Common Features Of Shorebirds
Although the most famous are storks and flamingos, there are different species of shorebirds that live on every continent except Antarctica.
They stand out for their colorful and striking colors, as well as their long, slender legs and their elegant way of flying.
In this article, we’ll tell you some of the common characteristics that all specimens from this large family have, as well as certain differences between them.
Shorebirds: common aspects
Shorebirds are characterized by long, slender, featherless legs called tarsi. Their flights are majestic and they travel long distances to seek the heat of summer and spring.
They can mainly be seen from April to September in the northern hemisphere and from October to March in the southern hemisphere.
S I nomadic lifestyle allows them to reach the best places to feed, breed and take refuge.
They like to feed in shallow water, although they have beaks long and strong enough to find fish, shellfish and other delicacies. They prefer to stay on the banks of estuaries, beaches, coasts and marshes.
One of the peculiarities of shorebirds, unlike birds of prey, which live in pairs or alone, is that they group together in large flocks to protect themselves and feel more secure.
These groups of birds prevent predators from attacking or at least make their task more complicated.
You can even see mixed flocks (composed of birds of different species) if that gives them more protection.
The wonderful flight of shorebirds
As for the flight, it is also another highlight of the birds in this group, as it is a wonderful spectacle. Hundreds of birds stand very close to their companions and move as if they are “rising and falling” in the air.
The mechanism is surprising: the bird that is the protagonist, as ‘pilot’ or ‘captain’, stands in front of the others and makes a specific move or maneuver.
So, everyone starts to imitate him, knowing that their survival will depend on it.
Many shorebirds travel thousands of miles to the most remote coasts, as they consider them appropriate according to the time of year.
They must cross oceans during migration and, as they cannot swim, they also do not rest in the water.
To get enough energy for this tremendous odyssey, a few weeks beforehand they accumulate fat, consuming whatever they find in their backs.
In a few days, they can double their weight. That’s what fueling the journey is all about!
But not everything is so easy for shorebirds during the crossing: they have to face hundreds of dangers. The biggest one, of course, is the human being.
The population of several species was reduced by hunting thousands of specimens.
Shorebirds: ciconiform and gruiform
Within this large family, we can divide your specimens into two groups. On the one hand, the ciconiiformes, which include herons, storks, among others. On the other side are the gruiformes, where the cranes and the yellow-billed coot are found.
The former are large, long-necked, aquatic birds with the ability to fly long distances.
They feed on fish, frogs and small mammals that inhabit both the warm and temperate regions of Europe, Asia and Africa (only three species can be found in America).
Storks, on the other hand, are terrestrial or divers, smaller and very different from each other. They tend to be shy; they live in dense, moist vegetation such as lakes and swamps, and they run quickly thanks to their strong legs.
