On this page

The books in the main section are listed in order of publication date with the most recent at the top.

Also see

Other wader pages

Avocet
Curlew
Dotterel
Dunlin
Greenshank
Knot
Lapwing
Oystercatcher
Plovers
Redshank
Ruff
Sanderling
Snipe
Stone Curlew
Woodcock

Waders of Europe: A Photographic Guide

Lars Gejl

2017

(Originally published in Holland in 2016 as Steltlopers van Europa)

"Waders of Europe is the ultimate guide to wader identification, ecology and biology. Through outstanding photography and concise, detailed text, Waders of Europe is indispensable for anyone interested in learning more about waders, and is an invaluable tool for identifying birds to species level in the field."

Shorebirds in Action: An Introduction to Waders and Their Behaviour

Richard Chandler

2017

"Shorebirds in Action is in two parts firstly basic behavioural information and then a photographic section that explains the specific behaviour being illustrated for that particular shorebird at the time the photo was taken. Consequently, Shorebirds in Action can be read as a general text, split into chapters that provide the basic behavioural information and also by captions which explain the details of the particular behaviour shown. Shorebirds in Action contains excellent photographs of about 180 shorebird species over three-quarters of the world's total and therefore provides a general reference for the identification of shorebird species and the recognition of their various plumages. It will be relevant to readers worldwide, including Europe, North America and Australasia. This comprehensive work can be read as a general text and also the photographs can be enjoyed separately in their own right. Detailed references to source material are provided."

Chamberlain's Waders: The Definitive Guide to Southern Africa's Shorebirds

Faansie Peacock

2017

"This unique, lavishly illustrated book will help you not only to identify waders with confidence, but also to understand and enjoy these inspirational birds. More than two years in the making, this eagerly anticipated new book is the ultimate resource on the identification and biology of Southern Africa’s wader species. However, because of waders’ incredible worldwide migrations, most of the species in the book will also be familiar with readers from other regions of the world (only 30 of our 80 waders are NOT migratory). What makes this book different from any other titles on waders? Firstly, it is written from a Southern Hemisphere perspective, unlike most European and American books. This shift of focus completely changes the picture! Secondly, it explains wader identification based on a background of biology and ecology – instead of just listing all the tedious identification details. Thirdly, it is so much more than just a field guide. Some paragraphs really read like a love letter written to waders – in celebration of their beauty, adaptability and triumph over seemingly insurmountable challenges."

Hawai‘i's Kolea: The Amazing Transpacific Life of the Pacific Golden-Plover

Oscar W. Johnson, Susan Scott

2016

"Oscar "Wally" Johnson, the undisputed world expert on Pacific Golden-Plovers, and Susan Scott, a popular-science writer, have combined their knowledge and enthusiasm to create a book for everyone who admires the exceptional birds known as Kolea in Hawaiian. With easy-to-understand, yet scientifically accurate, text and outstanding color photographs, Hawai'i's Kolea:The Amazing Transpacific Life of the Pacific Golden-Plover is a handy, reliable source of information for both general readers and ornithology specialists."

Field Guide to Shorebirds of South Africa

Roy Cowgill and Stephen Davis

2013

"This unique new guide will help identify the more common waders (shorebirds) in South Africa and will appeal to both experienced birders as well as novices. Using classification, characteristics and behaviour, and based on an 8-point identification framework, the reader is guided through the stages of identification of shorebirds. Field Guide to Shorebirds of South Africa also gives visual clues to both plovers and sandpipers through silhouettes and plumage patterns showing their relative size as a key to identification, as well as photos with key species characteristics. Also included are descriptions of habitats, tables showing seasonality, abundance, and distribution."

Arctic Shorebirds in North America

Editors: Jonathan Robert Bart and Victoria Helen Johnston

Cooper Ornithological Society

2012

"Each year shorebirds from North and South America migrate thousands of miles to spend the summer in the Arctic. There they feed in shoreline marshes and estuaries along some of the most productive and pristine coasts anywhere. With so much available food they are able to reproduce almost explosively; and as winter approaches, they retreat south along with their offspring, to return to the Arctic the following spring. This remarkable pattern of movement and activity has been the object of intensive study by an international team of ornithologists who have spent a decade counting, surveying, and observing these shorebirds. In this important synthetic work, they address multiple questions about these migratory bird populations. How many birds occupy Arctic ecosystems each summer? How long do visiting shorebirds linger before heading south? How fecund are these birds? Where exactly do they migrate and where exactly do they return? Are their populations growing or shrinking? The results of this study are crucial for better understanding how environmental policies will influence Arctic habitats as well as the far-ranging winter habitats used by migratory shorebirds."

Shorebirds of New Zealand: Sharing the Margins

Keith Woodley

2012

"Shorebirds of New Zealand is a beautiful, informative and lyrical account of the many shorebirds found here - those living and breeding in the same area year after year, those that migrate within New Zealand, and those whose migrations link the hemispheres. It examines the lifecycles, habits and histories of our shorebirds, such as red knots (some 50,000 of which reach New Zealand from Siberia annually), or red-necked stints (birds the size of a sparrow that make a similar journey), and our own shorebirds - stilts and oystercatchers, terns and gulls, dotterels and wrybills, snipes and godwits. Author Keith Woodley connects these shorebirds with everyday people and the environment, looking into our social and cultural values, the work of researchers and community conservation groups, as well as the ways in which our lives impact those of shorebirds - both harmoniously and harmfully."

