Variable photos on Flickr

Large greyish brown curleo with long bill and plain head pattern. Head, neck, breast and upperparts buffy brown with dark streaking, although plumage variable. Pale underwing, white rump and lower back, belly white, flanks streaked. Female averages larger, especially with longer bill. Non-breeding adult has breast and upperparts grey brown and underparts whiter. Race orientalis usually paler, with underwing coverts and axillaries largely unmarked, lower rump may be more barred and inner wing paler, but considerable overlap.

Habitat

Breeds on peat bogs, fens, upland moors, damp grassland, grassy or boggy open areas in forest, extensive farmland, swampy and dry heathland, dune valleys and coastal marshes. increasing numbers breed in meadows. In non-breeding period, chiefly on muddy coasts, bays and estuaries, also regularly on muddy shores of inland lakes and rivers. During migration, also found on wet grassland and arable fields. Males are more likely to feed in inland grassland than females.

Other details

Numenius arquata is a widespread breeder across much of northern Europe (occurring more patchily farther south), which probably holds >75% of its global breeding population. Its European breeding population is large (>220,000 pairs), but underwent a moderate decline between 1970-1990 (based mainly on wintering data). Although some smaller populations were stable or increased during 1990-2000, key populations in the United Kingdom, Finland and Russia all declined, and the species underwent a moderate decline (>10%) overall. Consequently, it is evaluated as Declining.

This large wader inhabits the temperate and boreal regions of Eurasia. European birds winter in Western Europe, the Mediterranean regions and Africa. Their total population is totalling 135000 breeding pairs, Russia not included. In many regions, especially in the south-western part of its range, this species is declining and its distribution is contracting following loss of breeding habitat

Feeding

Usually diet includes annelids, molluscs, arthropods, crustaceans, berries and seeds. Occasionally vertebrates, including amphibians, lizards, young birds, small rodents and small fish. Chiefly terrestrial insects and eartworms, especially in summer. Feeds by pecking, jabbing or deep probing in mud or damp soil. Occasionally takes food from conspecifics or other wader species. Some birds territorial on wintering grounds, others feed gregariously. Long-billed females tend to forage more on intertidal flats, feeding on molluscs, crabs and polychaetes, while shorter-billed males tend to feed more on cultivated grassland.

Breeding

Egg laying from April to May. pair bond is Monogamous. High degree of site fidelity. Nest is typically built in the open, often in grass or sedge cover. 4 eggs are laid in a single brood, incubation 28 days, by both sexes. Chick pale ochraceous buff above clouded with blackish brown, black crown and creamy buff on belly. Both parents care for young. Age of first breeding 2 years.

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Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)

Songs and Calls

A series of 5-7 loud, clear, whistled notes: pip-pip-pip-pip-pip.

spanwidth min.: 78 cm

spanwidth max.: 88 cm

size min.: 37 cm

size max.: 45 cm

Breeding

incubation min.: 27 days

incubation max.: 28 days

fledging min.: 35 days

fledging max.: 28 days

broods 1

eggs min.: 3

eggs max.: 4

May Curlew, May Whaap, May Fowl, Half Curlew

Status: Passage migrant in autumn (August/September) and spring (April/May).

HabitatShores, mudflats, marshes, tundra. Found on a wide variety of habitats on migration. Most common on mudflats, but also found on rocky shores, sandy beaches, salt marshes, flooded agricultural fields, grassy fields near coast. In summer, breeds on Arctic tundra.

The most widespread of the curlews, nesting in the Arctic across North America and Eurasia, wintering on the coasts of six continents. Whimbrels tend to concentrate in flocks at a few favored spots in migration, so that the observer sees either many of them or else very small numbers. The name "Whimbrel," originating in England, apparently began as a loose interpretation of the bird's call.

Identification: Similar in appearance to the Curlew, but slightly smaller. Whimbrel has a similar downcurved bill, but this is slightly shorter than that of the Curlew. When seen well, distinctive "striped" head pattern can be discerned - formed by a dark crown, with a pale streak through the centre, a pale supercillium and a dark eyestripe. The call is also one of the best ways of finding a flock of migrating Whimbrels passing overhead.

