Page 396 - (DK) Ocean - The Definitive Visual Guide

394 ANIMAL LIFE

ORDER CHARADRIIFORMES ORDER CHARADRIIFORMES limpets, and other mollusks, using its ORDER CHARADRIIFORMES
bill to smash or pry apart their shells.
Snowy Sheathbill Eurasian To locate good feeding sites, it often Black-winged Stilt
flies along the tideline, calling loudly
Oystercatcher
Chionis alba to other oystercatchers. On coasts, Himantopus himantopus
1
LENGTH 13 / 2 –16 in it nests on shingle and gravel, laying LENGTH 14–16 in
Haematopus ostralegus
(34–41 cm) two to four camouflaged eggs. The (35–40 cm)
1
LENGTH 15 / 2 –19 in Eurasian oystercatcher is one of 11
WEIGHT 1–1 / 4 lb WEIGHT 5–7 oz
3
(450–775 g) (40–48 cm) species of oystercatchers (family (150–200 g)
WEIGHT 14–28 oz
HABITAT Rocky coasts, Haematopodidae). All have the same HABITAT Shallow coasts,
inshore waters, sea ice (400–800 g) overall shape and brightly colored salt marshes, wetlands
HABITAT Rocky shores,
DISTRIBUTION Antarctic Peninsula, subantarctic bills, but in some species, the plumage DISTRIBUTION Worldwide except far north and
islands, southern South America, Falkland Islands damp inland habitats is totally black. northeast Asia; summer visitor only in north of range
DISTRIBUTION Iceland, Europe, N. and E. Asia,
(breeding); S. Europe, Africa, S. Asia (non-breeding)
Sheathbills are the only birds with The black-winged stilt’s immensely long
non-webbed feet that breed on the legs trail far behind its tail when it flies.
brightly
shores of Antarctica. Stocky and With its bright orange bill and loud colored It has several geographical races and
short-legged, they bear a superficial piping call, this is one of the most bill breeds in a broad range of wetland
resemblance to chickens, particularly conspicuous waders on habitats. It feeds in calm fresh or
when they escape from danger by European shores. Often salt water, striding through
running away. Almost wholly seen in small parties, the shallows, scything its
carnivorous, they scavenge carrion it feeds on mussels, bill through the water to
along the shoreline, and also loiter catch small animals or
around penguin colonies to steal picking them from the
eggs and food from adult birds. surface.
slender,
slightly
upturned
bill
legs longer
than body

and Africa, as well as Asia. Pied avocets they can be aggressive if their nests are
ORDER CHARADRIIFORMES
feed by dipping their bill in water, and threatened. Parents charge at intruders
Pied Avocet then sweeping it from side to side. The with their heads lowered, and they are
tip of the bill is highly sensitive to able to chase away much bulkier birds,
Recurvirostra avosetta touch, so the bird can catch food even such as geese and ducks.
1
LENGTH 16 / 2 –18 in in the turbid water of estuaries and ORDER CHARADRIIFORMES
(42–45 cm) lagoons. Pied avocets swim well and
WEIGHT 8–14 oz sometimes upend to find food in the Gray Plover
(225–400 g) same way as dabbling ducks. They nest
HABITAT Shallow coasts, in groups, making cup-shaped hollows Pluvialis squatarola
salt marshes, wetlands on mudflats, where they lay a LENGTH 10–11 in
DISTRIBUTION Europe, temperate Asia (breeding); clutch of four eggs. (26–28 cm)
W. Europe, Africa, S. and S.E. Asia (non-breeding) Despite their dainty WEIGHT 6–8 oz
appearance, (170–240 g)
Instantly recognizable by their long HABITAT Arctic tundra,
upturned bills, avocets are elegant coasts, estuaries
waders that feed in shallow water, both DISTRIBUTION Arctic (breeding); temperate and
on coasts and inland. There are four tropical coasts worldwide (non-breeding)
species, all similar in shape and size. Of
these, the pied avocet is by far the This long-distance migrant, one of the
most widespread and is the only most widespread waders, is found on
species that is found in Europe coasts in every continent except
Antarctica. In their breeding plumage,
seen only in the Arctic tundra, males
have a black underside and face, but
by the time they head south to winter
on coasts, both sexes are a speckled
gray. Gray plovers feed on insects in
summer and on marine worms and
crustaceans in winter.
OCEAN LIFE