Shorebirds Identification Guide Home / Environment / Fauna Identify our shorebirds 1. Discover where they live 2. Understand their needs 3. Help them to survive 4. Pumicestone Passage Shorebird Challenge plus identify the species and answer the quiz for a great prize 5. Pumicestone Passage Shorebird Challenge & Identification Guide] 6. Identification Guide 7. Back to Pumicestone Passage Shorebirds 8. This guide describes the 35 shorebird species that occur regularly in the vicinity of Pumicestone Passage. The majority of these species are shown in non-breeding plumage, as this is how they are most often encountered, but some exhibit evidence of juvenile or breeding plumage. Sizes given are approximate and the descriptions are, of necessity, brief. Note that images are not to the same scale. Shorebirds can present an identification challenge, even to the most experienced observer, and the following species pairs need particular care. Image: N Bowman Greater (left) and Lesser (right) Sand Plovers Note bill shape and size, general colour and overall head and body shape and size. Image: C Barnes Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits Note black and white in wings and tail of Black- tailed compared to more uniform Bar-tailed. Grey-tailed and Wandering Tattlers Grey-tailed are slightly smaller and slightly paler than Wandering. Some differences are described below but others are beyond the scope of this guide. In Pumicestone Passage, Grey-tailed generally prefer mudflats and sandy beaches, whereas Wandering are found almost exclusively along the rocky headland of Caloundra. Image: W Jolly Image: C Barnes Image: R Inglis Shorebirds Identification Guide | Moreton Bay Regional Council http://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/environment.aspx?id=24727 1 of 5 24/04/11 7:23 PM
This guide describes the 35 shorebird species that occur regularly in the vicinity of PumicestonePassage. The majority of these species are shown in non-breeding plumage, as this is how they aremost often encountered, but some exhibit evidence of juvenile or breeding plumage. Sizes given areapproximate and the descriptions are, of necessity, brief. Note that images are not to the same scale.
Shorebirds can present an identification challenge, even to the most experienced observer, and thefollowing species pairs need particular care.
Image: N Bowman
Greater (left) andLesser (right) SandPlovers
Note bill shape and size,general colour and overallhead and body shape andsize.
Image: C Barnes
Black-tailed andBar-tailed Godwits
Note black and white inwings and tail of Black-tailed compared to moreuniform Bar-tailed.
Grey-tailed andWandering Tattlers
Grey-tailed are slightlysmaller and slightly palerthan Wandering. Somedifferences are describedbelow but others arebeyond the scope of thisguide.
In Pumicestone Passage,Grey-tailed generally prefermudflats and sandybeaches, whereasWandering are foundalmost exclusively alongthe rocky headland ofCaloundra.
Image: W Jolly Image: C Barnes Image: R Inglis
Shorebirds Identification Guide | Moreton Bay Regional Council http://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/environment.aspx?id=24727
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Bush Stone-curlew
Uncommon resident. Verylarge (55-58cm),grey-brown above andwhitish with dark streaksbelow. Large yellow eyes.Short black bill and longpale legs. Far-carryingwailing call often given atnight. Parks and Gardens.
Beach Stone-curlew
Rare resident. Very large(54-56cm), grey-brownabove and greyish below.Large yellow eyes. Verylarge black bill, yellow atbase, and thickyellow-green legs.Distinctive face pattern.Sandy Beaches withmangroves.
Masked Lapwing
Very common resident.Large (35-37cm), brownabove and white below,with black crown and sidesof breast, yellow facialwattles and wing spurs.Yellow bill and eye andpinkish legs. Aggressiveand noisy when breeding.Parks, grasslands, wetlandsand coastal areas.
Image: T Siggs
Sooty Oystercatcher
Uncommon resident. Large(46-49cm), black withconspicuous red eyes.Bright orange-red bill anddull-pink legs. Clear sharppiping call. Rockyshorelines.
Image: R Inglis
Australian PiedOystercatcher
Very common resident.Large (48-50cm), black andwhite with conspicuous redeyes. Bright orange-red billand reddish-pink legs.Clear mellow piping call. Allcoastal areas.
Image: R Inglis
Black-winged Stilt
Very common resident.Large (33-37cm), elegant,black and white,unmistakable. Longneedle-like black bill andvery long pink legs.Lagoons, mudflats andsandy beaches.
Image: N Bowman
Red-necked Avocet
Uncommon nomadic visitor.Large (43-46cm), elegant,black and white, withchestnut head. Longslender upturned black billand long legs. Lagoons,mudflats and sandybeaches.
