Shorebirds

Shorebirds are a diverse group of small to medium-sized wading birds that inhabit coastal shores, mudflats, salt marshes, beaches, and an array of inland wetlands. They belong mainly to the order Charadriiformes and include several families, notably Scolopacidae (sandpipers, curlews, godwits, and phalaropes), Charadriidae (plovers), Haematopodidae (oystercatchers), and Recurvirostridae (stilts and avocets). Common traits include slender bodies, relatively long legs, and adaptations that allow for rapid foraging on exposed substrates.

Feeding approaches vary by species. Many probe with elongated bills to locate invertebrates in mud and sand; others pick prey from the surface, run along the shoreline to snatch crustaceans, or sweep and filter-feed with specialized bills. Shorebirds often form large migratory flocks during stopovers and undertake long journeys between northern breeding grounds and southern wintering areas, using established flyways.

Breeding takes place on ground nests, usually simple scrapes or mounded nests on beaches, tundra, or saline marshes. Nests are often cryptic to conceal eggs from predators. Most species are territorial during the breeding season and form pair bonds, though parental roles vary; among phalaropes, females are typically larger and drive courtship, while males incubate the eggs in some species.

Conservation: Shorebirds are affected by habitat loss and disturbance at breeding, staging, and wintering sites, as well as climate change and coastal development. Many species rely on a network of intertidal habitats that can be degraded or lost, leading to declines in some populations. International monitoring and habitat protection at key sites and along migratory flyways are important for their persistence.