BIRDS of THE WORLD - An Online Bird Book
SHOREBIRDS
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.
Some
Charadriiformes families:
Burhinidae:
thick-knees;
Charadriidae:
small plovers,
lapwings;
Glareolidae:
courses, pratincoles;
Haematopodidae:
oystercatchers
Jacanidae:
jacanas;
Recurvirostridae:
avocets, stilts;
Scolopacidae:
small bill sandpipers,
large bill sandpipers
Small bill Sandpipers and Allies
Order Charadriiformes Family Scolopacidae
Sandpipers include many species called sandpipers, as well as those called by names such as curlew and snipe. They have long bodies and legs, and narrow wings. Most species have a narrow bill, but otherwise the form and length are quite variable. The bills are sensitive, allowing the birds to feel the mud and sand as they probe for food. They generally have dull plumage, with cryptic brown, gray, or streaked patterns, although some display brighter colours during the breeding season. Most species nest in open areas, and defend their territories with aerial displays. The nest itself is a simple scrape in the ground, in which the bird typically lays three or four eggs.
Genus Aphriza - 1 species
Surfbird Aphriza virgata Found: West Coast of The Americas
Image by:
1, 3, 5) Len Blumin - Bodega Bay, California 2)
Dick Daniels - Half Moon Bay, California 4)
Andrej_Chudy - California 6)
Alan D. Wilson -Near Victoria, British Columbia
1) First summer 2) Juvenile 3, 4) Nonbreeding 5, 6) Breeding
![](../People/BluminSm/Surfbird 2Len_Blumin.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Surfbird_HMB5.jpg)
![](../People/BluminSm/Surfbird_nonbreeding_Len_Blumin.jpg)
![](../People/Chudy_SM/Surfbird_Andrej_Chudy.jpg)
![](../People/BluminSm/Surfbird_breeding_Len_Blumin.jpg)
Genus Calidris
Calidrids have sensitive bills that they use to probe along the shoreline to search for food. They often move their feet very rapidly as they run along the water's edge. They fly long distances and
many of the species are found on a number of continents.
Dunlin Calidris alpina Found: North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia
Image by:
1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) Dick Daniels - North Carolina 2)
Dick - Biloxi, Mississippi
1 - 4) Nonbreeding 5 - 8) Breeding
![](../Daniels1SM/Dunlin November SB.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Dunlin_Biloxi3.jpg)
![](../Daniels3SM/Dunlin_SB_2014-03-19.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/dunlin 01-07a.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/dunlin 11-10f SB.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/dunlin 11-10d SB.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/dunlin 04-24a.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/Dunlin May 2010a Sunset Beach.jpg)
Knot,_Great Calidris tenuirostris Found: Asia, Australia
Image by: 1)
JJ Harrison - Thailand 2)
Aviceda - Scarborough, SE Queensland, Australia 3)
Graham_Winterflood 4)
Karzedracer - Queensland AU
1) Nonbreeding 2, 3, 5) Breeding
![](../People/HarrisonJJ_SM/Knot,_Great_Thailand_JJ_Harrison.jpg)
![](../People/AvicedaSM/Knot,_Great_Aviceda.jpg)
![](../People/Winterflood_SM/Knot,_Great_Graham_Winterflood.jpg)
Knot,_Red Calidris canutus Found: The Americas,
Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia
