Learn to ID every zippy shorebird you see at a special discount with our Shorebird ID online course!

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A bird with a plain, unmarked belly, spotted back feathers and long bill stands in shallow water.

Mystery Shorebird © Derek Lecy / Macaulay Library

Hello Friend,

 

Shorebirds are a delight to watch as they forage or run along the waterside. But they can be tricky to tell apart! Do you recognize this shorebird, photographed in California in August? This bird has a moderately long neck, white eyering, and a medium-sized, straight bill.

 

There are many shorebirds that look similar, and this bird is making things tricky for us with its legs hidden by the water. You might think of a Spotted Sandpiper, but this bird doesn't have any white extending up into the "armpit" area. Pay attention to the delicate white spots on the back and bold white eyering. With all these hints combined, we can tell this bird is a...

 

Solitary Sandpiper!

 

Shorebird ID can be a real challenge, even for experienced birders. That's why we made Be a Better Birder: Shorebird Identification—a self-paced, online course including detailed instruction and practice activities for 47 species regularly found in the contiguous United States and Canada. Try this course for yourself at a special sale price just in time for shorebird migration season. It's the perfect time to fill out the peeps, plovers and stilts on your life list! 

Master Shorebird ID and Save 30%

$124.99 $87.49 USD

Sale Ends August 25, 2025

Shorebird Identification Course

 
A shorebird with two dark neck bands stands in the mud.

Killdeer © Rain Saulnier / Macaulay Library

Find and ID More Shorebirds

Learn the keys to identifying shorebirds at your own pace with world-renowned birding expert and ornithologist Kevin McGowan in this entirely online course. Practice what you learn through quizzes and videos and hone your newfound skills. 

  • Become familiar with shorebirds in species-by-species videos
  • Discover size and shape cues to make ID a cinch
  • Learn shorebird behaviors, including telltale foraging techniques
  • Practice ID with activities you can return to, again and again
  • Have lots of fun!

Find out what this course has in store with a free sample lesson about the Spotted Sandpiper! Explore seasonal variations in plumage, sounds, and behavior. Take the quiz at the end to see if you can identify a Spotted Sandpiper in any season!

sandpiper_preview-2

Spotted Sandpiper © LeShun Smith / Macaulay Library


 

More to Explore

  • Killdeer can be a great species to get to know! Find out how to tell Killdeer apart from similar shorebirds and train your skills with a replayable quiz. 
  • Print out a pocket shorebird guide and take it with you on your next outdoor adventure.

  • Enjoy a quick video all about Spotted Sandpiper ID.

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