Arctic Tern
Main Characteristics of Shorebirds
- There are over 390 species of shorebirds.
- Shorebirds are made up of three families: waders, gulls, and auks.
- Most shorebirds have long, pointed wings.
- Many of them are migratory birds and travel long distances regularly.
- The most well-known shorebirds are the common tern, the seagull, the puffin, and the oystercatcher.
- Shorebirds are carnivores or omnivores. They eat fish, worms, invertebrates, crustaceans, insects, and even some plants.
- The largest shorebird is the great black-backed gull, which measures 24-31 inches (61-78 cm) in length and weighs between 3.3-4.4 pounds (1.5-2 kg).
- The smallest shorebird is the least sandpiper, measuring 4.7-5.5 inches (12-14 cm) in length and weighing 0.1-1 ounces (20-30 grams).
