Fernando de Noronha: Hudsonian Whimbrel

Hudsonian whimbrel are easily recognizable by their beak. Interestingly, they breed in North American Arctic and only come to Fernando de Noronha and Brazil in general for winter. Whimbrels forage along rocky shorelines and tidal pools, probing for crabs, mollusks, and marine invertebrates with their curved bills. The Hudsonian whimbrel holds the world record for longest non-stop flight endurance – satellite-tracked individuals have flown over 5,000 km (3,100 m) in 6–7 days from Canada to South America without eating, drinking, or landing – crossing the Atlantic in a single push. Fernando de Noronha serves a key refueling station during their southward migration – birds arrive exhausted after crossing the Atlantic and double their body weight in just 1–2 weeks by gorging here before continuing on to Patagonia.