Bird of the Week – Whimbrel

At a little over 17 inches tall, this is one of the larger shorebirds that breeds in wetter alpine tundra areas in Alaska. The long, downcurved bill and distinctive white and brown-striped head make the bird easy to identify. You’ll likely hear the haunting, hollow whistle call before you find this bird; despite its size, it can be hard to see, especially hunched down on a nest. This bird was photographed on the east end of the Denali Highway. Technical stuff: f5.7, 1/320, ISO250 More bird photos at Frozen Feather Images.