INDEX - World 
BIRDS of THE WORLD

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.

Index


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.


WHO AM I ?



Genus Actitis

Sandpiper, Common Actitis hypoleucos   Found: North America (rarely), Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia
Similar to: Spotted Sandpiper. Their ranges rarely overlap. Common Sandpipers have darker legs than Spotted Sandpipers.
Photographed by: 1) Juan Emilio   2) Steve Garvie  3) Dick Daniels - Scotland   4) Dick - Scotland


Sandpiper, Spotted Actitis macularia   Found: The Americas
Similar to: Common Sandpiper. Their ranges rarely overlap. Common Sandpipers have darker legs than Spotted Sandpipers.
Photographed by: 1, 2) Alan D Wilson - North Arm, Iona Beach Regional Park, Richmond, British Columbia
   3) Winnu  4) Alan - La Jolla Shores Beach (Near Scripp's Pier), La Jolla, California
   5) Dick Daniels - North Carolina  6) Dick - Jamaica  7) Dick - Puerto Rico  8) Dick - Florida
1, 2, 3) Breeding


Genus Bartramia - 1 species

Sandpiper, Upland  Bartramia longicauda Found: The Americas 
Photographed by: 1)  Pesayo   2) Johnath - Ontario, Canada  3) Dario Niz - Uruguay  4)  Claudio Timm




Genus Gallinago

Snipe, Common Gallinago gallinago   Found: North America (Alaska), South America (northwest), Europe, Asia, Africa
Similar to Wilson's Snipe. Wilson's and the Common Snipe were previously considered to be one species. Common Snipes usually have 7 pairs of tail feathers while Wilson Snipes have 8 pairs. The easist way to tell them apart is by location: Common are predominately Old World and Wilson's are predominately New World.
Photographed by: 1) Marek Szczepanek  2) sjahanmi - dubai   3) Davis Kwan - Hong Kong


Snipe, South American  Gallinago paraguaiae  Found: South America
Photographed by: 1, 2) Cláudio Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil


Snipe, Wilson's  Gallinago delicata  Found: The Americas, Europe (vagrant)
Similar to Common Snipe. Wilson's and the Common Snipe were previously considered to be one species. Common Snipes usually have 7 pairs of tail feathers while Wilson Snipes have 8 pairs. The easist way to tell them apart is by location: Common are predominately Old World and Wilson's are predominately New World.
Photographed by: 1) Sean Breazeal - Central Utah 
    2, 3, 4)  Alan D Wilson - Richmond, British Columbia; Highway 205, Near Burns, Oregon
    5) Linda Westerinen - Colusa Reserve, California  6) Dick Daniels - Ash, North Carolina  7) Dick - Ash




Genus Limnodromus

Dowitcher, Long-billed Limnodromus scolopaceus   Found: North America, Asia. Rare: South America, Europe, Africa
Similar to: Short-billed Dowitcher. Very difficult to distinguish by appearance; bill length may help but it is not conclusive. Short-billed are more likely found at the sea shore and Long-billed are more likely to be found inland.
Photographed by: 1, 3, 5) Dick Daniels - North Carolina   2) Dick - Sanibel Island, Florida
    4) Alan D. Wilson - Birding Center, Port Aransas,  



Dowitcher, Short-billed  Limnodromus griseus  Found: The Americas, Europe (rare)
Similar to: Long-billed Dowitcher. Very difficult to distinguish by appearance; bill length may help but it is not conclusive. Short-billed are more likely found at the sea shore and Long-billed are more likely to be found inland.
Photographed by: 1, 3, 4, 7) Dick Daniels - Sunset Beach, North Carolina    2, 5, 6) Dick - Sunset Beach
1 - 4) Non breeding  6) Breeding




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


Godwit, Marbled  Limosa fedoa  Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1, 2, 4) Dick Daniels- Monterey, California    3) Dick - Arizona  
   5) Alan D. Wilson - Huntington Beach, California    6) Alan D Wilson - Huntington Beach




Genus Numenius

Curlew also Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata   Found: Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1) AngMoKio - the Stuttgart Zoo  2) MPF - Cresswell Pond, Northumberland, UK 
    3) Darren Bellerby - Hong Kong Wetland Park, Hong Kong


Curlew, Bristle-thighed  Numenius tahitiensis  Found: North America (Alaska) and some tropical Pacific islands
Photographed by: 1) Brian Harry, NPS  2) Kristine Sowl - Alaska   3) USFWS  4) Charlie Westerinen - Half Moon Bay, California
4) Rare to California. Bird in back is a Black Oystercatcher.