Waders: The Shorebirds of Australia

David Hollands and Clive Minton

2012

"Waders! Few people can fail to be inspired and fascinated by them. Many make huge and hazardous migrations to and from distant parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Many take on colourful plumage for breeding, while others retain their full beauty throughout the year. The massed throng of long-legged birds on the rising tide! The noisy piping and flashy brilliance of a flight of oystercatchers! The eerie wails and cries of stone-curlews in the night! These are the sights and sounds of waders – as dramatic as any in the bird world. Where do they come from? Where do they nest? How do we recognise them? Waders: The Shorebirds of Australia provides a comprehensive account of all the 80 Australian species. Waders: The Shorebirds of Australia is written in an engaging, personal style with over 300 wonderful photographs."

Life Along the Delaware Bay: Cape May Gateway to a Million Shorebirds

Lawrence Niles, Joanna Burger, Amanda Dey

Rivergate Books

2012

"The Delaware Bay is the second largest and most diverse bay on the East Coast. It has a rich cultural history, has played an important role in the region's commerce and tourism, and has spectacular and vital natural resources. Birdwatchers gather along its shores to watch the spectacle of thousands of spawning horseshoe crabs, the dense flocks of migrant shorebirds, the fall hawk migration, and the huge migration of monarch butterflies. Life Along the Delaware Bay focuses on the area as an ecosystem, the horseshoe crab as a keystone species within that system, and the crucial role that the bay plays in the migratory ecology of shorebirds. An abundance of horseshoe crabs spawning on the Delaware Bay beaches results in an abundance of eggs brought to the surface, providing a source of high-quality food and bringing hundreds of thousands of shorebirds to the bay to forage in late May and early June. A dramatic decline in horseshoe crabs has resulted in a rapid and dramatic decline in birds, particularly the red knot. This decline has sounded an alarm throughout the world, prompting a host of biologists to converge on the bay each spring, to understand the biology and conservation of red knots and other shorebirds."

Shorebird Ecology, Conservation, and Management

Mark A. Colwell

2010

"Shorebirds are model organisms for illustrating the principles of ecology and excellent subjects for research. Their mating systems are as diverse as any avian group, their migrations push the limits of endurance, and their foraging is easily studied in the open habitats of estuaries and freshwater wetlands. This comprehensive text explores the ecology, conservation, and management of these fascinating birds. Beginning chapters examine phylogenetic relationships between shorebirds and other birds, and cover shorebird morphology, anatomy, and physiology. A section on breeding biology looks in detail at their reproductive biology. Because shorebirds spend much of their time away from breeding areas, a substantial section on non-breeding biology covers migration, foraging ecology, and social behavior. The text also covers shorebird demography, population size, and management issues related to habitat, predators, and human disturbances. Throughout, it emphasizes applying scientific knowledge to the conservation of shorebird populations, many of which are unfortunately in decline."

Shorebirds of North America, Europe, and Asia: A Photographic Guide

Richard Chandler

2009

"Shorebirds are prized among birders for their stunning plumages, evocative calls and songs, extensive migration patterns, and the unique challenges they pose for identification. Shorebirds of North America, Europe, and Asia is an illustrated guide to all 134 shorebird species found in the Northern Hemisphere, written by one of the world's leading shorebird experts. It features more than 850 stunning color photographs and a color distribution map for every species. Detailed species accounts describe key identification features, age and sex differences, variations in plumage, similar species, status, habitat, and distribution. This easy-to-use guide also includes comprehensive primers on plumage patterns and terminology, molting, feeding and other behaviors, and much more. This premier illustrated guide is suitable for field use and a must-have for armchair naturalists."

Shorebirds of the Northern Hemisphere

Richard Chandler

Christopher Helm

2009

"Shorebirds are a very popular group of birds among birders of all standards, though their identification is often a challenge. Covering all the species of the northern hemisphere, this new photographic guide provides all the information a birder will need at a glance. Lavishly illustrated with colour photography by the author, Shorebirds of the Northern Hemisphere focuses on specific and subspecific separation and on ageing to provide a complete identification resource."

Atlas of Wader Populations in Africa and Western Eurasia

Simon Delany, Derek Scott, Tim Dodman, David Stroud

2009

"This milestone publication is a compilation of current knowledge of the numbers, distribution and movements of one of the most remarkable groups of birds in the region covered by the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA). Long-term waterbird count data have been combined with an extensive literature review, especially published results of bird ringing and national bird atlases, to produce maps showing the population boundaries that are used as a basis of the conservation of these species. The maps are supported by informative species accounts that highlight the movements, population status and conservation of waders in the AEWA region. Many wader species depend for their survival on networks of key sites for breeding, for moulting, and for building reserves of fat and protein to fuel their incredible migrations. Identified key sites are also shown on the maps, and listed in detailed and informative tables. The information presented in this Atlas will be of use and interest to anyone involved in the conservation or study of wetlands and waterbirds. In particular, it will provide parties to international treaties such as the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and AEWA (under the Convention on Migratory Species) with a basis for the conservation of waders and the sites and habitats necessary for their survival. It will also be useful for other nature conservation practitioners such as nature reserve wardens, and of interest to birdwatchers and those who spend time in the places graced by these wonderful birds."

Shorebirds of Ireland

Jim Wilson

The Collins Press

2009

"Sandpipers and plovers are among the many shorebirds that live between the tides in Ireland, on mudflats and shingle, in estuaries and lagoons, on beaches and bays. Jim Wilson and Mark Carmody introduce this world and its birds, which we have all seen but may know little about. Description of how they adapted to this often harsh environment, and how they evolved ways of exploiting the food supply, is followed by an account of their amazing annual migrations between Ireland and places such as arctic Canada and Siberia. One chapter describes the special role of Iceland in the lives of many shorebirds. The species portraits of those most likely to be seen in Ireland are enhanced with outstanding images paying homage to the beauty and variety of these birds. Mark Carmody spent hundreds of hours in search of these photographs to capture the essence and beauty of our shorebirds and their environment. Jim Wilson s text is again informative and engaging, sure to increase appreciation and understanding of these birds and where they live."

The Shorebird Guide

Michael O'Brien, Richard Crossley and Kevin Karlsson

2007

"When many birders go out looking at waders, they see a distant mudflat with grey-brown birds of various shapes and sizes and have no idea where to begin the identification process. When advanced birders look at that same flock, they can identify the vast majority with a quick scan of the binoculars. Experts use the simplest, most easily observed characteristics, or jizz - size, structure, behaviour and general colour patterns - almost subconsciously, and they can identify most birds before the complexities of plumage detail need to be considered. The Shorebird Guide allows birders of all levels to identify Nearctic waders quickly and accurately. With more than 870 stunning colour photographs, images are sequenced to give a general impression of a species first, progressing to more detailed photographs of the birds at various ages and plumages. Captions list characteristics in order of importance, reflecting the process of elimination and deduction that experts use to identify these tricky-to-separate birds, while each species is accompanied by a full-colour map plus details on taxonomy, status, behaviour, migration, moult and vocalisations. The Shorebird Guide is acknowledged as one of the finest photographic guides to any avian group available; it is a superb addition to the Christopher Helm list."

Effects of Climate Variation on the Breeding Ecology of Arctic Shorebirds

Hans Meltofte

2007

"About 50 species of shorebirds breed in the Arctic, where they constitute the most characteristic component of the tundra avifauna. Here, we review the impact of weather and climate on the breeding cycle of shorebirds based on extensive studies conducted across the Arctic. Conditions for breeding shorebirds are highly variable among species, sites and regions, both within and between continents. Weather effects on breeding are most moderate in the Low Arctic of northern Europe and most extreme in the Siberian High Arctic. The decision of whether or not to breed upon arrival on the breeding grounds, the timing of egg-laying and the chick-growth period are most affected by annual variation in weather. In large parts of the Arctic, clutch initiation dates are highly correlated with snowmelt dates and in regions and years where extensive snowmelt occurs before or soon after the arrival of shorebirds, the decision to breed and on the breeding ecology of clutch initiation dates appear to be a function of food availability for laying females. Once incubation is initiated, adult shorebirds appear fairly resilient to variations in temperature with nest abandonment primarily occurring in case of severe weather with new snow covering the ground. Feeding conditions for chicks, a factor highly influenced by weather, affects juvenile production in most regions. Predation has a very strong impact on breeding productivity throughout the Arctic and subarctic, with lemming Dicrostonyx spp. and Lemmus spp. fluctuations strongly influencing predation rates, particularly in the Siberian Arctic. The fate of Arctic shorebirds under projected future climate scenarios is uncertain, but High Arctic species and populations appear particularly at risk. Climatic amelioration may benefit Arctic shorebirds in the short term by increasing both survival and productivity, whereas in the long term habitat changes both on the breeding grounds and on the temperate and tropical non-breeding areas may put them under considerable pressure and may bring some of them near to extinction. Their relatively low genetic diversity, which is thought to be a consequence of survival through past climatically-driven population bottlenecks, may also put them more at risk to anthropogenic-induced climate variation than other avian taxa."

Shorebirds of Australia

Andrew Geering, Lindsay Agnew and Sandra Harding

2007

"Shorebirds of Australia brings together the latest information about the evolutionary history, taxonomy, migration and breeding and feeding ecology of shorebirds found in Australia. Complete with colour photographs and up-to-date distribution maps, it provides descriptions and tips to assist with the identification of all species of shorebird in Australia, which comprise about 10 per cent of Australia's total avifauna. In addition to information about their habitats, their most significant threats are mentioned, as well as actions in place to help conserve these birds. The book is a valuable reference for a broad range of people, from the amateur birdwatcher and field naturalist to professional ornithologists and land managers entrusted with the responsibility of managing Australia's natural resources, especially its wetlands and coastal regions."

Shorebirds of North America, Europe, and Asia: A Guide to Field Identification

Stephen Message and Don Taylor

Princeton University Press

2006

"A quick-reference field guide to the sandpipers, plovers, stints, and other shorebirds found on these continents. The exhaustive and superbly detailed color plates show the birds at rest and in flight, and in every plumage variant likely to be encountered. Species are treated plumage by plumage alongside images of similar species they are otherwise likely to be confused with. Succinct text on pages facing the plates summarizes the key identification features of appearance, voice, and behavior. There is a color distribution map for each of the described species. This guide provides fast, easy, and reliable field identification of this challenging group of birds. 80 color plates show full range of plumage types of all species covered. Concise facing text treats appearance, voice, and behavior. It includes clear color distribution map for each species. It is a definitive pictorial guide to the shorebirds of these continents."

Use of Rice Fields by Migratory Shorebirds in Southern South America / Uso de Arroceras por Chorlos y Playeros Migratorios en el Sur de America del Sur

Daniel W. Blanco, Bernabe Lopez-Lanus and Rafael Antunes Dias

2006

"This publication includes the results of an international project aimed to assess the value of rice fields as non-breeding habitat for migratory shorebirds in southern South America. Numerous studies document the role of rice fields as a foraging habitat for waterbirds, and in particular for migratory shorebirds in the Northern Hemisphere. Rice fields function as artificial wetlands, providing feeding habitat for numerous species, at least during part of the lifecycle of the crop, but at the same time they may result as a serious threat due to the use of agrochemicals associated with rice production. The aim of the present project was to assess the use of rice fields by migratory shorebirds in southern South America, contributing valuable unpublished information for their conservation."

Wading & Shore Birds of the Atlantic Coast

Roger S. Everett

2006

"The Atlantic coast, from Maryland north to New England, is part of a major flyway for migrating birds, and therefore an important destination for birdwatchers and other nature lovers. From the great variety of birds found along the shores and wetlands of the Atlantic coast noted bird photographer Roger S. Everett has selected forty beautiful images to be in this new book of postcards. Perforated, they can be detached and sent to friends (at 40 cents apiece they are a good bargain), framed and hung on your wall, or kept intact as a souvenir of your summer vacation. This is also the perfect gift for the bird enthusiast or collector of wildlife photography."

Waders of Europe, Asia and North America

Stephen Message and Don Taylor

Christopher Helm

2005

"This new field guide offers a complete identification reference to all of the sandpipers, plovers, stints and other waders found in Europe, Asia and North America. The superb plates show birds at rest and in flight (in separate sections), in every plumage variant likely to be encountered in the region. Species have been grouped, especially on the flight plates, so that similar species are shown close to each other. Facing text summarises key identification pointers to complete a quick-reference, field-friendly guide to this difficult and challenging group."

Shorebirds of North America: The Photographic Guide

Dennis Paulson

2005

"Identifying shorebirds can be a challenge and having a field guide specifically devoted to this group gives any birder an edge. Yet until now, no guide has illustrated or described the complete range of North and Central American shorebirds. This beautifully illustrated volume represents the first complete guide to North and Central American shorebirds ever published. Unlike other guide books, which have traditionally relied on paintings to represent shorebirds, this one contains an extensive series of striking photographs - most never published before. More than 530 photos illustrate all shorebird species in their varied plumages, and are accompanied by text that points out the variation within each species. The book also includes identification tips and ways to distinguish shorebirds from all similar species, at rest and in flight. Brief descriptions of voice, behaviour, habitat, and range are given for each species."

Status and Conservation of Shorebirds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway

Editor: Phil Straw

2005

Proceedings of the Australasian Shorebirds Conference, 13-15 December 2003, Canberra, Australia.

Shorebirds: An Artist In The Field

Lester Perera

Text: Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne

2004

"The book showcases the work of Lester Perera, arguably the best-known resident Sri Lankan wildlife artist. The art reflects Lester's style of underpinning his paintings on field sketches and rarely relying on photographs or museum specimens. His art also captures the spirit of the place, whilst preserving an authenticity of the identity of the birds."

Shorebirds: An Illustrated Behavioural Ecology

Jan van de Kam, Bruno Ens, Theunis Piersma and Leo Zwarts

2004

"Shorebirds are the most visible inhabitants of coastal wetlands worldwide. Many undertake spectacularly long flights between their wintering and breeding grounds, embodying the miracle of long-distance migration in a profound way. In this illustrated behavioural ecology the migration, feeding and breeding of these birds are explained in a comprehensive but simple and visually stunning form. The core of the book is based on studies of shorebirds and other waterbirds (such as ducks, geese and gulls) that migrate along the East Atlantic Flyway. The emphasis is on those using the Dutch, German and Danish Wadden Sea; examples from the rest of the world are also included. The authors are experts in the fields of bird migration, shorebird behaviour and intertidal ecology, and have contributed much to our current understanding of these subjects. The 300 magnificent portraits of waterbirds in action were taken by Jan van de Kam, one of The Netherlands' foremost wildlife photographers."

Shorebirds: Beautiful Beachcombers

Arthur Morris

3rd edition

2003

"A wonderfully illustrated introduction to identifying North American shorebirds: sandpipers, plovers, oystercatchers, turnstones, and dowitchers. Shorebirds offer unique challenges to both beginning and experienced birdwatchers. They are large, forage in the open, and are easy to spot, but their infinitely variable plumage makes them difficult to identify. With beautifully detailed images taken by one of the country's premier bird photographers, this book offers invaluable assistance to those who want to distinguish a yellowlegs from a willet, or a snipe from a dowitcher. It also offers sound advice on how best to observe these fascinating creatures, details on their natural history, and information on how mankind's actions have affected their populations."

Guide to Wetland Birds

Doug Hulyer and Phil Shepherd

Field Studies Council

2003

"Produced in partnership with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, this 12-panel laminated fold-out chart provides coloured illustrations and information on 49 species of birds commonly found in wetlands throughout north-west Europe. It includes 11 duck species, 7 geese, 3 swans, 20 waders as well as other wetland birds."

Estuarine Waterbirds at Low Tide The WeBS Low Tide Counts 1992-93 to 1998-99

A.J. Musgrove, R.H.W. Langston, H. Baker, R.M. Ward

2003

"Low Tide counts were made at 62 different UK estuaries over the period 1992-93 to 1998-99 during the two-hour period either side of low tide once per month from November to February, The results for each of the estuaries are presented as a series of colour maps showing the distribution and densities of selected important species. In addition, maps of the count sections and of the overlap between counted areas and site designation boundaries (for example, Special Protection Areas) are included. For each waterbird species recorded during low tide counts, information from across all estuaries is summarised."

Shorebirds

Des Thompson and Ingvar Byrkjedal

2001

"Shorebirds belong to the group of long-legged birds known as 'waders', so characteristic of coastlands, tundra and wetlands throughout the world. This book takes a fresh and up-to-date look at these fascinating and attractive birds, which are important indicators of the health of our environment. The authors describe some of the actions being taken to address the growing threats to the wetlands upon which shorebirds depend."

