Peeps- The Shorebird Identification Struggle

Identification of shorebirds is a challenge to the novice and the advanced birder alike, but there are a few simple things that can really facilitate getting to an identification of the small shorebirds with a pretty good level of confidence that does not take hours of memorization of minute field marks.

When you see a flock of shorebirds the first thing to do is to see if they all look and behave the same, or if there is likely more than one type present. In most flocks of more than a few birds there is a mixture of species. Look for different size birds, different color birds, and birds that behave differently. Look for birds that are on the fringe of the flock, or are in slightly different habitat.

Once you have decided about how many different species are likely present, pick the most common species to identify. Knowledge of the likely species to be found in the location is key here, as it’s unlikely that you have discovered a large flock of a species that’s rare or uncommon in your current location. First decide if the small shorebird you are looking at is a sandpiper or a plover. Sandpipers have longer thinner bills, and tend to probe for their food, whereas plovers tend to keep their head up and visually look for food, walk or run to the food and pick it off the substrate with their shorter bills.

Next look at the general color, shape and size of the birds. Bill length is important, and bill shape is very helpful. Leg color is also a key to shorebird ID. Only after you decide if you have a plover or a sandpiper, and have noted these major identification field marks should you start to look for minor field marks.

More experienced birders will place a good deal of emphasis on the bird’s behavior. Western Sandpipers tend to probe in deeper water and more consistently that Semipalmated Sandpipers. Least Sandpipers have short legs, and so tend to seem to feed close to their feet when they bend over to feed, whereas Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers appear to feel farther forward from their toes.

If you can get a good look in good light at the birds leg color is very helpful. In the US if a tiny shorebird has yellow legs it is almost certainly a Least Sandpiper. If a sandpiper’s bill is short, straight and a bit bulbous at the tip it’s more likely a Semipalmated than a Western Sandpiper.

Stay focused on the basic behavior, habitat, and range of the birds and you’ll have an easier time making your shorebird identification.