Image: R Inglis
Pacific Golden Plover
Common summer visitor.Medium (23-26cm),golden-brown above andcreamy-buff below. Largedark eyes. Short black billand relatively long blacklegs. In breeding plumagehas black face, throat andunderparts. Mudflats andsandy beaches.
Image: R Inglis
Grey Plover
Uncommon summervisitors. Medium(28-30cm), mottled greyabove and pale grey below.Larger than Pacific GoldenPlover, with heavy black billand relatively long blacklegs. In flight shows blackarmpits and white rump. Inbreeding plumage hasblack face, throat andunderparts (photographsshows remnants). Mudflatsand sandy beaches.
Image: R Inglis
Red-capped Plover
Very common resident.Very small (14-16cm),grey-brown above andwhite below, with chestnutcap and nape. Black billand legs. Male morecolourful than female.Sandy beaches.
Image: R Inglis
Double-banded Plover
Uncommon winter visitorfrom New Zealand. Verysmall (18-19cm),grey-brown above andwhite below, often with twopartial brownishbreastbands. Slender blackbill and greyish legs. Inbreeding plumage hasblack (upper) and chestnut(lower) breastbands(photograph showsremnants). Sandy beaches.
Shorebirds Identification Guide | Moreton Bay Regional Council http://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/environment.aspx?id=24727
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Image: R Inglis
Greater Sand Plover
Common summer visitor.Medium (22-25cm),grey-brown above andwhite below. Large eyes.Very similar to Lesser SandPlover but larger and paler,with larger head, longerand thicker bill and longerlegs (often paler). Inbreeding plumage hasblack and chestnutmarkings on head andbreast. Mudflats and sandybeaches.
Image: C Barnes
Lesser Sand Plover
Common summer visitor.Small (19-21cm),grey-brown above andwhite below. Large eyes.Short black bill and darkgrey legs, sometimestinged greenish. Inbreeding plumage hasblack and chestnutmarkings on head andbreast. Mudflats and sandybeaches.
Image: R Inglis
Red-kneed Dotterel
Uncommon resident. Verysmall (17-19cm) brownishabove and white below,with black cap and broadblack breastband. Dull redbill with black tip. Grey legsbelow "knee" andreddish-pink above.Wetlands.
Image: R Inglis
Black-fronted Dotterel
Common resident. Verysmall (16-18cm), brownishabove and white below,with bold black V-shapedbreastband andconspicuous red eye-rings.Red bill with black tip andpinkish legs. Wetlands andmudflats.
Image: R Inglis
Comb-crested Jacana
Common resident insuitable habitat. Medium(21-24cm), brown aboveand white below, withbroad black breastbandand red comb on forehead.Female larger. Reddish billwith black tip and longgrey-green legs. Enormoustoes. Wetlands.
Image: R Inglis
Latham's Snipe
Common summer visitor insuitable habitat. Medium(29-31cm), brown withpale stripes above andwhitish below. Large eyes.Long straightgreyish-brown bill, darkernear tip, and olive legs.Zigzags in flight whenflushed. Wetlands.
Image: C Barnes
Black-tailed Godwit
Uncommon summer visitor.Large (36-43cm), uniformgrey-brown, paler below,with long straight pink andblack bill and long legs. Inflight shows whiteunderwing, wingbars andrump and black tail. Inbreeding plumage hasrusty face, neck andbreast. Mudflats and sandybeaches.
Image: R Inglis
Bar-tailed Godwit
Very common summervisitor. Large (38-45cm),brown-streaked abovegiving mottled appearance,paler below with long,slightly upturned pink andblack bill and long legs.Female bill longer. In flightshows white rump andlower back and barred tail.In breeding, plumage hasbrick-red face, neck andunderparts. Mudflats andsandy beaches.
Image: R Hoff
Whimbrel
Very common summer
Image: R Inglis
Eastern Curlew
Very common summer
Image: A Carlson
Terek Sandpiper
Common summer visitor.
Image: N Bowman
Common Sandpiper
Uncommon summer visitor.
Shorebirds Identification Guide | Moreton Bay Regional Council http://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/environment.aspx?id=24727
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visitor. Large (40-43cm),uniformly brownish-streaked, paler below, withlong down-curved dark bill,pinkish at base, and longlegs. Whitish eyebrows andcentral crown-stripe. Inflight shows white lowerback. Smaller than EasternCurlew, with shorter billand legs. Loud rapidtittering call. Mudflats andsandy beaches.
visitor. Very large(60-65cm), uniformlybrownish-streaked, palerbelow. Largest shorebird,with extremely longdowncurved dark bill,pinkish at base, and longlegs. Female bill longer.Does not show white lowerback in flight. Wary andeasily disturbed. Loudmournful "curlee" call.Mudflats and sandybeaches.
