American WoodcockScolopax minorPlump, well-camouflaged shorebird that favors wooded or shrubby areas, usually near open fields. Plain buffy-salmon belly distinctive; also note intricately patterned upperparts with broad gray stripes down the back. Goofy-looking expression with huge dark eye placed high and far back on head. Extremely long bill used to probe the ground for worms. When flushed from dense cover, listen for high-pitched wing twittering and note rotund shape and long bill. Might be confused with Wilson’s Snipe, but woodcock is not nearly as dark and patterned. Fairly common throughout eastern North America, but secretive and rarely seen well in daytime. Always on the ground, except during well-known elaborate courtship display performed from dusk to dawn in spring. Listen for loud nasal “PEENT!” calls from the ground and high-pitched chirps and twitters (produced by the outer wing feathers) from high in the sky.Scolopacidae bird family
Order Charadriiformes · 11 selected species
Browse verified BirdLens profiles selected for complete taxonomy, substantial descriptive coverage, and visual evidence. Open a species to compare its identification notes, distribution, behavior, sounds, and maps.
American WoodcockScolopax minorPlump, well-camouflaged shorebird that favors wooded or shrubby areas, usually near open fields. Plain buffy-salmon belly distinctive; also note intricately patterned upperparts with broad gray stripes down the back. Goofy-looking expression with huge dark eye placed high and far back on head. Extremely long bill used to probe the ground for worms. When flushed from dense cover, listen for high-pitched wing twittering and note rotund shape and long bill. Might be confused with Wilson’s Snipe, but woodcock is not nearly as dark and patterned. Fairly common throughout eastern North America, but secretive and rarely seen well in daytime. Always on the ground, except during well-known elaborate courtship display performed from dusk to dawn in spring. Listen for loud nasal “PEENT!” calls from the ground and high-pitched chirps and twitters (produced by the outer wing feathers) from high in the sky.
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaGangly wader with a long bicolored bill. Breeding plumage is dark brick-red below (male) or pale orangey (female); nonbreeding plumage is overall gray-brown with white belly; compare to Black-tailed Godwit. In flight shows rather plain upperwings with only a faint whitish wing stripe; white rump and finely barred tail. Mainly coastal away from tundra breeding grounds. Often in flocks feeding on mudflats and in brackish coastal lagoons, roosting in adjacent freshwater habitats. Feeds by probing its long bill into the mud.
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaGregarious medium-sized wader with a long, slightly uptilted bill. Note the very long, pink-based bill. Breeding plumage has bright rusty head and breast, dark barring on belly; nonbreeding plumage has rather plain grayish head, breast, and upperparts, unlike streaked breast and back of Bar-tailed Godwit. In flight shows bold white wing stripe, white rump, and black tail. Fairly common but often local; breeds in grassy wetlands, and found year-round in fresh and brackish marshes, and on adjacent tidal flats. Feeds mainly by wading in deep water, probing with its long bill.
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoSquat, cryptically-plumaged shorebird with a very long bill. Inhabits a wide range of wetland habitats, from damp meadows to saltmarshes. Mostly inconspicuous, feeding in muddy ground by probing with its bill, usually near reeds or other grassy cover. Often not seen until flushed, when it usually rises from fairly close range with a rough rasping call. Breeding birds are more conspicuous, perching on fence posts. In display flight, birds stoop from high overhead and produce a pulsating, bleating sound from air passing through their fanned tail. In Asia, beware of extremely similar Pin-tailed, Swinhoe's, and Latham's Snipes, all of which lack the white trailing edge of Common and have a slower, less erratic flight.
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPlump, medium-sized shorebird with very long bill. Extremely similar to Short-billed Dowitcher, and often flocks with it. Best distinguished by voice: a sharp, high-pitched “keek!” note, sometimes given in a series, unlike lower-pitched “tu-tu-tu” call of Short-billed. At all ages, look for subtle structural differences: Long-billed averages more hunch-backed, slightly longer-billed, and slightly taller, especially noticeable when in a mixed flock. Breeding birds have solidly salmon-orange underparts and rather dark upperparts with narrow rufous edges and white tips. Also look for sparse barring on the sides contrasting with denser spotting on the neck. Nonbreeding plumage is brownish-gray overall with a paler belly; extremely similar to Short-billed but averaging slightly darker and less patterned, especially on the breast and sides. Juveniles are easiest to identify: generally duller than Short-billed; look for plain dark-centered tertials and scapulars with narrow edging, rarely with some blurry internal markings. Breeds on tundra in high Arctic, and can be found in a variety of wetland habitats in migration and winter. Usually in flocks, feeding actively like a sewing machine. Tends to favor shallow marshy pools; somewhat more likely in freshwater habitats than Short-billed, but much overlap.