Beginner's Guide to Shorebirds

Donald & Lillian Stokes

2001

A guide to North American shorebirds.

"Whether you want to identify the shorebirds that you see along sandy beaches rocky shores tidal flats salt marshes or interior woodlands you ll find everything you need in this easy-to-use guide. The Stokes Beginner s Guide to Shorebirds is factually visually and organizationally superior to any other beginner's guide."

Estimates of shorebird populations in North America

R.I.G. Morrison; R.E. Gill, Jr.; B.A. Harrington; S. Skagen; G.W. Page; C.L. Gratto-Trevor; S.M. Haig

2001

From the abstract: "Estimates are presented for the population sizes of 53 species of Nearctic shorebirds occurring regularly in North America, plus four species that breed occasionally. Population estimates range from a few tens to several millions. Overall, population estimates most commonly fall in the range of hundreds of thousands, particularly the low hundreds of thousands; estimated population sizes for large shorebird species currently all fall below 500,000."

The Reed Field Guide to Common New Zealand Shorebirds

David G. Medway

2000

Wader Studies in New Zealand

Editor: Hugh A. Robertson

The Ornithological Society of New Zealand

1999

"The Ornithological Society of New Zealand recently lost two of its very select group of Honorary Life Members, Dick Sibson and Barrie Heather. Both were keen amateur members, both were honorary editors of the society's journal Notornis (1955-72 and 1978-94 respectively) and above all, both were wader enthusiasts. Given the special interests that Sib and Barrie shared in waders and in publishing, the Council of the Ornithological Society of New Zealand decided to commemorate their significant contributions to the study of waders in New Zealand by publishing this collection of papers as a special memorial issue of Notornis. The seventeen papers or short notes on waders in this issue are split into three topic areas: distribution and numbers, seasonal moveents, and general ecology of waders. These were all areas of special interest to both Sib and Barrie."

Wading and Shore Birds

Roger S. Everett

1999

"One of England’s foremost bird photographers presents here for the first time a study of wading and shore birds, with over a hundred full-color pictures. The pictures of these beautiful feathered creatures, favorites of birders and wood carvers alike will delight the eye while providing an important resource for naturalists, artists, carvers and taxidermists. Over 38 varieties of shore and wading birds are shown, most in several poses and from different perspectives.Along with the photographs, Roger Everett presents his observations about the birds and tips on viewing the yourself. Yet the key ingredient in his book is his naturally dynamic photography. Other of his photographs have long been seen on the pages of exclusive nature magazines and on the walls of collectors. Roger Everett’s photographs, the results of his keen eye for beauty, his technical brilliance, and his appreciation of the wonder of these small creatures, are available in book form for all to share."

Geographical Variation in Waders

Meinte Engelmoer

1998

"The migratory habits and migration schedules of waders can better be understood by analyzing their measurements. Therefore, a clear characterization of breeding populations and the proper statistical tools is needed. In this text the morphometrical variation of the following species was studied with multivariate statistics: Ringed Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Eurasian Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Red Knot, Sanderling, Curlew Sandpiper, Purple Sandpiper, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Redshank and Ruddy Turnstone. The taxonomy of most species was revised. The Black-tailed Godwit was split into two species. The same was done with the Whimbrel. Four new subspecies were described in, respectively, the Grey Plover (Wrangel Island), the Purple Sandpiper (Hudson Bay) and the Bar-tailed Godwit (Taymyr, Anadyr). The characteristics of the various subspecies and/or populations were quantified. Outside the breeding areas these characteristics can be helpful in producing estimates of the population composition of migrating and wintering populations throughout the world."

Shorebirds: Beautiful Beachcombers

Arthur Morris

1998

"Using insightful text and his premier collection of shorebird photographs, Arthur Morris has created a superior introduction to shorebirding."

Ecology and Management of Migrant Shorebirds in the Playa Lakes Region of Texas

Craig Davis, Loren M. Smith

Wildlife Society

1998

From the abstract: "During spring and fall migration, shorebirds rely on stopover areas to replenish energy reserves and fulfill nutrient requirements. Most studies of stopover areas have focused on wetlands in the Northern Great Plains; little attention has been given to wetlands in the Southern Great Plains, especially the Playa Lakes Region (PLR). Our objectives were to determine migrant-shorebird species compositions, abundances, migration chronologies, use of habitats, and feeding ecologies in the PLR during spring and fall migration."

The Nature of Shorebirds: Nomads Of The Wetlands

Harry Thurston

1997

"In The Nature of Shorebirds, Harry Thurston, a regular contributor to National Geographic and Audubon, examines the diversity of the world's shorebirds, their feeding habits, mating habits, and their migrations."

Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 3: Hoatzin to Auks

Edited by Josep Del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott and Jordi Sargatal

1996

821 pages, 60 colour plates, colour photos, distribution maps.

This volume covers 30 families including cranes, bustards, rails, gulls, terns, waders and auks.

The Wind Birds: The Shorebirds Of North America

Peter Matthiessen

W.W. Norton

Reprint edition

1996

This is a reprint of a book first published in this form by Viking in 1973.

Photographic Guide to the Waders of the World

David Rosair and David Cottridge

1995 (2nd ed 2002)

A photographic guide to nearly all of the world's 212 species of wader. The book incorporates the latest identification knowledge and up-to-date reports of the status of some of the world's rarest and most beautiful birds. The book includes over 700 full-color photographs of the birds in various plumages. The text provides a comprehensive description that includes plumage, breeding range, flight patterns, call, racial variations, habitat, behavior, and migration.

