Guest Photo: Shorebirds

Corpus Christi by Adam Braun

Shorebirds belong to the Charadriiformes, a diverse order of birds that generally live near water and feed on invertebrates or small animals. Within this order is the suborder Charadrii which is referenced as shorebirds, or waders, which can be further divided into the families Haematopodidae, Recurvirostridae, Charaadriidae, Scolopacidae, and Jacanidae. 

While the beaks vary in shapes and sizes, most shorebirds have a characteristic small body with long, thin legs and three unwebbed toes pointed forward. These toes are fringed like scales to increase surface area which is effective in allowing wading without falling. The strong niche overlap and limited resources for many of these birds has led to significant interspecific competition. The diversity of beaks, leg length, and foraging behavior are all results of divergent evolution due to the partitioning of resources. In general, shorebirds can be found in open areas of a wide range of habitats including beaches, wetlands, grasslands, tundra, and mountains beyond the treeline.