Whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus) are large waders with distinctive long down-curved bills. These bills allow them to probe deeply into mud for titbits. And possibly gave rise to one of their Malay names which means "elephant bird"! Whimbrels eat mostly burrowing crabs. The next major item on the menu are fish. But they will eat a wide variety of crustaceans, aquatic invertebrates, insects, worms and molluscs. They also snack on seeds, berries and leaves, particularly in late summer as insect populations begin to dwindle.
Write up by Ria Tan