SHOREBIRDS of Australasia

Most Shorebirds walk along shores probing for food with their thin sensitive bills. Bill length varies considerably so differing species can work the same shore and obtain different food supplies. Shorebirds include sandpipers, godwits, stilts, oystercatchers, plovers, and many more. Shorebirds belong to the Charadriiformes order which also includes the Gulls and Allies.
    Note: the term Shorebirds is used - the Americas; elsewhere "waders" is used. We will reserve "waders" for herons and allies.



Long Billed Shorebirds

Order Charadriiformes    Suborder Scolopaci   Family Scolopacidae

Suborder Scolopaci contains one family, Scolopacidae. This family contrains the shorter-blled sandpipers and allies and also longer-billed species such as the godwits and curlews.



Genus Limosa

Godwit, Bar-tailed  Limosa lapponica   Found: North America (Alaska), Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia
Photographed by: 1, 2) Tim Bowman, US Fish and Wildlife Service 3) Dick Daniels - Australia  4, 5) Dick - Australia
4) Juvenile   5) Bar-tailed Godwit and Dunlin



Godwit, Black-tailed  Limosa limosa   Found: North America (rarely on Atlantic coast), Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia
Photographed by: 1) Frank Vassen - Poland 2, 3) Hans Hillewaert - Uitkerkse Polders, Belgium 


Godwit, Hudsonian Limosa haemastica  Found: The Americas. Australia (vagrant)
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - Cairns, Australia  2, 3) Cláudio Timm in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil



Genus Numenius

Curlew, Eastern aka Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis   Found: Asia, Australia, New Zealand
Photographed by: 1, 2, 4) Dick Daniels - Cairns, Australia   3) Dick Daniels - Cairns, Australia


Curlew, Little  Numenius minutus  Found: Asia, Australasia
Photographed by: Wayne Cheng


Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus   Found: The Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand.
Photographed by: 1, 5. 6. 8) Dick Daniels - Half Moon Bay, California   3) Dick - Half Moon Bay   4) Dick - the Galapagos Islands
   7) Elaine R. Wilson - La Jolla Shores Beach (Near Scripp's Pier), La Jolla, California




Genus Rostratula

Snipe, Australian Painted  Rostratula australis  Found: Australia
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Oystercatcher - Kellys Swamp at the Jerrabomberra Wetlands in Canberra



Genus Tringa

Greenshank, Common Tringa nebularia   Found: North America (rare), Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand
Photographed by:  1) Alastair Rae    2) Dick Daniels - Australia   3) JJ Harrison - Tasmania, Australia  4) J Dietrich


Redshank, Spotted
  Tringa erythropus  Found: North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia
Photographed by: Lip Kee Yap


Sandpiper, Marsh Tringa stagnatilis   Found: Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels near Johannesburg, South Africa  2) Dick - Tanzania 


Sandpiper, Wood Tringa glareola   Found: North America (rarely), Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia
Photographed by: 1) Alnus - Taoyuan County, Taiwan  2) JJ Harrison - Thailand  3) Dick Daniels - Tanzania  


Tattler, Grey-tailed  Tringa brevipes  Found: North America (rare), Europe, Asia, Australia
Photographed by: 1) JJ Harrison - Australia  2) honan4108  3) Alpsdake - Japan  4) Dominic Sherony


Tattler, Wandering Tringa incana   Found: The Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels- Kauai, Hawaii  2, 3) Jason Crotty - California  4) Winnu
1, 2) Nonbreeding 3, 4) Breeding  





All photos on this site are available for general use. Please credit the photographer. Some images have additional constraints such as no commercial use or no modifications. Click the photo credit link for details.    Dick Daniels, webmaster.