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresFairly small, stocky shorebird with short, chisel-like bill. Breeding plumage is particular striking with bright rusty upperparts and bold black-and-white pattern on head and neck. Nonbreeding and juvenile are duller brown but still boldly patterned; note orange legs. Interesting behavior of flipping over rocks, shells, and other debris to nab invertebrates. Fairly common, with extensive global range. Breeds in the high Arctic tundra; winters on coastlines nearly worldwide. Prefers rocky habitats, but also seen on beaches and mudflats. Usually in small flocks, often mixed with other shorebirds. Listen for low, hard rattle call.Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresFairly small, stocky shorebird with short, chisel-like bill. Breeding plumage is particular striking with bright rusty upperparts and bold black-and-white pattern on head and neck. Nonbreeding and juvenile are duller brown but still boldly patterned; note orange legs. Interesting behavior of flipping over rocks, shells, and other debris to nab invertebrates. Fairly common, with extensive global range. Breeds in the high Arctic tundra; winters on coastlines nearly worldwide. Prefers rocky habitats, but also seen on beaches and mudflats. Usually in small flocks, often mixed with other shorebirds. Listen for low, hard rattle call.
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataMedium-sized sandpiper with distinct cap. Breeding adults are heavily marked with chevrons and spots on the underparts and have a rich chestnut cap and white eyeing. Nonbreeding adults are duller grayish-brown with a drab brown cap. Juveniles are brightest, with a plain buffy breast, bright cap, and contrasting white eyeline. At all ages, note dull greenish legs and variable paler color at the base of the bill. Similar to Pectoral Sandpiper, but Sharp-tailed is usually brighter (breeding adults and juveniles especially) and lacks a sharp demarcation between streaked breast and white belly. Primarily an Asian species, breeding on tundra in Russia and wintering to Australia and New Zealand. Regular migrant in Alaska; rare to Pacific coast of U.S. and Canada. Found in freshwater marshes and coastal mudflats, sometimes inland. Listen for excited “peep!” calls, often doubled, and other soft twitters.
SurfbirdCalidris virgataStocky, short-legged shorebird that thrives on rocky shorelines. Look for short, blunt bill with orangey base and dull yellow legs. Overall gray with a white belly. In breeding plumage, develops more extensive dark spotting on underparts and rusty patches on the back. In flight, note white wing stripe and bold black-and-white tail pattern. Breeds on remote rocky mountains, mainly in Alaska. Almost always seen near the spray of incoming waves, usually on rocks, less commonly on beaches (especially in migration). Typically in flocks, mixed with turnstones.
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisLong-winged sandpiper most easily identified by size and shape. Slightly larger than other small sandpipers; noticeably elongated body and long wingtips. Distinctive white rump visible in flight. In breeding plumage, crisply spangled black and brown wings; note warmer brown cheek and crown and extensive fine streaking on sides. Nonbreeding plumage is plainer gray with pale eyebrow; typically shows some streaking on sides well into the fall. Juvenile bright and crisp; note pale eyebrow and long wings. In all plumages, shows brownish base to the lower mandible, only visible at close range. Most similar to Baird's Sandpiper but grayer. Found on mudflats, shallow marshy pools, and flooded fields; often mixed with other small shorebirds. Short, high-pitched, metallic call usually given in flight or when alarmed.
WilletTringa semipalmataLarge, stocky shorebird with a distinctive black-and-white wing pattern. Larger than Greater Yellowlegs, smaller than godwits. Overall grayish, with messy dark patterning in breeding plumage. Bill is straight and rather thick, with a paler base. Legs are grayish. Two distinct subspecies. “Eastern” Willet is smaller, darker, browner, shorter-billed, shorter-legged, and strictly coastal. Breeds in saltmarshes from Atlantic Canada to the Gulf of Mexico; migrates early, mostly departing the U.S. in August, and winters almost exclusively on the northern coast of South America. Especially likely to be seen foraging on extensive mudflats, sometimes in flocks. “Western” Willet is larger, paler, grayer, longer-billed, and longer-legged, giving it a more godwitlike appearance. Breeds in marshy grasslands in the Interior West; winters much further north than “Eastern” Willet, from both coasts of the U.S. to as far south as Chile. Especially likely to be seen on beaches.