Medium (22-24cm), greyabove and white below,with fairly long upturnedblack bill, orange at base,and short orange legs.Horizontal feeding posutrewith forward-tripping gait.Only smallish shorebirdwith upturned bill. Mudflatsand sandy beaches.
Small (19-21cm),olive-brown aove and whitebelow, with straight darkbill, greenish-brown atbase, and olive-yellow legs.In flight shows whitewingbars, often gliding ondowncurved wings.Frequently bobs head andrear end of body. Wetlandsand muddy margins.
Image: N Bowman
Grey-tailed Tattler
Common summer visitor.Medium (24-27cm), greyabove and white below,with straight dark bill andyellow legs. Whiteeyebrows meet above billand extend behind eye.Grey flanks oftenconcealed. In breedingplumage fine grey barscover the breast andflanks. Flight call a risingdisyllabic whistle. Mudflatsand sandy beaches.
Image: R Inglis
Wandering Tattler
Uncommon summer visitor.Medium (26-29cm), greyabove and white below,with straight dark bill andyellow legs. Very similar toGrey-tailed Tattler. Whiteeyebrows do not meetabove bill and are indistinctbehind eye. Grey flanksoften visible. In breedingplumage broad grey barscover almost the entireunderparts. Flight call arippling trill. Rockyshorelines.
Image: R Inglis
Common Greenshank
Common summer visitor.Large (30-34cm), greyabove and white below,with long slightly upturneddark bill, greenish-grey atbase, and long greenishlegs. In flight shows whiteback and rump. in breedingplumage has darkstreaking on head andbreast. Loud ringing'tew-tew-tew' call. Mudflatsand sandy beaches.
Image: R Inglis
Marsh Sandpiper
Uncommon summer visitor.Medium (22-25cm), greyabove and white below,with long straightneedle-like black bill andlong olive-green legs. Inflight shows white back andrump. Like a miniatureCommon Greenshank. Inbreeding plumage has darkstreaking on head andbreast. Wetlands.
Image: R Inglis
Ruddy Turnstone
Common summer visitor.Medium (22-24cm), stocky,mottled brown and white,with short orange legs. Inbreeding plumage ischestnut, black and white.Habitually turns stones andshells over when searchingfor food. Mudflats, sandy
Image: R Inglis
Great Knot
Very common summervisitor. Medium (26-28cm),dumpy, grey-brown aboveand white below with darkheart-shaped spots onbreast and flanks. Straighttapering black bill. Inbreeding plumage developsblack and chestnut on
Image: R Inglis
Red Knot
Uncommon summer visitor.medium (23-25cm),dumpy, pale uniformgrey-brown above andwhite below with greyishchevron-shaped streakingon breast and flanks.Smaller than similar Greatknot, with shortish black
Image: R Inglis
Sanderling
Uncommon summer visitor.Small (20-21cm), greyabove and white below,with short black bill andlegs. Prominent black patchon shoulder. in breedingplumage has chestnut onupperparts, face, neck andbreast. Often follows
Shorebirds Identification Guide | Moreton Bay Regional Council http://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/environment.aspx?id=24727
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beaches and rockyshorelines.
wings, and spots onunderparts become blackand more extensive.Mudflats and sandybeaches.
bill. In breeding plumagehas rusty underparts.Higher numbers recordedduring spring migration.Mudflats and sandybeaches.
retreating waves. Sandybeaches.
Image: R Inglis
Red-necked Stint
Very common summervisitor. Very small(13-16cm), grey-brownabove and whitish below,with short straight blackbill and black legs. Inbreeding plumage hasrufous face, throat andbreast. Mudflats and sandybeaches.
Image: R Inglis
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Very common summervisitor. Small (17-21cm),brown above and whitishbelow, with streaked brownbreast and rufous crown.Short slightly downcurvedblack bill, paler at base,and olive-grey to olive-yellow legs. Wetlands,mudflats and sandybeaches.
Image: R Inglis
Curlew Sandpiper
Very common summervisitor. Small (20-22cm),grey-brown above andwhite below, with eventlydowncurved black bill andlongish black legs. In flightshows white rump. Inbreeding plumage has richchestnut underparts.Mudflats and sandybeaches.
Image: S Blanchflower
Broad-billed Sandpiper
Rare summer visitor. Verysmall (16-18cm), greyabove and white below,often showing a split whiteeyebrow. Fairly long broadblack bill with distinctivedownward kink at tip andshortish olive-grey legs.often associates with stintsand sand plovers. Mudflatsand sandy beaches.
