Gould stated that 'The Whimbrels usually arrive in England in the early part of May, and disperse themselves along our coasts, particularly those of the eastern counties; they are then on their passage northwards: but a few remain to breed on the moors of Scotland, and perhaps on the northern parts of England...'

The male is depicted in the foreground with a female behind.

DISTRIBUTION: Breeds in northern Eurasia and northern North America. Winters from south Europe, south Asia, Philippines, and Micronesia, south to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Samoa, and from south United States south to southern South America. Wintering rarely in Britain, but passage populations considerably larger