Shorebirds often sport similar shapes and patterns, which makes estimating their size one of the most important clues to help with an ID. But rather than keeping track in terms of inches or centimeters, it's easiest to try to measure shorebirds relative to each other.
This guide shows you how 47 species of shorebirds regularly found in the United States and Canada measure up to five common and easy-to-recognize reference species:
Knowing where each species falls in comparison to these Yardstick species can help you cinch those tricky IDs.
Least Sandpiper © Matthew Bode/Macaulay Library
Semipalmated Sandpiper © Bryan Calk/Macaulay Library
Can you tell the difference between Least Sandpipers and Semipalmated Sandpipers? These two sandpipers look very similar, especially with changes in lighting or perspective. Check out our ID tips, test your ID skills with photos taken in the wild, and train yourself to recognize these two small shorebirds with this replayable quiz.
Baird's Sandpiper © Marie-Josee D'Amour/Macaulay Library
Go further with the rewarding and exciting realm of shorebird ID in Be a Better Birder: Shorebird Identification. This self-paced, online course will hand you the keys to ID for all 47 shorebird species that regularly appear in the US and Canada.
Header image: Semipalmated Plover © Mason Maron/Macaulay Library