Let's warm up with some shorebird ID! Flashcards
Can you identify these shorebirds? To get you in the mood for the more in-depth learning presented in this class, this deck tests you on 20 species of shorebirds drawn at random from the other decks.
Lesser Yellowlegs
Bright yellow legs and a thin, straight bill (without curvature) that is about the same length as the head tell us this is a Lesser Yellowlegs. These shorebirds are also much smaller than the similar-looking Greater Yellowlegs and have a different call (1-2 sharp, whistled notes instead of 3-5).
Spotted Sandpiper
Non-breeding plumage
While the Spotted Sandpiper loses its tell-tale spotted breast and belly in the winter, the little extension of white feathers past the shoulder is a distinctive trait of the species, and can help to tell it apart from the similar-looking Solitary Sandpiper.
Also note the broken (and not complete), thin (and not bold) white eye-ring, dark eye stripe, and orange bill.
Willet
Breeding plumage
Just look at that bold, black-and-white wing patterning. No other brown-gray shorebird hides such an ostentatious feature under its wings!
Red Knot
Breeding plumage
About the same size as a Killdeer, Red Knot are North America’s largest peep. In breeding plumage, they are very colorful for a shorebird, with their head, neck and breast becoming a bold, rusty red color.
An important clue to pay attention to is that Red Knot have a strict preference for intertidal marine habitats, like coastal inlets, estuaries, and bays.
What birds are these?
Sanderling
Non-breeding plumage
With a worldwide distribution, Sanderling are one of the most widespread wintering shorebirds. Note their pure white undersides, mostly white faces and necks, and very black legs and bills.
In flight, look for a black leading edge to the wings, strong black-and-white wing stripe (the most distinctive of all the peeps), and the pale tail and rump with a dark stripe in the center (not visible here). Since peeps often take off in mixed flocks, this is one way you can tell Sanderling apart from the other birds in the flock.
Dunlin
Non-breeding plumage
In the non-breeding season, the Dunlin is one of the plainest peeps with a dull brownish back and white belly (the long, drooping bill is key for identification).
In fact, the name “Dunlin” originates from the word “dun”, which means dull brown and the term dunling which means “little brown one.”
Semipalmated Sandpiper
These are small peeps, barely larger than a Least Sandpiper, with a short, blunt-tipped bill. They can be very hard to tell apart from the other peeps so pay attention to bill length because it is noticably shorter than that of the similar-looking Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, and Dunlin in non-breeding plumage.
They are also distinctly uncolorful, lacking the chestnut plumage of the other peeps in the breeding season.
What bird is this?
Wilson’s Snipe
Look at those distinctive crown markings and suspender stripes! Also the very long, straight bill and short neck and tail. Wilson’s Snipes are very squat, stocky-looking birds because of their short necks, tails, and legs.
Red Phalarope
Breeding plumage, female
These birds are distinctive with their brick-red plumage, black cap, white cheek patch, and “painted” streaky back. Males are similar but patchy, duller, and with a mottled, not black crown.
It may look quite stocky in this photo but Red Phalarope are smaller than Killdeer. Note the bulky, yellow, medium-length bill, which alone, sets it apart from the other two phalarope species.
What bird is this?
Surfbird
Non-breeding plumage
Surfbirds are stocky, medium-sized shorebirds with a large head and short, stout bill used for prying barnacles and mussels off of rocks in the intertidal zone.
As their name suggests, you will never find them far from the breaking waves on beaches and rocky shores! Note the short, stout yellow legs and yellow bill base.
What bird is this?
Ruddy Turnstone
Breeding plumage
Take a closer look at that short, stocky, sharp-ended bill. Turnstones use these to flip over stones, seaweed, shells, and other debris to look for food underneath; hence the name turn stone!
Upland Sandpiper
This medium-sized sandpiper has unusual proportions with its long legs, tail, and neck (the lattermost of which is not all that visible in this picture) and a short bill and small head. They also have a large, dark eye that stands out quite prominently.
What bird is this?
Killdeer
The best-known and most widespread plover in North America, easily recognized by its bright red eye ring and two dark chest bands. No other shorebird in North America has these markings.
Killdeer are also very vocal, calling out a rapid series of “kill-deer, kill-deer, kill-deer” notes, both in flight and while at rest, hence their name.
What birds are these?
Black-bellied Plovers
Breeding plumage
These are the largest species of plover in North America and are easily distinguished (when in breeding plumage) from the similar-looking American and Pacific Golden-plover by having pure white and not black or mottled black under the tail.
Piping Plover
Breeding plumage
One of two banded plovers with a pale back the color of dry beach sand. The other banded plovers—Semipalmated and Wilson’s Plovers—have darker upperparts that are more the color of wet sand.
Note the dark chest band that extends completely around the back of the neck. Piping Plover also have the smallest bill of all the banded plovers. In the breeding season, it turns a bright yellow-orange at the base and dark at the tip. The legs are yellow-orange.
Mountain Plover
Breeding plumage
The smallest of the unbanded plovers (smaller than a Killdeer), Mountain Plover have unmarked and unspeckled sandy brown upperparts with white undersides and face.
In the breeding season, they develop a black bar across the forehead and a black line that connects the bill to the eye. It has a contrasting white eye line. It is the only unbanded plover without any markings on its body, making it rather easy to identify!
What bird is this?
Long-billed Curlew
The upperparts are streaked and barred, while beneath, they are a pale cinnamon brown. Their plumage does not change between the seasons.
Unlike the similar-looking (although smaller) Whimbrel, the crown is not striped and the bill is much longer.
Hudsonian Godwit
Breeding plumage
Hudsonian Godwits are quite striking in their reddish breeding plumage. Note the white face and strong white eyebrow.
In flight, they also show very long, thin, pointed wings. They have bold white wing stripes, black underwing linings and auxiliaries, a white rump, and black tail. All of this creates a strong contrast that Marbled Godwits lack with their buffy, barred plumage.
What bird is this?
Black Oystercatcher
Black Oystercatcher use their robust red bills to force bivalve mollusks open to get to the flesh inside. Because of their diet, they are strictly coastal marine birds that never venture inland.
Black-necked Stilt
The incredibly long, pink legs tell us this shorebird is a stilt and since there is only one species of stilt in North America, the rest of the ID comes easily.
However, note the black that extends from the back up the back of the neck and to the head, face, and forehead. Should you ever go birding in South America, where you will find the similar-looking White-backed Stilt, noting the distribution of black on the neck and face will help you tell the two apart.
