New England Shorebird Guide

A smart-phone app for introductory or medium-experience bird-watchers.

New England Shorebird Guide

For introductory or medium-experience birdwatchers.

Shorebirds are a group of mostly highly migratory birds, many of which (but not all and not at all times) frequent seashores, marshes, lake shores or wetlands. Two major groups within the shorebird clan are the plovers and the sandpipers. American Oystercatcher, American Avocet and Black-necked Stilt are three additional species in the clan which have been seen in New England.
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  • American Golden-Plover photographic ID guide
    85
    American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) (AMGP) | 9.5–11.25 in. (24–28.5 cm)
  • Black-bellied Plover photographic ID guide
    18
    Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) (BBPL) | 10.6–11.8 in. (27–30 cm)
  • Dunlin photographic ID guide
    15
    Dunlin (Calidris alpina) (DUNL) | 6.5–8.5 in. (16.5–21cm)
  • Greater Yellowlegs photographic ID guide
    10
    Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) (GRYE) | 11.5–13.25 in. (29–33 cm)
  • Least Sandpiper photographic ID guide
    11
    Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) (LESA) | 4.5–4.75 in. (11.4–12 cm)
  • Lesser Yellowlegs photographic ID guide
    12
    Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) (LEYE) | 9.25–10 in. (23–25 cm)
  • Pectoral Sandpiper photographic ID guide
    8
    Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) (PESA) | 7.5-9 in. (19-23 cm)
  • Purple Sandpiper photographic ID guide
    3
    Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritime) (PUSA)
    8–8.75 in. (20–22 cm)
  • Red Knot photographic ID guide
    10
    Red Knot (Calidris canutus) (REKN) | 9–10 in. (23–25 cm)
  • Ruddy Turnstone photographic ID guide
    5
    Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) (RUTU) | 8.75–9.5 in. (22.2–24.1 cm)
  • Sanderling photographic ID guide
    8
    Sanderling (Calidris alba) (SAND) | 7.7– 8 in. (18–20 cm)
  • Semipalmated Plover photographic ID guide
    5
    Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) (SEPL) | 6.75–7.25 in. (17–19 cm)
  • Semipalmated Sandpiper photographic ID guide
    21
    Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) (SESA) | 5.5–6 in. (13–15 cm)
  • Short-billed Dowitcher photographic ID guide
    15
    Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) (SBDO) | 9.0–10 in. (23–25 cm)
  • Stilt Sandpiper photographic ID guide
    7
    Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (STSA) | 7.9–9.1 in. (20–23 cm)
  • Western Sandpiper photographic ID guide
    15
    Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) (WESA) | 5.5–6.75 in. (14–17 cm)
  • White-rumped Sandpiper photographic ID guide
    18
    White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicolis) (WRSA) | 7-7.3 in. (17.8-18.5 cm)
When attempting to identify a shorebird, keep in mind that size, shape, and behavior are often as helpful as plumage in determining the species.
Size and shape
In the thumbnails images above, the birds are sized to demonstrate their relative dimensions compared to other shorebirds. We also give body length information for each species. Be sure to pay attention to body shapes and postures in the illustrations.
Plumage
When attempting to identify a shorebird using plumage, keep in mind the season: many species of shorebirds undergo transformative seasonal molts, usually for winter (basic plumage) and for spring and summer (breeding or alternate plumage). There is also, usually, a distinctive juvenile plumage. In this guide we attempt to show variations and seasonal molts as well as in-between plumages.
Seasons
Due to the vast distances that most shorebird travel in the course of their annual migrations, many species are generally expected and observed at specific times of year. For example, in winter one can expect to find Purple Sandpipers, Dunlins and Sanderlings, usually at southern New England shore spots.
In spring, the first shorebirds to arrive in New England are American Woodcock (February), followed by Killdeer and then Wilson’s Snipe (March). Least Sandpipers and Greater Yellowlegs arrive in April. Most other species arrive in May, with the major movement being in the last week of May or even the first week of June. The reason for this movement late in the spring is that subarctic and arctic regions, where most of these migratory shorebirds are headed, are often covered by ice and snow until June.
Most shorebirds that nest in boreal regions finish their nesting activities by late June or, at the latest, early July. Many adults, the females in the majority of species, then leave the arctic or subarctic and begin their southward journeys, so that “fall” shorebird migration appears to start in early July. Eventually the males arrive in mid-August and the juveniles in September; migrant shorebirds move on to southern latitudes and, in many case, the southern hemisphere where they winter. By November, most species are far south of New England, although there are always a few lingerers.
The species accounts explain that certain species, such as Western Sandpiper or Long-billed Dowitcher, are extremely scarce in spring migration in New England, but expected, albeit in small numbers, in fall migration. Other species, such as Stilt Sandpiper or Baird’s Sandpiper, migrate primarily through the center of the continent, so that they are scarce in New England in both spring and fall.
Behavior
Within each of the major groupings there are subgroups which are genetically related. Species that are genetically related often, but not always, exhibit behavioral similarities or similarity in habitat preference. For example, nearly all the sandpipers in the genus Tringa teeter slightly when walking and prefer shallow water rather than mudflats or sandy beaches when foraging. Plovers in the genus Pluvialis feed by running along on a sandy or muddy substrate, then stopping suddenly to pull up a worm or other food item.
We're thrilled to share our New England Shorebird Guide with you. If you're not already a Bird Observer subscriber, your support in choosing to do so would be greatly appreciated.
Phone Users: this shorebird guide is a web app for your phone. Choose "Add to Home Screen" now to add an app icon to your screen and have one-click access in the field.

Acknowledgements

This guide would not have been possible without the cooperation and collaboration of multiple people.
Marsha Salett, Editor of Bird Observer, has been the stalwart editor and fixer-upper of the text and advisor on format and layout.
Eric Swanzey, webmaster for many Massachusetts birding sites including Bird Observer and Nuttall Ornithological Club, is the designer of the app.
Brian Harrington, Alan Kneidel and Brad Winn of Manomet have been supportive and encouraging of the project.
Soheil Zendeh created the contents for this app.
Many photographers have selflessly contributed photos of shorebirds for this project:
David Ascanio
Tamara Catalan Bermudez
Robert Bochenek
Brendan Burke
Shawn Carey
Angel Cardenas
Matthew Clark
Laurent Esselen
Elizabeth Hawkins
Robert Hollander
Liam Huber
Paul Jones
Peter Kennerley
Jared Keyes
Alan Kneidel
Daniel Lopez-Velasco
Laura Markley
Luciano Massa
Lawrence Master
Geoff Newhouse
Daniel Petterson
Van Remsen
P. Smith
Sandi Sorkin
Prashant Tewari
Andrew Thomas
Sergio Andres Duena Trejo
Jorge Vidal
Marjorie Watson
Sean Williams
Cole Wolf
Rick Wright
Soheil Zendeh
Sam Zhang
Matt Zuro
These photos are being used in this guide solely for non-profit educational purposes. This shorebird guide or any portion of it may be used for non-profit educational purposes.
© Copyright 2024 Bird Observer, Inc. and Eric Swanzey.
Website code/design/development by Swanzey Internet Group LLC.
Supporting photography by Just Your Nature.
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