Similar Species: Curlew

Call: A rapid, monotone whistle - "whit-tit-tit-tit-tit-tit…", very unlike the call of a Curlew. Frequently heard as birds fly high overhead. Also occasionally a rapid bubbling song, quite similar to Curlew's.

Diet: Molluscs, crustaceans & polychaete worms.

Breeding: Although there have been a few sightings of birds in suitable habitat, there are no records of Whimbrel breeding in Ireland. Breeds almost continously in Arctic areas from Scandinavia across Siberia to Canada, Greenland and Iceland.

Wintering: A few Whimbrel winter in coastal areas, mainly along the south and east coast. The main wintering range extends from southern Spain along the west African coast to southern Africa.

Where to See: Mainly coastal sites during spring and autumn migration

Physical characteristics

A large, relatively short-legged shorebird with a long down-curved bill, striped head, brown speckled upperparts and light underparts with streaking on the neck and upper breast. The underwings are light. Sexes similar in plumage, but female larger on average. Similar to adult, but back with light spots, crown stripe less distinct, breast more buff, and with finer streaking on neck and chest.

Variable Oystercatchers Feeding by Rebecca Bowater

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The Variable One by Tessa Barratt

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The Variable Bosiaea (Bossiaea heterophylla). We used to have one growing in the garden but sadly the excess rain from back to back La Nina events killed it. We noticed many bushpeas had died in the wild, as well, after the copious amounts of rain. This little cutie was still growing ok along the fire trail, though! [Wentworth Falls, NSW]

Variable Seedeater by Kathy Hicks

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Angostura Reservoir, Cartago, Costa Rica

Variable oystercatcher by yifeng892

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Bay of Islands, New Zealand

Variables by Pierre Claude

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Ferme expérimentale Sainte-Clotilde

variable oakleaf by Colin Gillette

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Variable Oystercatchers by Rebecca Bowater

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Variable Wheatear by S. Saqib Shams-II

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Buse variable (Buteo buteo)-5.jpg by Yves Geay

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Large Variable Capacitor by Nick Ames

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A variable (tuning) capacitor. Purchased from AES for an amazingly low price.

www.tubesandmore.com/

Variable Damslefly flight by Ian Bartlett

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Today was another walk with Tony and Amber on the Pevensey levels the weather was a bit cooler with cloud and a fairly brisk wind the sun did appear later on. We had a great time as always but were reminded of the fragility of life as we found a dead Ewe with two lambs lying against her. we did notify a farmer who said she would tell the owner. But other than that a real good day with a surprising amount to see so 14 images for today. The walk was a joy as always in the beautiful landscape with great company and no one else disturbing us.

Variable damselfly by Nick Goodrum

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Buse variable Buteo buteo - Common Buzzard by Yves Quertenmont

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Buse variable

Buteo buteo - Common Buzzard

variables_kapuzenkleid07 by pascounet1

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Digital StillCamera

Variable Bluet by Geoff Campbell

'Snowberry' Variable Checkerspot by Steve Huckabone

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Del Valle RP, Alameda Cpunty, CA

Variable Dancer by Dave Wendelken

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One has to look closely to see the beautiful colors of this damselfly that is just over an inch long.

July 24, 2010, Lake Shenandoah, Rockingham County, Virginia.

Variable Oystercatcher by Chris Hawes

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Variable Oystercatcher or Torea-pango (Haematopus unicolor) at Fletcher Bay, Coromandel Peninsula, North Island, New Zealand

variable by laurent martin

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Montréal, Vieux ports

Variable seedeater by Doug Greenberg

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Laguna Lagarto Lodge, Costa Rica

Variable Oystercatcher by Bruce Buckman

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Adult bird with juvenile. This was a family group of two adults and one juvenile, likely their sole surviving chick from this summer breeding season (2-3 chicks is the normal clutch size). The adults aggressively chased off a foraging pukeko.

The knowledge (54è Biennale de Venise) by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra