Photo: Davor Desancic Davor Photo:
Happy birding! Happy
viewing shorebirds. viewing Bay shoreline parks provide such resources along along resources such provide parks shoreline Bay human world with which we share this planet. planet. this share we which with world human
opportunities for for opportunities where abundant food resources exist. Our East East Our exist. resources food abundant where thus essential to shorebird survival. shorebird to essential thus conservation and a desire to protect the non- the protect to desire a and conservation
visitors with outstanding outstanding with visitors to travel in vast flocks and stop at feeding areas areas feeding at stop and flocks vast in travel to sites is essential to successful migration, and and migration, successful to essential is sites the natural world, and with it a dedication to to dedication a it with and world, natural the
avocet
habitats and provide provide and habitats which requires food. Migrating shorebirds tend tend shorebirds Migrating food. requires which Flyway. Protection of these important stopover stopover important these of Protection Flyway. find that you develop a sense of connection to to connection of sense a develop you that find
American American
California’s coastal coastal California’s Migratory flight requires large amounts of energy, energy, of amounts large requires flight Migratory the migratory route known as the Pacific Pacific the as known route migratory the that visit our East Bay shores each year. You may may You year. each shores Bay East our visit that
crucial sections of of sections crucial Spend time getting to know the varied shorebirds shorebirds varied the know to getting time Spend Rest Stops Rest
parks that both protect protect both that parks
the use of a spotting scope and tripod. and scope spotting a of use the
collection of shoreline shoreline of collection
birder, shorebird watching can be enhanced with with enhanced be can watching shorebird birder,
District manages a a manages District
While binoculars are an indispensable tool for any any for tool indispensable an are binoculars While
East Bay Regional Park Park Regional Bay East
rest in open areas, allowing unobstructed views. views. unobstructed allowing areas, open in rest
as “shorebirds.” The The “shorebirds.” as
Unlike forest birds, shorebirds tend to feed and and feed to tend shorebirds birds, forest Unlike
are collectively known known collectively are
Shorebirds can be a pleasure to view and identify. identify. and view to pleasure a be can Shorebirds feeding on shores. These These shores. on feeding
Shorebirds birds that specialize in in specialize that birds
to many different different many to
Spotting
coasts are home home are coasts and a willet a and
that comprise our our comprise that a marbled godwit, godwit, marbled a
and salt marshes marshes salt and A long-billed curlew, curlew, long-billed A
beaches, mudflats, mudflats, beaches,
North America. The The America. North the best bird habitats in in habitats bird best the
coastline contain some of of some contain coastline
California’s 1,500 miles of of miles 1,500 California’s
San Francisco Bay Francisco San
Shorebirds in the the in Shorebirds
curlew
Long-billed Long-billed
into water to search for food. food. for search to water into
and muddy areas, while longer-billed birds wade wade birds longer-billed while areas, muddy and
feeding habitats. Those with shorter bills use dry dry use bills shorter with Those habitats. feeding
species begin to separate into their preferred preferred their into separate to begin species
shorebirds will demonstrate this as tides recede, recede, tides as this demonstrate will shorebirds
mudflat or coastline. Watching a mixed flock of of flock mixed a Watching coastline. or mudflat
northern nesting grounds are frozen. are grounds nesting northern multiple species to feed on the same stretch of of stretch same the on feed to species multiple to year each travel and Arctic the in nest species
visit California during the fall and winter when their their when winter and fall the during California visit feed in unique niches with little overlap, allowing allowing overlap, little with niches unique in feed shorebird American North of two-thirds Almost
than 15,000 miles on their annual migration. They They migration. annual their on miles 15,000 than partitioning.” Birds with different types of bills bills of types different with Birds partitioning.” journeys. migratory their on distances vast covering
Central and South America, many traversing more more traversing many America, South and Central When feeding, shorebirds practice “resource “resource practice shorebirds feeding, When travelers, long-distance champion are Shorebirds
Finding a Place to Feed to Place a Finding Travelers Long-distance
Willet Greater/Lesser Yellowlegs Common Shorebirds Tringa semipalmata Tringa melanoleuca Length: 15” Wing Span: 26” Length: 14” Wing Span: 28” in the East Bay A large, stocky, gray-brown wader, the willet Tringa flavipes Regional Park District is rather nondescript in its juvenile, adult, and Length: 10.5” Wing Span: 24” 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA 94605
breeding plumages. When in flight, however, Concealing one long leg completely under its feathers, 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757 (TRS 711) an eye-catching black and white wing-pattern the yellowlegs sometimes hops about on its other leg, ebparks.org makes it easy to identify. The willet was named thus creating the false impression that it is injured. for its call, which sounds like “will-will-will- Unlike the killdeer, which feigns injury to distract let” repeatedly quickly in a loud voice. Willets predators, the yellowlegs is simply conserving warmth. Visitor Centers breed around marshy meadows and lakes at The lesser high elevations and winter on our coastal Ardenwood Historic Farm, Fremont yellowlegs 510-544-2797, [email protected] mudflats, shores, and ocean beaches. is about Big Break Regional Shoreline, Oakley An excellent probe feeder, four inches the willet dines on Big Break Visitor Center at the Delta smaller 510-544-3050, [email protected] insects, crustaceans, in length and and plants. wingspread than Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, Antioch the greater, and the 510-544-2750, [email protected] two species are so similar they Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont can only be distinguished with great 510-544-3220, [email protected] attention to subtle differences in bill length Crown Memorial State Beach, Alameda Willet with and call notes. Ever alert, yellowlegs often Crab Cove Visitor Center and Aquarium a crab perform sentry duty, insistently warning 510-544-3187, [email protected] Photo: Lee Greengrass other shorebirds of potential danger. Del Valle Regional Park, Livermore 510-544-3146, [email protected] Open summer weekends Garin/Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Parks, Hayward 510-544-3220 (Coyote Hills), [email protected] Open summer weekends Sunol-Ohlone Regional Wilderness, Sunol 510-544-3249, [email protected] Open weekends only Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley Botanic Garden: 510-544-3169, [email protected] Tilden Nature Area/Environmental Education Center 510-544-2233, [email protected]
Regional Parks Membership enjoy free day-use parking, swimming, dog pass, and more. 510-544-2220 regionalparksfoundation.org
On the cover: Short-billed dowitchers Greater and lesser yellowlegs Photos courtesy Jerry Ting unless otherwise noted. Soy Ink Bug 20200514 goes here
Common Shorebirds Brochure 2020-05-14.indd 1 5/14/20 4:21 PM
Photo: Davor Desancic Davor Photo:
Happy birding! Happy
viewing shorebirds. viewing Bay shoreline parks provide such resources along along resources such provide parks shoreline Bay human world with which we share this planet. planet. this share we which with world human
opportunities for for opportunities where abundant food resources exist. Our East East Our exist. resources food abundant where thus essential to shorebird survival. shorebird to essential thus conservation and a desire to protect the non- the protect to desire a and conservation
visitors with outstanding outstanding with visitors to travel in vast flocks and stop at feeding areas areas feeding at stop and flocks vast in travel to sites is essential to successful migration, and and migration, successful to essential is sites the natural world, and with it a dedication to to dedication a it with and world, natural the
avocet
habitats and provide provide and habitats which requires food. Migrating shorebirds tend tend shorebirds Migrating food. requires which Flyway. Protection of these important stopover stopover important these of Protection Flyway. find that you develop a sense of connection to to connection of sense a develop you that find
American American
California’s coastal coastal California’s Migratory flight requires large amounts of energy, energy, of amounts large requires flight Migratory the migratory route known as the Pacific Pacific the as known route migratory the that visit our East Bay shores each year. You may may You year. each shores Bay East our visit that
crucial sections of of sections crucial Spend time getting to know the varied shorebirds shorebirds varied the know to getting time Spend Rest Stops Rest
parks that both protect protect both that parks
the use of a spotting scope and tripod. and scope spotting a of use the
collection of shoreline shoreline of collection
birder, shorebird watching can be enhanced with with enhanced be can watching shorebird birder,
District manages a a manages District
While binoculars are an indispensable tool for any any for tool indispensable an are binoculars While
East Bay Regional Park Park Regional Bay East
rest in open areas, allowing unobstructed views. views. unobstructed allowing areas, open in rest
as “shorebirds.” The The “shorebirds.” as
Unlike forest birds, shorebirds tend to feed and and feed to tend shorebirds birds, forest Unlike
are collectively known known collectively are
Shorebirds can be a pleasure to view and identify. identify. and view to pleasure a be can Shorebirds feeding on shores. These These shores. on feeding
Shorebirds birds that specialize in in specialize that birds
to many different different many to
Spotting
coasts are home home are coasts and a willet a and
that comprise our our comprise that a marbled godwit, godwit, marbled a
