Shorebirds

Birds of North America

Charadriidae, Haematopodidae, Jacanidae, Recurvirostridae & Scolopacidae

Lives, Habitats & Pictures of the Shorebirds

There are at least fifty types of shorebird species in North America, not including the vagrants, that are blown off course during high winds or storms, and others that just happen to drop in for a short visit. These birds vary in size, ranging from the small 6" Least Sandpiper to the 24" Long-billed Curlew, the largest species in the shorebird families.

These birds are found throughout North America, almost all of them can be seen along the water's edge of our lands. Some prefer salt water, and can only be seen on the sandy and rocky coastlines of the oceans and mudflats, while others may be found feeding in salt water and fresh water, depending on the season. Still, others may only be found in pastures, such as the Upland Sandpiper.

Shorebirds are among the most difficult birds to identify. Some species are quite similar to other species and their calls are the only true way to identify one from the other. Most of these birds will change from a colourful plumage in their breeding season to dull greys and browns in the fall and winter months.

Click on the bird names listed below to see pictures of Shorebirds of North America
Avocet	Curlews	Dowitchers	Dunlin
Godwits	Killdeer	Knot	Phalaropes
Plovers	Oystercatchers	Ruff	Sanderling
Sandpipers	Surfbird	Stilt	Turnstones
Whimbrel	Willet "eastern"	Willet "western"	Yellowlegs