Waders of Southern Africa

Phil Hockey and Clare Douie

1995

"Deals with the more common wader species of Southern Africa. Each species account in the book deals with general aspects of wader distribution and ecology, containing scientific information translated for the layman. A section on the rarer species of wader is also included."

Waders

Nicholas Hammond

Hamlyn Behaviour Guides

Hamlyn

1994

"This birdwatching guide, extensively illustrated by Bruce Pearson, describes the feeding, breeding, social and territorial behaviour of all wading species inhabiting the shores of the Western Palearctic, and is an aid to identification and study for amateur birdwatchers."

Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest

Dennis Paulson

University of Washington Press

1993

"Embracing an area from the northern tip of Vancouver Island in British Columbia through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and western Montana, Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest includes the latest information about 62 documented and 16 potential species. Finely detailed drawings and color photographs emphasize diagnostic features."

Northern Waders

G>W.R. Dickson

1992

"A guide to wading birds in Britain. It covers topics such as description, habitat, distribution in Scotland and abroad, nest, eggs, young, food, predators and most old and new nesting sites."

Waders Breeding on Wet Grasslands

Hermann Hoetker

1991

"Wet grasslands are amongst the most important and most threatened habitats for breeding waders (Charadrii) in Europe. In order to compile the knowledge on the waders breeding on wet grasslands in different European countries, the Wader Study Group (WSG) organized a workshop which was held during the annual conference of the WSG in Ribe, Denmark on 23 September 1989. .... Waders Breeding on Wet Grasslands are the proceedings of this workshop. They include most of the talks which were given at the conference. Some national reviews which were not presented in the workshop, have been adde."

Field Guide to North Atlantic Shorebirds

Richard J. Chandler

1989

Includes colour photographs of 67 species."

Atlas Of Nearctic Shorebirds On The Coast Of South America, Volumes 1 & 2

R.I.G. Morrison, R.K. Moss

1989

Published in two volumes (Vol. 1 128 pages / Vol. 2 196 pages)."

A Field Guide to the Waders of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East

Peter R. Colston and Philip Burton

1988

The Shorebirds of Australia

Editor: John Douglas Pringle

The National Photographic index of Australian Wildlife

Angus & Robertson

1987

Shorebirds in Australia

Brett Lane

Nelson Publishers

1987

Shorebirds: An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World

John Marchant, A. J. Prater and Peter Hayman

1986 (revised 1991)

The first comprehensive guide to all waders. Includes 211 species. There are individual descriptions of each species and 88 colour plates by Peter Hayman.

Waders: Their Breeding, Haunts and Watchers

Desmond Nethersole-Thompson and Maimie Nethersole-Thompson

Poyser

1986

"The core of this book is the comprehensive accounts of the biology and behaviour of 18 species of waders in their breeding haunts. In addition there are chapters on waders generally, wader spacing and dispersion, the wader watchers of past and recent times, and two final chapters on new or returning waders and those pipe dream species that, not too fancifully, may yet breed one day in these islands. Voice is one of the headings within the species accounts but there is also an appendix of sonagrams of wader songs and calls; there are tables of data and an extensive, selected bibliography." From inside flap of book

Coastal Waders and Wildfowl in Winter

Editor: P. R. Evans, J. D. Goss-Custard, W. G. Hale

Cambridge University Press

1986

Reprint in 2011

"This 1984 book arose from an international meeting held at Texel in the Netherlands in April 1981 to discuss the feeding requirements and behaviour of shorebirds and coastal wildfowl. The book was designed both for general ornithologists, so that they may advise planners concerned with coastal wetlands, and for research workers interested in bird ecology and behaviour. The book is divided into three sections, each the responsibility of one of the editors, who provides a brief section introduction. The first covers bird numbers in relation to food resources; the second relates population densities to social and individual behaviour of birds within the flocks, and the third examines the role of areas of particular significance to migrant shorebirds along the route from West Africa to the high-latitude breeding grounds stretching from Greenland to western Siberia. This volume was produced in conjunction with the British Ornithologists' Union."

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Black Stilt

Ray Pierce

Endangered New Zealand Wildlife Series

1985

Shorelines. Birds at the Water's Edge

Michael Warren

1984

"Illustrated with 70 full-color paintings and 40 field sketches of birds found throughout the world."

Eric Hosking's Waders

Eric Hosking with W.G. Hale

Pelham Books

1983

Marine Birds Of The Southeastern United States And Gulf Of Mexico

Roger B. Clapp, Richard C. Banks, Deborah Morgan-Jacobs, and Wayne A. Hoffman

U.S. Department Of The Interior

1982

Published in three parts.

Part I: Gaviiformes through Pelecaniformes (March 1982)

From the preface: "Part I of the Marine Birds of the Coastal Southeastern United States is published by the National Coastal Ecosystems Team to provide a synthesis and analysis of information about marine birds in this area. Accounts for 39 species include information on distribution, abundance, food habits, breeding ecology, and susceptibility to oil pollution. Selected bibliographies follow each species account and list additional sources of information."

Part II: Anseriformes (July 1982)

From the preface: "Part II of the volumes Marine Birds of the Southeastern United States and Gulf of Mexico , published by the National Coastal Ecosystems Team, provides a synthesis and analysis of information about marine birds in this area. Accounts for 41 species include information on distribution, abundance, and susceptibility to oil pollution. More detailed information on distribution in the southeast and a summary of food habits and habitats utilized are presented for 17 species. Information on breeding ecology is summarized for 12 species that we think are most likely to be affected by oil pollution. Selected bibliographies follow each species account and Include additional sources of information."

