shorebird

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blacksmith plover

bill variation in shorebirds

Variations in the bills of shorebirds (order Charadriiformes).

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Animals & Nature

shorebird

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Also known as: Charadrii, Limicolae, wader, wading bird

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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blacksmith plover

blacksmith plover

Category: Animals & Nature

Related Topics:: thickknee; phalarope; painted snipe; seedsnipe; jacana

shorebird, any member of the suborder Charadrii (order Charadriiformes) that is commonly found on sea beaches or inland mudflats; in Britain they are called waders, or wading birds. Shorebirds include the avocet, courser, lapwing, oystercatcher, phalarope, plover, pratincole, sandpiper, and snipe (qq.v.).