Image by: 1)
Mick - France
2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) Dick - North Carolina 4)
Dick - Sanibel Island, Florida
1, 2) Juvenile 3) Juvenile, adult 4) Nonbreeding adult 5 - 9) Breeding adult
![](../Images3SM/Knot,_Red_Mick.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Knot,_Red_2012r.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Knot,_Red_2012m.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Florida/FLsm/Knot, Red Sanidbel1.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/knot, red 04-27a.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/knot, red 04-23 f1.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Knot,_Red_2012e.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Knot,_Red_2012c.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Knot,_Red_2012a.jpg)
Sanderling Calidris alba Found: The Americas, Europe, Africa, Australia
Image by: 1)
Dick Daniels - Homer, Alaska
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) Dick - North Carolina
1) Juvenile 9) Breeding
![](../Daniels/AlaskaSM/Sanderling_Homer2.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/sanderling 04-23.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/sanderling 02-14 a.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/sanderling 09-16 b.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/sanderling 03-21.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/sanderling 03-14.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/sanderling 04-26.jpg)
![](../Daniels3SM/Sanderling_2016_Oak_Island.jpg)
Sandpiper,_Baird's Calidris bairdii Found: The Americas
Image by: 1)
Bill Bouton - California 2)
Maggie Smith - Old Creek, Cayucos,
California
3)
Dominic Sherony 4)
Seabrooke Leckie - Toronto 5)
Dick Daniels - Chile
1, 2) Juvenile
![](../People/BoutonBillSM/Sandpiper,_Baird's_BillBouton.jpg)
![](../People/SmithMaggieSM/Sandpiper,_Baird's_MaggieSmith.jpg)
![](../People/SheronyDominicSM/Sandpiper, Baird's_DominicSherony.jpg)
![](../Images1SM/Sandpiper,_Baird's_SeabrookeLeckie.jpg)
Sandpiper,_Broad-billed Calidris falcinellus Found: Europe, Asia, Africa,
Australasia
Image by: 1)
Nik_Borrow - Gabon 2)
Sreedev Puthur - India 3)
Alastair Rae
1) Nonbreeding 3) Breeding
![](../People/BorrowNikSM/Sandpiper,_Broad-billed_Nik_Borrow.jpg)
![](../Images4SM/Sandpiper,_Broad-billed_Sreedev Puthur.jpg)
Sandpiper,_Curlew Calidris ferruginea Found: North America, Europe,
Asia, Africa, Australasia
Image by: 1)
Kev Chapman 2)
Lip Kee Yap - Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore
3, 4) Dick Daniels - Madagascar 5)
Ómar Runólfsson - Iceland
6, 8) Mick Sway 7)
Changhua Coast Conservation Action
6, 7, 8) Breeding
![](../Images1SM/Sandpiper,_Curlew_KevChapman.jpg)
![](../People/YapSM/Sandpiper,_Curlew_Lip_Kee_Yap.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Madagascar/MadagascarSM/Sandpiper,_Curlew2.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Madagascar/MadagascarSM/Sandpiper,_Curlew.jpg)
![](../People/RunolfssonSM/Sandpiper,_Curlew_OmarRunolfsson.jpg)
![](../Images1SM/Sandpiper,_Curlew_MickSway2.jpg)
![](../Images1SM/Sandpiper,_Curlew_Changhua.jpg)
Sandpiper,_Least Calidris minutilla Found: The Americas
Image by: 1)
Mike Baird - California 2)
Britta - CA
3)
Gregory_Smith - CA 4)
