Matthew Feargrieve Shorebirds

We guide you through the identification, ageing and sexing of shorebirds and waders in their breeding and non-breeding plumages, in an illustrated study of feather and bare part characteristics.

 

The focus in this guide is on juvenile (J), first winter (1w/1cy/2cy) and adult non-breeding plumage characteristics and variation. The differences between these plumages that are observable (with a little knowledge) in the field are explained with reference to individual feather tracts and moult cycles, and demonstrated with photographs taken in the field by a variety of bird watchers and photographers.

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Click here to see our species-by-species guide to shorebird and wader identification and plumage.

 

This website also includes a basic guide to the topography of a wader, together with a bibliography detailing essential basic reading for all serious watchers of shorebirds. This will particularly appeal to the ambitious bird watcher who wishes to equip himself with the necessary skills and knowledge of shorebird topography and plumage variation.

 

This knowledge, which is easily assimilated, will enhance and enliven the birder's field observations by enabling him to observe a shorebird in given moult cycles at given times of year and arrive at an approximation of the bird's age and sex.

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The field observations are collected in this website on an individual species basis, and are accompanied by an overview of the basic principles of shorebird observation. 

 

The focus in this website is on non-breeding (winter) and intermediate (second calendar year, or 2cy) plumages of shorebirds that winter in non-breeding grounds in the northern hemisphere, and breed in the Western Palearctic region, whose seasonal variations in appearance - feather tracts and bare parts - are apt to cause the most confusion when seen by the field observer who wishes to determine the approximate age of the bird.

 

Where possible, suitable images of birds in the relevant age groups have been sourced by using freely available internet resources. Attribution to the photographers whose work they are has, where possible, been given.

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Click here to head to our species-by-species guide to shorebird and wader identification and plumage.

 

Additional species of shorebird will be added to this guide from time to time.