The ABA checklist in North America now recognizes two Whimbrel species: Hudsonian & Eurasian Whimbrels

The American Birding Association has officially adopted a major taxonomic update: the ABA Checklist now recognizes two distinct Whimbrel species in North America — the Hudsonian Whimbrel (Numenius hudsonicus) and the Eurasian Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) (ABA Checklist Committee Update, January 2026).

 

This decision follows recent genomic research demonstrating long-term divergence and limited gene flow between trans-Beringian populations, notably:

McLaughlin, J. F., Faircloth, B. C., Glenn, T. C. & Winker, K. (2020). Divergence, gene flow, and speciation in eight lineages of trans-Beringian birds. Molecular Ecology 29:3526–3542. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.15574.

Tan, H. Z., Jansen, J. J. F. J.,  Allport, G. A., Garg, K. M., Chattopadhyay, B., Irestedt, M., Pang, S. E. H., Chilton, G., Gwee, C. Y. & Rheindt, F. E. (2023). Megafaunal extinctions, not climate change, may explain Holocene genetic diversity declines in Numenius shorebirds. eLife 12:e85422. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.85422.

Note that this two-species treatment has already been adopted by other major taxonomic authorities, including the IOC World Bird List, the Clements Checklist, and BirdLife International. The ABA decision therefore brings North American taxonomy into alignment with prevailing international standards.

Read the original ABA post here:
https://www.aba.org/aba-checklist-committee-report-jan-2026/

 

Featured image: ©Gertjan van Noord