Alan D. Wilson - British Columbia
5)
New
Jersy Birds 6, 7) Dick Daniels - North Carolina 8)
Dick - New Jersey
1, 2) Nonbreeding 3 - 8) Breeding
![](../People/BairdSM/Sandpiper,_Least_MikeBaird.jpg)
![](../Images4SM/Sandpiper,_Least_Britta.jpg)
![](../Images4SM/Sandpiper,_Least_Gregory_Smith.jpg)
![](../People/Wilson/WilsonSm/Sandpiper, Least Alan_D_Wilson_1534.jpg)
![](../People/NJbirds/njSM/Sandpiper,_Least_NewJerseyBirds.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Sandpiper,_Least_Sunset_Beach_2011_RWD7.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/sandpiper, least 09-07c CapeMay.jpg)
Sandpiper,_Pectoral Calidris melanotos Found: The Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand
Image by: 1)
Alan D. Wilson - British Columbia 2)
Dick Daniels - New Jersey 3)
Cláudio Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil 4)
Dominic
Sherony
![](../People/Wilson/WilsonSm/Sandpiper, Pectoral Alan_D_Wilson_1951.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/sandpiper, pectoral 09-17 b.jpg)
![](../People/TimmClaudioSM/Sandpiper,_Pectoral_ClaudioTimm.jpg)
Sandpiper,_Purple Calidris maritima Found: North America, Europe, Asia, Africa
Image by: 1)
Becky Gregory - Maryland 2)
Mjobling 3)
Frans_Vandewalle - Belgium 4)
S Fiztgerald - Texas 5)
Paul Roberts - Great Britain 6)
Andreas Trepte
1) Juvenile
![](../Images1SM/Sandpiper,_Purple_ BeckyGregory.jpg)
![](../Images4SM/Sandpiper, Purple Mjobling.jpg)
![](../People/Vandewalle_SM/Sandpiper,_Purple_Frans_Vandewalle.jpg)
![](../Images1SM/Sandpiper,_Purple_SFitzgerald86.jpg)
![](../Images1SM/Sandpiper,_Purple_PaulRoberts.jpg)
Sandpiper,_Rock Calidris ptilocnemis Found: northern Pacific coast of North America, Asia
Image by: 1)
Dick Daniels - Alaska 2)
Calypso Orchid 3)
Marcel Holyoak - California 4)
Alan D. Wilson - Alaska
1) Juvenile 2, 3) Nonbreeding 4) Breeding
![](../Daniels1SM/sandpiper, rock 09-04 AK.jpg)
![](../Images1SM/Sandpiper,_Rock_CalypsoOrchid.jpg)
![](../People/HolyoakSM/Sandpiper,_Rock_MarcelHolyoak.jpg)
Sandpiper,_Semipalmated Calidris pusilla Found: The Americas
Image by:
1, 2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels - North Carolina 5)
MDF - Ontario 6)
Viitalii_Khustochka - NYC
![](../Daniels1SM/sandpiper, semipalmated 02-03 c.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/sandpiper, semipalmated 05-10d SB.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/sandpiper, semipalmated 11-10g.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Sandpiper,_Semipalmated_OakIsland.jpg)
![](../People/MdfSM/Sandpiper,_Semipalmated_MDF.jpg)
Sandpiper,_Sharp-tailed Calidris acuminata Found: North America (rare), Asia, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, Madagascar (rare)
Image by: 1)
Len Blumin - California 2)
JJ_Harrison - Australia 3)
Alpsdake - Japan
4) Alnus - Taiwan 5) birdsaspoetry
1) Juvenile 3, 4) Breeding
![](../People/BluminSm/Sandpiper,_Sharp-tailed_Len_Blumin.jpg)
![](../People/HarrisonJJ_SM/Sandpiper,_Sharp-tailed_JJ_Harrison.jpg)
![](../People/AlpsdakeSM/Sandpiper,_Sharp-tailed_Alpsdake.jpg)
![](../People/AinusSM/Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Alnus.jpg)
Sandpiper,_Spoon-billed Calidris pygmaea Found: Asia
Image by: 1)
JJ Harrison - Thailand 2)
Gin_Tonic 3)
LonelyShrimp 4)
Grid_Arendal