and salt marshes marshes salt and A long-billed curlew, curlew, long-billed A
beaches, mudflats, mudflats, beaches,
North America. The The America. North the best bird habitats in in habitats bird best the
coastline contain some of of some contain coastline
California’s 1,500 miles of of miles 1,500 California’s
San Francisco Bay Francisco San
Shorebirds in the the in Shorebirds
curlew
Long-billed Long-billed
into water to search for food. food. for search to water into
and muddy areas, while longer-billed birds wade wade birds longer-billed while areas, muddy and
feeding habitats. Those with shorter bills use dry dry use bills shorter with Those habitats. feeding
species begin to separate into their preferred preferred their into separate to begin species
shorebirds will demonstrate this as tides recede, recede, tides as this demonstrate will shorebirds
mudflat or coastline. Watching a mixed flock of of flock mixed a Watching coastline. or mudflat
northern nesting grounds are frozen. are grounds nesting northern multiple species to feed on the same stretch of of stretch same the on feed to species multiple to year each travel and Arctic the in nest species
visit California during the fall and winter when their their when winter and fall the during California visit feed in unique niches with little overlap, allowing allowing overlap, little with niches unique in feed shorebird American North of two-thirds Almost
than 15,000 miles on their annual migration. They They migration. annual their on miles 15,000 than partitioning.” Birds with different types of bills bills of types different with Birds partitioning.” journeys. migratory their on distances vast covering
Central and South America, many traversing more more traversing many America, South and Central When feeding, shorebirds practice “resource “resource practice shorebirds feeding, When travelers, long-distance champion are Shorebirds
Finding a Place to Feed to Place a Finding Travelers Long-distance
Willet Greater/Lesser Yellowlegs Common Shorebirds Tringa semipalmata Tringa melanoleuca Length: 15” Wing Span: 26” Length: 14” Wing Span: 28” in the East Bay A large, stocky, gray-brown wader, the willet Tringa flavipes Regional Park District is rather nondescript in its juvenile, adult, and Length: 10.5” Wing Span: 24” 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA 94605
breeding plumages. When in flight, however, Concealing one long leg completely under its feathers, 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757 (TRS 711) an eye-catching black and white wing-pattern the yellowlegs sometimes hops about on its other leg, ebparks.org makes it easy to identify. The willet was named thus creating the false impression that it is injured. for its call, which sounds like “will-will-will- Unlike the killdeer, which feigns injury to distract let” repeatedly quickly in a loud voice. Willets predators, the yellowlegs is simply conserving warmth. Visitor Centers breed around marshy meadows and lakes at The lesser high elevations and winter on our coastal Ardenwood Historic Farm, Fremont yellowlegs 510-544-2797, [email protected] mudflats, shores, and ocean beaches. is about Big Break Regional Shoreline, Oakley An excellent probe feeder, four inches the willet dines on Big Break Visitor Center at the Delta smaller 510-544-3050, [email protected] insects, crustaceans, in length and and plants. wingspread than Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, Antioch the greater, and the 510-544-2750, [email protected] two species are so similar they Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont can only be distinguished with great 510-544-3220, [email protected] attention to subtle differences in bill length Crown Memorial State Beach, Alameda Willet with and call notes. Ever alert, yellowlegs often Crab Cove Visitor Center and Aquarium a crab perform sentry duty, insistently warning 510-544-3187, [email protected] Photo: Lee Greengrass other shorebirds of potential danger. Del Valle Regional Park, Livermore 510-544-3146, [email protected] Open summer weekends Garin/Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Parks, Hayward 510-544-3220 (Coyote Hills), [email protected] Open summer weekends Sunol-Ohlone Regional Wilderness, Sunol 510-544-3249, [email protected] Open weekends only Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley Botanic Garden: 510-544-3169, [email protected] Tilden Nature Area/Environmental Education Center 510-544-2233, [email protected]
Regional Parks Membership enjoy free day-use parking, swimming, dog pass, and more. 510-544-2220 regionalparksfoundation.org
On the cover: Short-billed dowitchers Greater and lesser yellowlegs Photos courtesy Jerry Ting unless otherwise noted. Soy Ink Bug 20200514 goes here
Common Shorebirds Brochure 2020-05-14.indd 1 5/14/20 4:21 PM Common Shorebirds in the East Bay Regional Park District
Photo: Roger Nyemaster
