SHOREBIRDS of The World
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 in the Americas; elsewhere "waders" is used. We will reserve "waders" for herons and allies.
Note: the term Shorebirds is used in the Americas; elsewhere "waders" is used. We will reserve "waders" for herons and allies.
Avocets and Stilts
Order Charadriiformes Suborder Charadrii Family Recurvirostridae
Avocets and stilts have very long thin legs and long bills. The stilt bills are straight, while avocet bills are curved upward. Avocets and stilts are aprroximately the same height and often can be found in mixed groups.
Genus Recurvirostra
Avocet, American Recurvirostra americana Found: North America
Photographed by: 1, 2) Kevin Cole
3) Alan D Wilson - San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Near Huntington Beach, California 4) Dick Daniels - North Carolina
5, 6) Charlie Westerinen - the Lida Junction airport in Nevada
1, 2) Breeding
Avocet, Pied Recurvirostra avosetta Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Sylvan Heights
3) Comparison between Pied Avocet and Black-necked Stilt
Avocet, Red-necked Recurvirostra novaehollandiae Found: Australia
Photographed by: Grahame - Rottnest Island (off coast of western Australia)
Genus Cladorhynchus - 1 species
Stilt, Banded Cladorhynchus leucocephalus Found: Australia
Photographed by: 1) Helenabella - Rottnest Island (off coast of western Australia)
Genus Himantopus
Stilt, Black Himantopus novaezelandiae Found: New Zealand
Photographed by Dick Daniels - Kiwi Birdlife Park, New Zealand. Current population estimated - 22 birds.
Stilt, Black-winged Himantopus himantopus Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
The Black-winged Stilt is sometimes treated as having subspecies. In this case, the Black-winged Stilt would be identified as Himantopus himantopus himantopus.
The related (sub)species are: Black-necked Stilt, Hawaiian Stilt, Pied Stilt, and White-backed Stilt.
3, 4, 5) Dick Daniels - Tanzania
1) Female in front, male in rear
Stilt, Black-necked Himantopus mexicanus Found: The Americas
The Black-necked Stilt is sometimes treated as a subspecies of the Black-winged Stilt. In this case it would be identified as Himantopus himantopus mexicanus.
3) Dick - St John Island, Virgin Islands 4) Dick - Sylvan Heights
1) Juvenile
Stilt, Hawaiian Himantopus knudseni Found: Hawaii
The Hawaiian Stilt is sometimes treated as a subspecies of the Black-winged Stilt. In this case it would be identified as Himantopus himantopus knudseni. One neat place to find the Hawaiian
Stilt is in Hanalei, made famous in the song Puff the Magic Dragon who lived in Hanalei.
The size of a Hawaiin Stilt can be appreciated by comparing it to a Koala (Hawaiin Duck) in 6) while realzing how much of the stilt's legs are underwater.
Stilt, Pied aka White-headed Stilt (in Australia aka Black-winged Stilt) Himantopus leucocephalus Found: Australasia
The Pied Stilt is sometimes treated as a subspecies of the Black-winged Stilt. In this case it would be identified as Himantopus himantopus leucocephalus.
Stilt, White-backed Himantopus himantopus melanurus or H. melanurus Found: South America
Photographed by: 1, 2) Cláudio Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
1) Juvenile
All images on this website are protected by copyright (owned by the photographer).
Please contact Dick Daniels to determine whether specific photos can be copied.
Please contact Dick Daniels to determine whether specific photos can be copied.