Shore birds and waders

Shore birds or 'waders' are those birds commonly found on coastal shores, including beaches, rocky shores, mudflats, tidal wetlands and lagoons. These include the many plovers and sandpipers in the families Charadriidae and Scolopacidae, as well as the stone-curlews, snipes, pratincoles, oystercatchers, stilts, avocets and the Plains-wanderer.

Migrating from afar

Many wader species are migratory, traveling many thousands of kilometres to or from breeding grounds. Many waders are also the subject of detailed studies that cover the countries they breed in and migrate across. In particular, extensive drainage and reclamation of wetlands in Australasia and Asia, as well as the intensive harvesting of waterbirds in Asia, has placed many populations of migratory waders under increasing threat. Nearly 50 species that breed in northern Asia visit Australia during the southern summer, and young birds may overwinter in Australia for one or two years.

Urban waders

Some waders are common in urban areas, often visiting spaces such as parks and golf courses which have lakes or ponds that provide suitable habitat.

Related links

Some of our shorebirds and waders include:

Scientific Name: Rostratula australis
Scientific Name: Haematopus longirostris
Scientific Name: Stiltia isabella
Scientific Name: Vanellus tricolor
Scientific Name: Cladorhynchus leucocephalus
Scientific Name: Limosa lapponica
Scientific Name: Esacus magnirostris
Scientific Name: Ixobrychus flavicollis
Scientific Name: Elseyornis melanops
Scientific Name: Himantopus himantopus
Scientific Name: Limicola falcinellus
Scientific Name: Tringa nebularia
Scientific Name: Actitis hypoleucos
Scientific Name: Calidris ferruginea
Scientific Name: Charadrius bicinctus
Scientific Name: Numenius madagascariensis
Scientific Name: Pluvialis squatarola
Scientific Name: Tringa brevipes
Scientific Name: Thinornis rubricollis
Scientific Name: Charadrius australis
Scientific Name: Gallinago hardwickii
Scientific Name: Numenius minutus
Scientific Name: Tringa stagnatilis
Scientific Name: Charadrius veredus
Scientific Name: Pluvialis fulva
Scientific Name: Calidris canutus
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