Hudsonian Whimbrel
The Hudsonian Whimbrel is a smaller and smaller-billed curlew with a stripped head. The Hudsonian was separated from the Eurasian Whimbrel based on breeding range and other differences in 2019. The Hudsonian is primarily a coastal bird but is occasionally seen in Central Texas during migration. It is one of the four “elliptical” migrant shorebirds and usually is only confused with the Long-billed Curlew. The Hudsonian has a shorter bill and stripes on the head including a fairly prominent supercillium, while the head of the Long-billed Curlew is evenly streaked, but not striped.
Note that there are a few records of the Eurasian Whimbrel on the US east coast including a bird in 2013 seen by a number of observers. The Eurasian can be rapidly separated from the Hudsonian by its white rump and lower back.
