What is a wading bird?

A wading bird describes a waterbird with long legs that wades along the shoreline in search of food. In America, they are know as shorebirds. Waders range in size, shape and colour and usually – but not always – have a long bill. As with all animals, the physiology of wading birds is integral to their existence.

Why do wading birds have long legs?

Long legs enable waders to forage is deep water, while elongated, agile toes help them to balance in fast currents and unstable mud. Their bills vary in length and shape, depending on their food preferences, but are often long and slightly curved. And powerful neck muscles allow some species – such as herons and stalks – to spear their prey.

What do wading birds eat?

Wading birds usually eat aquatic organisms, such as worms, molluscs and crustaceans. Their long bills are adapted to find prey just under the surface of the water.

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British wading bird ID guide

Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa

One of our largest waders, with long legs and a long bill for probing in mud for worms and snails. Orange-brown in summer, it has grey winter plumage with black-and-white wing bars noticeable in flight; 44,000 from Iceland spend winter in the UK. It is similar in appearance to the bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica).

The black-tailed godwit’s scientific name, Limosa limosa, is an example of a tautonym, where the genus and specific name are the same.

Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata

A very large, impressive wader with a tell-tale large, downwardly curved bill for probing deep into worm burrows. Declining in number, the curlew is bolstered by winter visitors and its melancholic ‘cur-lee’ call still resonates across winter mudflats. The curlew can be confused with the closely-related (Numenius phaeopus) whimbrel, particularly at a distance. Learn how to tell the two species apart.

Dunlin, Calidris alpina

A small, compact bird with predominantly grey plumage and a slightly down-curved bill (in summer it is brown with a black patch on the belly). Our commonest shorebird, it can form dramatic flocks of hundreds, flickering in the low light of winter.

Knot, Calidris canutus

Small and dumpy with short legs, the knot graces us with grey-white plumage in winter but transforms into a bright brick-red during breeding. It forms flocks of many thousands in places such as The Wash and performs aerial acrobatics to rival the famed starling.

Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus

Found in winter fields as well as marshes and estuaries, the lapwing’s fortunes have plummetted due to changes in farming practices. Its metallic-green plumage, proud crest and stiff wingbeat in flight are telltale, as is its wheezing ‘swanny whistle’ call.

The lapwing’s scientific name, Vanellus vanellus, is an example of a tautonym, where the genus and specific name are the same.

Oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus

Stocky, unmistakable black-and-white shorebird with a huge, carrot-coloured bill that it uses for breaking and entering mussels and cockles. Relatively common, its urgent piping call echoes across rocky shores.

Redshank, Tringa totanus 

An ever-present lurker in estuarine creeks, harbours and mudflats with a fluting call that is the soundtrack to winter on the wild coast. As its name suggests, it has long red legs but also a black-tipped red bill. Slightly smaller than a godwit or curlew.

Sanderling, Calidris alba

A tiny scuttling sparrow of the sandy shore that seems to dance in and out as the waves lap the beach. It is a winter visitor so we only get to see its grey-white colouring and not the gorgeous tortoiseshell plumage of summer; it breeds in the Arctic.

Ringed plover, Charadrius dubius

A smart, dumpy dove-sized bird with bandit-mask markings, a black bib and fawn cap and back. Its short bill is used for picking invertebrates from pebbles and seaweed. Resident populations are boosted by winter visitors from Europe.

Illustrations © RSPB Images. Find out more about the RSPB.