American Avocet Black-bellied Plover Black-necked Stilt Long/Short-billed Dowitcher Recurvirostra americana Pluvialis squatarola Himantopus mexicanus Limnodromus scolopaceus Length: 18” Wing Span: 31” Length: 11.5” Wing Span: 29” Length: 14” Wing Span: 29” Length: 11.5” Wing Span: 19” Long pale-blue legs, an apricot-colored head The largest plover in North America, the black- The striking black and white plumage and red legs Limnodromus griseus with an elegantly upturned bill, and crisp black bellied plover is a common winter visitor to of this elegant bird make it an unmistakable sight Length: 11” Wing Span: 19” and white body complete the distinctive figure of against the drab tones of shoreline mudflats. Wading Bay Area beaches. Often foraging alone rather Medium-sized, plump, gray-brown sandpipers, the breeding American avocet. Feeding behavior in tidal waters up to six inches deep, the stilt uses than in dense groups, these birds use a unique these species stick closely together in tight among avocets is also unique. Darting forward its needle-like bill to capture a variety of small combination of running and stopping to hunt for flocks while feeding and are easily identified by and sweeping its bill in a sideways motion crustaceans. In proportion to its body size, the invertebrates. Their stout bill and lack of notable their distinctive feeding style. As a “regiment” of through the water, the avocet stirs the mud, black-necked stilt has the longest legs of any North patterning in winter plumage help distinguish dowitchers marches across the shoreline, they forcing invertebrates from their shelter. Holding American shorebird. them from the slightly smaller Killdeer. forage for mollusks, crustaceans, and marine its bill slightly open as it forages, the avocet worms by probing deeply into the mud in a periodically raises its head, swallowing its catch. methodical sewing machine-stitch rhythm. Long- billed and short-billed dowitchers are so similar in appearance (especially in winter plumage) that even experienced birders often refer to both species simply as “dowitchers.” In flight, pale barring that is wider than the alternate pattern of dark bars is sometimes noticeable on the tail of Photo: Roger Nyemaster Roger Photo: the long-billed dowitcher.
Dunlin Long-billed Curlew Sanderling Calidris alpina Numenius americanus Calidris alba Length: 8.5” Wing Span: 17” Length: 23” Wing Span: 35” Length: 8” Wing Span: 17” Dunlin form large, dense, exclusive flocks as The largest shorebird in North America, the Sanderlings are best known for their feeding they feed along bay shorelines. This behavior long-billed curlew is equipped with a bill almost behavior on sandy beaches. Never overtaken by a pattern of foraging in same-species groups, as half as long as its body. This bird’s seven-inch bill wave, sanderlings dart after receding surf to catch well as their larger size, darker color, and slightly is decurved and multi-purpose, evolved for both prey in the rolling sand. Racing forward ahead of drooping bill-tip distinguish dunlin from Western extracting insects from prairie grasslands and the edge of the next wave, this small pale sandpiper and least sandpipers. Look for them along our invertebrates from mudflats and marshes. Probing seems to take great pride in playing tag with the shorelines from September to May, moving deeply into shoreline mud, this curlew is able to surf. A cosmopolitan species, sanderlings breed far steadily forward together, probing their way reach prey unavailable to other shorebirds. As north in the Arctic, Canada, and Russia and winter across a mudflat. During migration dunlin form sensitive as your fingertip, the curlew’s bill tip can in North and South America as well as Asia, Africa, huge flocks and are known to fly at speeds of differentiate between a pebble and a clam. and Australia. over 100 mph.
Western/Least Sandpipers Calidris mauri Calidris minutilla Killdeer Length: 6” Wing Span: 13” Charadrius vociferus Western and least sandpipers are collectively Length: 10.5” Wing Span: 24” Marbled Godwit known to birders as “peeps” for two reasons: Limosa fedoa This shorebird is common throughout because of their tendency to vocalize in a series of Length: 18” Wing Span: 30” North America, and is widespread in California. “peeping” sounds as they forage, and because it is The killdeer’s scientific name refers to its loud Plump and tawny with a long, pinkish, slightly easier to lump these small, similarly shaped, drab and distinctive call, which sounds like its common upturned bill, the godwit is at home extracting colored birds into a group instead of separating name “killdeer.” The only North American plover grasshoppers from prairie grass or wading thigh- them by species. They are not impossible to with two black breast bands, the killdeer is famous deep to plunge its bill deep into shoreline mud to distinguish, however. The western sandpiper is for its distraction display. When danger is detected, capture mollusks, worms, leeches, and crustaceans. slightly larger with a slightly longer bill, a mottled hatchling killdeer freeze while a parent flops about Foraging both day and night, marbled godwits are gray upper body and dark legs. The least sandpiper feigning an injury. Drawing the predator from the often seen in large loose flocks feeding with their is smaller with a shorter bill and a mottled brown nest area, the adult “recovers” and flies off. heads completely submerged. upper body and pale yellow legs.
Common Shorebirds Brochure 2020-05-14.indd 2 5/14/20 4:21 PM