Shorebirds Are Migrating Now!

Semipalmated Plovers, top two photos, are migrating

Sanderlings resting during migration

Large group of migrant shorebirds including Semi-palmated Plovers, Semi-palmated Sandpipers, and White-rumped Sandpipers.

What's happening in the world of birding now? Shorebirds are migrating through the northern half of the country and will continue big time through August. Many shorebirds have completed their breeding cycle and are leaving their nesting areas in far northern North America and beginning their journey south. Birders on the NH coast are reporting seeing Semipalmated Plovers, Greater Yellowlegs, and Semipalmated Sandpipers and more. Birders who go to South Beach, off Chatham, Cape Cod, are reporting large numbers of shorebirds such as the ones just mentions plus, Hudsonian and Marbled Godwits, Whimbrels, Willets, Red Knots, Lesser Yellowlegs, Black-bellied Plovers, Sanderlings, Short-billed Dowitchers and more. You can see shorebirds at coastal and inland water locations, so take your binos and see what you can find.

If you are shorebird ID-challenged try our Stokes Beginner's Guide To Shorebirds.

For the full nine yards and THE most complete reference to shorebirds and all other birds, get our best-selling The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America.