1, 2, 3) Non breeding 4) Breeding
![](../People/HarrisonJJ_SM/Sandpiper,_Spoon-billed_JJ_Harrison.jpg)
![](../IMAGE10SM/Sandpiper,_Spoon-billed_Gin_Tonic.jpg)
![](../People/lonelyshrimpSM/Sandpiper,_Spoon-billed_LonelyShrimp.jpg)
Sandpiper,_Stilt Calidris himantopus Found: The Americas
Image by: 1)
Len Blumin - Indian Point Park, Texas 2)
Dan Pancamo 3)
Dominic
Sherony 4)
Kevin Pietrzak 5)
Francesco Veronesi
3, 4, 5) Breeding adults
![](../People/BluminSm/Sandpiper, Stilt Len_Blumin2.jpg)
![](../Images5SM/Sandpiper,_Stilt_DanPancamo.jpg)
![](../People/SheronyDominicSM/Sandpiper,_Stilt_DominicSherony.jpg)
![](../Images1SM/Sandpiper,_Stilt_KevinPietrzak.jpg)
Sandpiper,_Western Calidris mauri Found: The Americas
Image by: 1)
Len Blumin - California
2) Pat and Keith Taylor 3)
Alan D. Wilson - British Columbia 6)
Jerry Oldenettel - New Mexico
4, 5) Dick Daniels - North Carolina
1, 2) Juvenile 6) Breeding
![](../People/BluminSm/Sandpiper,_Western_Len_Blumin.jpg)
![](../Images7SM/Sandpiper,_Western_PatMaryTaylor.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/sandpiper, semipalmated or western 10-27 e.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/sandpiper, western 02-03 a.jpg)
Sandpiper,_White-rumped Calidris fuscicollis Found: The Americas
Image by:
1, 2, 3) Cláudio Timm - Rio Grande do
Sul, Brazil 4)
Nick Athanas - Argentina
![](../People/TimmClaudioSM/Sandpiper,_White-rumped4_ClaudioTimm.jpg)
![](../People/TimmClaudioSM/Sandpiper,_White-rumped6_ClaudioTimm.jpg)
![](../People/TimmClaudioSM/Sandpiper,_White-rumped2_ClaudioTimm.jpg)
Stint,_Little Calidris minuta Found: North America (rarely) Europe, Asia, Africa, Australa
Image by: 1)
Lip Kee Yap 2)
Andreas Trepte 3)
Ken Billington - Austria
4)
Agustin_Povedano
![](../People/YapSM/Stint, Little Yip Kee Yap2.jpg)
![](../People/TrepteSM/Stint, Little Andreas Trepte.jpg)
![](../Images4SM/Stint,_Little_KenBillington.jpg)
Stint,_Long-toed Calidris subminuta Found: Asia, Australasia
Image by: 1)
JJ Harrison - Thailand 2)
Alnus - Taoyuan County, Taiwan 3)
Alpsdake - Japan
![](../People/HarrisonJJ_SM/Stint,_Long-toed_Thailand_JJ_Harrison.jpg)
![](../People/AinusSM/Stint,_Long-toed_Alnus.jpg)
Stint,_Red-necked Calidris ruficollis Found: The Americas (occasional), Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia
Image by: 1)
JJ Harrison - Tasmania, Australia 2)
Laurie_Boyle 3) Wayne Butterworth 4)
David
Cook - Cairns, QLD, Australia 5) Alpsdake - Japan 6)
Aaron_Maizlish - CA
1, 2) Nonbreeding 5, 6) Breeding
![](../People/HarrisonJJ_SM/Stint,_Red-necked_TasmaniaAustralia_JJ_Harrison.jpg)
![](../People/Boyle_SM/Stint,_Red-necked_Laurie_Boyle.jpg)
![](../Images1SM/Stint,_Red-necked_WayneButterworth.jpg)
![](../People/CookDavidSM/Stint,_Red-necked_DavidCook.jpg)
![](../People/AlpsdakeSM/Stint,_Red-necked_Alpsdake.jpg)
Stint,_Temminck's Calidris temminckii Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Image by: 1)
JM Garg - India 2) Alpsdake - Japan 3)
Ron_Knight 4)
Andreas Trepte
1, 2) Non breeding 3, 4) Breeding
![](../People/GargSM/Stint,_Temmincks_JMGarg.jpg)
![](../People/AlpsdakeSM/Stint,_Temminck's_Alpsdake.jpg)
![](../People/KnightRonSM/Stint,_Temminck's_Ron_Knight.jpg)
Genus Philomachus - 1 species
Ruff Philomachus pugnax Found: North America (rare), Europe, Africa
Image by:
