What is the most remarkable physical characteristic of the Whimbrel distinguishing its silhouette?
Answer
Long, gracefully down-curved bill
The long, gracefully down-curved bill is highlighted as the Whimbrel's most remarkable physical characteristic, identifiable even from its silhouette. This specialized structure allows the bird to probe deep into sand and mud with precision, granting it access to hidden sustenance beneath the substrate that is unavailable to birds with straighter bills. The curve of the bill is intrinsically linked to its unique foraging strategy, enabling it to feel for and grasp prey items buried beneath the surface layer of the coastal environments it inhabits.

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