Wader identification by bill

Waders are another problematic group for many birdwatchers; especially in winter when many adopt grey and white plumages. At this time, it helps to concentrate on size and shape, bill length and shape and striking features such as rump pattern and wing-bars.

Size

Size and relative size are often easier to assess with wading birds, as there are often comparative species nearby, or some other point of reference. Waders vary from tiny (stints or ‘peeps’), through small species like Dunlin and the ringed plovers; through medium-sized birds, such as Redshank, to large waders such as godwits, curlews and Oystercatcher. It is always a good first step in ID.

Bill size and shape

The main tool of any bird, the bill of a wader is particularly indicative of its feeding habit, but also which group or tribe it belongs to. For instance, plovers have short stubby bills; Calidris sandpipers often have medium-long (for the bird’s size) slightly downcurved bills; Tringa sandpipers’ bills are usually straight or very slightly upturned; snipes and Woodcocks have long, straight bills; godwit and Curlew bills are very long; and, of course, Avocets have unique needle-fine upturned bills.

Wing-bars and rumps

Wing-bars can be very useful, as can rump patterns. As a couple of examples, consider the dark rump of the Dunlin compared to the square white rump of the Curlew Sandpiper; or even better the plain wings and V-shaped white rump of the Bar-tailed Godwit compared with the small square white rump and bold white wing-bars of the Black-tailed Godwit.

The Turnstone uses its chisel-like bill to flip shells, stones and seaweed

The Curlew’s very long, downcurved bill can probe deeper than any other British bird

The Redshank (a Tringa sandpiper) has a mid-length straight bill