Shorebirds

Shorebirds. Trying to group "Shorebirds" is as easy as trying to get a cat to obey. Are they birds only found on sea or lake "shores?" Are they part of, or a larger group that includes "waders" like heron? Do they include Gulls which hang around sea shores -- although, not inclusively. So, depending on your definition it could include as many as 200 or more species. Suffice to say, they typically are associated with wetland or coastal environments. Many species in Arctic and temperate regions are migratory, but tropical birds are often resident, or move only in response to rainfall patterns. The majority of species eat small invertebrates picked out of mud or exposed soil. Different lengths of bills enable different species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. Many waders have sensitive nerve endings at the end of their bills which enable them to detect prey items hidden in mud or soft soil. Some larger species, particularly those adapted to drier habitats will take larger prey including insects and small amphibians.  In the first photo you see a huge flock of sandpipers (of some sort) that seemed to sway with the wind, while on the ground there are ducks, geese, herons, and all sorts of waterbirds.

photo taken at Humboldt Bay, California

White Faced Ibis, American Avocet, Black Necked Stilt, Wilson's Phalarope, Greater Yellowlegs, Dunlin, and Western Sandpiper

photo taken at Lake Cochise, Arizona

Tomorrow, I'll begin with the Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies of which 36 species can be found in North America.