus
Family: Scolopacidae

Size:
Body length: 40–45 cm
Wingspan: 75–90 cm
Weight: 300–500 g

Identification:
A medium-sized curlew with a relatively shorter, downcurved bill compared to the Eurasian Curlew. It is brown and streaked overall, with a distinctive pale crown stripe running along the top of the head, bordered by darker stripes. The bill is slender and gently curved. In flight, it shows a fairly uniform appearance without strong wing markings.

Habitat:
Coastal mudflats, estuaries, sandy shores, mangroves, and occasionally inland wetlands. Prefers open feeding areas with soft substrate.

Status in the UAE:
Common passage migrant and winter visitor. Regularly seen along coastlines and wetland areas.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds on crabs, worms, mollusks, and other invertebrates, probing into mud and sand.

Behavior:
Often seen alone or in small groups. Forages actively, probing with its bill or picking prey from the surface. Known for its distinctive whistling calls. Flight is steady and direct, often low over water or land.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List), but some populations show declines