Part III: Charadriiformes (September 1983)

From the preface: "Part III of the volumes Marine Birds of_ the Southeastern United States and Gulf of Mexico, published by the National Coastal Ecosystems Team, provides a synthesis and analysis of information about the marine birds in this area. Accounts for 22 species include information on distribution, abundance, and susceptibility to oil pollution. Also included is information on the breeding biology of 16 species abundant in the southeast as breeding birds, winter residents, or migrants. Selected bibliographies follow each species account and include additional sources of information."

Estuary Birds of Britain and Ireland

A.J. Prater

Poyser

1981

"Estuaries are rightly of great interest and concern to the birdwatcher. Most teem with thousands of waders, geese, ducks, gulls and other species that use them at times throughout the year; they are also among the last of the wild places left in Britain and Europe. The ‘Birds of Estuaries Enquiry' (sponsored by the Nature Conservancy Council and organised by the BTO, RSPB and the Wildfowl Trust) spanned six years, and Tony Prater's report now provides a detailed insight into the birds which use and, in many cases, depend on this special habitat. Of great interest to birdwatchers, the book also will be essential reading for professional conservationists and all involved in the planning and use of estuaries. It assesses the importance of each estuary and the distribution and numbers of all species generally present, and by setting this in an international framework demonstrates the remarkable importance of the estuaries around these islands. Threats to the fabric of the landscape and its wildlife abound, and estuaries are not exempt. Barrage schemes, industrial and agricultural reclamations and many other pressures exist and are the subject of chapters which survey the situation, now and in the future. The text is graced by John Busby's accomplished and evocative drawings and there are numerous maps and diagrams as well as photographs of typical estuaries."

Plovers, Sandpipers and Snipes of the World

Paul A. Johnsgard

1981

A guide to 165 species of waders with identification keys, comparative biology, and species accounts. Includes 60 colour plates and 135 distribution maps.

Waders

W.G. Hale

New Naturalist 65

1980

"A great deal is known of their biology in winter, but waders in summer have been studied far less. This account by Professor W. G. Hale attempts to describe their biology throughout the year, drawing where necessary on information from abroad. The book thus discusses all aspects of the life of the waders - habitats, distribution, variation, breeding biology, migration, wintering, roosting, moulting, feeding, evolution, and conservation. As the author points out, it is essential that we learn more about waders in order to ensure that our passage migrants and winter waders continue to visit the British Isles."

Shorebirds in Marine Environments

Frank A. Pitelka

Cooper Ornithological Society

1979

Contents;

• Introduction: The Pacific Coast Shorebird Scene - Frank A. Pitelka
• Aspects of the Occurrence of Shorebirds on a Central California Estuary - Gary W. Page, Lynne E. Stenzel, and Claire M. Wolfe
• Habitat Utilization by Wintering and Migrating Shorebirds on Humboldt Bay, California - R. H. Gerstenberg
• Banding Studies of Migrant Shorebirds in Northwestern Costa Rica - Susan M. Smith and F. Gary Stiles
• Notes on Charadriiformes of the South Coast of Peru - R. A. Hughes
• The Autumnal Migration of Baird's Sandpiper - Joseph R. Jehl, Jr.
• Movements and Habitat Use by Wintering Populations of Willets and Marbled Godwits - Paul R. Kelly and Howard L. Cogswell
• Semipalmated Sandpiper Migration in North America - B. A. Harrington and R. I. G. Morrison
• Seasonal Habitat Use by Arctic Alaskan Shorebirds - P. G. Connors, J. P. Myers, and F. A. Pitelka
• A Preliminary Assessment of Timing and Migration of Shorebirds Along the North Central Alaska Peninsula - Robert Gill, Jr. and Paul D. Jorgensen
• Migratory Shorebird Populations on the Copper River Delta and Eastern Prince William Sound, Alaska - M. E. "Pete" Isleib
• An Evaluation of the Copper River Delta as a Critical Habitat for Migrating Shorebirds - Stanley E. Senner
• Results of the California Shorebird Survey - Ronald M. Jurek
• Conservation and Management of Coastal Wetlands in California - John Speth
• Shorebird Census Studies in Britain - A. J. Prater
• Effect of Habitat Loss on the Numbers of Overwintering Shorebirds - J. D. Goss-Custard
• Summarizing Remarks, Part 1 - Joseph R. Jehl, Jr.
• Feeding Ecology of Black Oystercatchers on South Farallon Island, California (abstract only) - Stephen H. Morrell, Harriet R. Huber, T. James Lewis, and David G. Ainley
• Seasonality of Summer Habitat and Social System of Red Phalaropes (abstract only) - Douglas Schamel and Diane Tracy
• Availability and Utilization of Invertebrates as Shorebird Food on a Humboldt Bay Mudflat (abstract only) - L. F. Carrin, N. D. Holmberg, and S. W. Harris
• Flocking Behavior in Wintering Dunlin (abstract only) - S. Shanewise and S. G. Herman
• Biology of Shorebirds Summering on Enewetak Atoll - Oscar W. Johnson
• Winter Ecology of a Black Oystercatcher Population - E. B. Hartwick and W. Blaylock
• Feeding Ecology of Three Species of Plovers Wintering on the Bay of Panama, Central America - Joseph G. Strauch, Jr. and Lawrence G. Abele
• Territoriality in Non-Breeding Shorebirds - J. P. Myers, P. G. Connors, and F. A. Pitelka
• The Energetics of Foraging by Redshank, Tringa totanus - J. D. Goss-Custard
• Summarizing Remarks, Part 2 - John A. Wiens

Guide to Identification & Ageing of Holarctic Waders

A.J. Prater, J.H. Marchant, J. Vuorinen

1977

"Reprint of 1977 edition. Primarily aimed at ringers who have the opportunity to examine waders in the hand. It contains much information on identification and ageing, sexing and racial characters to aid birdwatchers in the field."