Curlew, Eastern also 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


Curlew, Long-billed Numenius americanus   Found: North America
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - California   2, 3) Dick Daniels - California  4) Charlie Westerinen - Texas 


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 Phalaropus

Phalarope, Red Phalaropus fulicarius Found: North America, Europe, Asia, and tropical seas
Photographed by: 1) Billy Liar - West Virginia   2) Lee Karney 
    3) Maggie Smith  4) Mke Baird at Morro Bay, California 5) Andrei Taranchenko - Alaska
1, 2) Nonbreeding  4, 5) Breeding



Phalarope, Red-necked  Phalaropus lobatus   Found: Arctic regions of North America, Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - Seward, Alaska  3) Ainus    4, 7) Mike Baird - California
    5, 6) Alan D Wilson - Wright's Pond, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon   8) USFWS
1, 2) Juvenile  3, 4) Nonbreeding  5 - 8) Breeding



Phalarope, Wilson's Phalaropus tricolor   Found: The Americas, Europe
Photographed by:   1) J N Stuart   2) Amy McAndrews - Mexico   3) CV Vick - California
    4) Jerry Oldenettel - New Mexico  5) Dominic Sherony   6) Alan D. Wilson - Oregon 
1) Juvenile 2) Juvenile eclipse  4) Male breeding  5, 6) Female breeding




Genus Rostratula

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



Genus Scolopax - 1 species

Woodcock, American  Scolopax minor   Found: North America
Photographed by: 1) Jerry Oldenettel - Michigan  2) Audrey



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, Common  Tringa totanus  Found: Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1) Andreas Trepte 2)  4028mdk09  3) Frank  Vassen on the Canary Island of Lanzarote 


Redshank, Spotted   Tringa erythropus  Found: North America (vagrant), Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia
Similar to: Greater Yellowlegs in nonbreeding season. Yellowlegs have yellow legs while Spotted Redshanks have red legs.
Photographed by:  1) Lip Kee Yap  2) J M Garg - India  3) Charles Lam - Hong Kong
3) Male breeding


Sandpiper, Green  Tringa ochropus  Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Similar to: Solitary Sandpiper. Their ranges rarely overlap.
Photographed by: 1, 2) J M Garg - India


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


Sandpiper, Solitary Tringa solitaria   Found: The Americas
Similar to: Green Sandpiper. Their ranges rarely overlap.
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - New Hampshire  3) Dick - North Carolina  4) Tim Lindinbaum - Illinois


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  


Willet, (Eastern)   Tringa semipalmata  Found: East coast of The Americas
There are two distinct groups of willets - one on the east coast of the Americas and one on the west coast of the Americas. They may eventually be given independent species status.
Photographed by: 1, 4, 5) Dick Daniels - North Carolina   3, 6, 7, 8) Dick Daniels - North Carolina  2) Dick - Sanibel Island, Florida
6) Taken on Sunset Beach on April 26, 2009. The black debris are ashes from Myrtle Beach forest fire.


Willet, Western Tringa semipalmata   Found:  West coast of The Americas
There are two distinct groups of willets - one on the east coast of the Americas and one on the west coast of the Americas. They may eventually be given independent species status.
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - Half Moon Bay, California
     3) Charlie Westerinen - the Bolsa Chica wetlands - Huntington Beach, CA
     4) Alan D. Wilson - Upper Huntington Bay Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, California
1) Willets with a godwit.


Yellowlegs, Greater Tringa melanoleuca   Found: The Americas
Similar to Lesser Yellowlegs. Difficult to differentiate between greater and lesser yellowlegs unless the two species are close by for comparison.
Similar to: Spotted Redshank in nonbreeding season. Yellowlegs have yellow legs while Spotted Redshanks have red legs.
Photographed by: 1) Elaine R. Wilson - Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, California
    2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels - North Carolina   5) Cláudio Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazi

Yellowlegs, Lesser Tringa flavipes   Found: The Americas
Similar to Greater Yellowlegs. Difficult to differentiate between greater and lesser yellowlegs unless the two species are close by for comparison.
Similar to: Spotted Redshank in nonbreeding season. Yellowlegs have yellow legs while Spotted Redshanks have red legs.
Photographed by: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 ) DIck Daniels - North Carolina  and New Jersey   3 ) DIck - New Jersey
1 - 5) Nonbreeding  6, 7, 8) Breeding   
5) Willet is larger than Lesser Yellowlegs   8) Lesser Yellowlegs is larger than Short-billed Dowitcher






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