1, 5, 6, 8) Dick Daniels -
Sylvan Heights 2)
Marek Szczepanek 3)
Len Blumin - California 4)
Nik_Borrow - England
7, 9) Sandy Cole -
Sylvan Heights 10)
Cristiano Crolle - near Novara, Italy 11)
Frans Vandewalle
1) Juvenile 2) Nonbreeding female 3, 4) Breeding female 5 - 10) Males in breeding season
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Ruff female2 Jan2011.jpg)
![](../Images4SM/Ruff_juvenile_Marek_Szczepanek.jpg)
![](../People/BluminSm/Ruff winter female Len_Blumin.jpg)
![](../People/BorrowNikSM/Ruff_Nik_Borrow.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Ruff_female__2012.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Ruff_male_2012k.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Ruff_Sandy2.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Ruff_2012.jpg)
![](../Daniels/SylvanHeightsSmall/Ruff_Sandy.jpg)
![](../People/CrolleSM/Ruff_Crolle.jpg)
Genus Prosobonia
Sandpiper,_Tuamotu Prosobonia cancellata Found: French Polynesia
Image by:
1, 2) Geoff Jones
![](../ImageALLRIGHTS3/Sandpiper, Tuamotu_Geoff_Jones.jpg)
Genus Renaria
Turnstone, Black Renaria melanocephala Found: west coast of North America
Image by: 1)
Elaine R. Wilson - California 2)
Alan D. Wilson -, La Jolla, California
3, 4 5, 7, 8) Dick - Half Moon Bay, California 6)
Len Blumin - Costa Rica
1 - 5) Nonbreeding 6) Breeding 7, 8 ) Surfbird and Black Turnstone.
![](../People/Wilson/WilsonSm/Turnstone, Black Elaine_R_Wilson_4128.jpg)
![](../People/Wilson/WilsonSm/Turnstone, Black Alan_D_Wilson_6683.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Turnstone,_Black_HMB2.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Turnstone,_Black_HMB3.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Turnstone,_Black_HMB4.jpg)
![](../People/BluminSm/Turnstone, Blac Len_Blumin.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/Turnstone,_Black_and_Surfbird_HMB4.jpg)
Turnstone, Ruddy Arenaria interpres North America, Europe, Asia, and visits many other coastlines
Image by:
1, 2, 7, 8, 10) Dick Daniels - North Carolina 3)
Dick - Sanibel Island, Florida
4) Dick - North Carolina 5)
Dick - Negril, Jamaica 6) Chesapeak Bay Bridge, Maryland 9)
Cristiano Crolle - Texel, Holland
1 - 7) Nonbreeding 8, 9) Breeding
![](../Daniels1SM/turnstone, ruddy 02-14 a.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/turnstone, ruddy 03-04.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Florida/FLsm/Turnstone, Ruddy Sanibel Island.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/turnstone, ruddy 10-09 a.jpg)
![](../Daniels/Jamaica/JamaicaSM/Turnstone,_Ruddy_Negril3.jpg)
![](../Daniels2SM/turnstone, ruddy 09-09 CpBayBridge.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/turnstone, ruddy 10-09 b.jpg)
![](../Daniels1SM/turnstone, ruddy 05-03 b.jpg)
![](../People/CrolleSM/Turnstone,_Ruddy_Crolle.jpg)
Genus Tryngites - 1 species
Sandpiper,_Buff-breasted Tryngites
subruficollis Found: The
Americas, Africa
Image by: 1)
Aaron_Maizlish - CA
2, 3)
Tim Lenz 4)
Cláudio
Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
![](../People/MaizlishSM/Sandpiper,_Buff-breasted_Aaron_Maizlish.jpg)
![](../Images4SM/Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Tim_Lenz2.jpg)
![](../Images4SM/Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Tim_Lenz3.jpg)