Seashore and Wading Birds

Patricia E. Pope

1974

44 page identification guide with colour plates of coastal and wading birds found in Florida.

The Wind Birds

Peter Matthiessen

Viking Press

1973

A study of the shorebirds of North America. Some of the text was originally published as an essay in Gardner Stout's Shorebirds of North America. For this publication the text was expanded and 25 line drawings by Robert Gillmor were added.

Waders in New Zealand

Elaine Power

1971

Plovers

Richard Vaughan

1970

Field Guide To The Waders

H.T. Condon and A.R. McGill

4th edition

1967

A guide to the waders of Australia.

A Gathering of Shore Birds

Henry Marion Hall

Bramhall House

1960

Bird Recognition, Volume 1: Seabirds And Waders

James Fisher

1947

192 pages with 86 black and white illustrations, 77 maps and 72 charts.

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A Book Of British Waders

E.C. Arnold

1939

180 pages with black and white photographs.

British Waders

E.C. Arnold

Cambridge University Press

1924

Our Shorebirds And Their Future

Wells W. Cooke

Government Printing Office, Washington

Originally published as part of the 1914 Yearbook Of The Dept Of Agricuture

1915

From the introduction:

"Shorebirds were found by the early settlers of this country in vast numbers on the coasts, the inland lakes, and even on the prairies, and while comparatively few now remain it was not until the early seventies that there was a marked lessening of their numbers. Since then shore birds have been so persecuted that vigorous measures must be taken, and immediately, to save them.

Distribution And Migration Of North American Shorebirds

Wells W. Cooke

Biological Survey Bulletin No. 35

US Department of Agriculture

Government Printing Office

1910

From the introduction:

"Shorebirds form a valuable national resource, and it is the plain duty of the present generation to pass on to posterity this asset undiminished in value. Consistent and intelligent legislation in favor of any group of birds must be founded on extended, accurate information, and must include knowledge of the breeding and distribution of the birds - where they spend the summer, whither they retire in winter, and when and by what routes they migrate. The present bulletin supplies this needed information so far as it is now available. Consideration of our shorebirds (Limicolae) from an economic point of view is recent. The early settlers found ducks, geese, and swans swarming in certain sections of the United States, and grouse and turkeys very abundant. The size and toothsomeness of these birds made them important objects of pursuit for food, while the shorebirds were considered unworthy of notice. As the great flocks of ducks and geese along the Atlantic coast diminished in numbers, the attention of gunners, especially of market hunters, was turned to the shorebirds, then in countless numbers. A generation of constant harassment spring and fall has almost exterminated some of the larger species and has very greatly reduced even the smaller ones. The time has come when this indiscriminate slaughter must cease if the present remnant of the shorebirds is to be preserved.

How To Know The Shore Birds (Limicolæ) Of North America

All The Species Being Grouped According To Size And Color

Charles B. Cory

1897

From the preface:

"The present work is intended to meet the wants of a large number of persons, especially sportsmen, who are interested in birds and would like to know their names, but often find it no easy task to identify them by the 'bird books.' To all such I offer this Key, in which the species are arranged in groups according to size, and believe it will enable any one unfamiliar with birds to identify with comparative ease any species of our North American Shore Birds. Birds vary so much in size that the length of any one specimen cannot be accepted as a standard for others of the same species. The length measure is, nevertheless, of value to enable us to form an approximate idea of the size of the bird. The length of the wing is, however, much less variable, and is an important aid to the identification of many species. In fact, the variation is so small and constant that, allowing for possible extremes, they may be arranged in groups according to length of wing. The identification of any species then becomes a very simple matter, as usually the birds contained in each group are so few in number that characteristic differences in each species' are easily indicated."

British Sea Birds

Charles Dixon

Bliss, Sands And Foster

1896

290 pages guide with 8 black and white plates.

There are 8 chapters in this books.

• Gulls and terns
• Plovers and sandpipers
• Guillemots, razorbill, and puffin
• Divers, grebes and cormorants
• Ducks, geese and swans
• Petrels
• Littoral land birds
• Migration on the coast.

Catalogue Of The Limicolae In The Collection Of The British Museum

R. Bowdler Sharpe

Printed By Order Of The Trustees

Sold by: Longman & Co.; B. Quaritch; Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co.; and at the British Museum (Natural History)

1896

Preface:

"The delay in the publication of the present volume has been caused by the fact that the labour involved in its preparation has far exceeded my expectations. The specimens arranged and catalogued in it are 13,440, exclusive of many hundreds of duplicates. The references quoted in the synonymy are 18,892. With the exception of a few books, which proved to be inaccessible, the whole of this mass of literature has been actually consulted. The collection of specimens is a truly wonderful one. Of the 255 species recorded, the British Museum contains 250, and the types are 68 in number. It is in connection with the distribution of birds like the Limicolae that one is able to estimate the value of those great donations which have been made to the Museum by Mr. A. 0. Hume, Major Wardlaw Ramsay, and Messrs. Salvin and Godman. In many instances the entire range of a species is demonstrated by the series of skins in the collection. The Wading-Birds were also special favourites with the late Mr. Henry Seebohm, whose work on the geographical distribution of the Charadriidae is the most important treatise on the group. His untimely death last year deprived the Museum of one of its best friends; but by his generous bequest the collection of Limicolae has been greatly enriched, as will be seen by the long list of 'Addenda,' which consist chiefly of specimens presented by Mr. Seebohm."