Shorebirds of Rockport, Texas

Rocky shores, sandy beaches, mudflats

Large, stocky shorebird. Gray-brown at rest — explosive black-and-white wing pattern in flight. Very loud, piercing call.

Shallow wetlands, saltmarsh pools, flooded fields

Unmistakable — jet black back, white underparts, absurdly long pink legs. Nests in Lamar Peninsula wetlands.

Shallow bays, tidal flats, wetland edges

Long upturned bill swept side to side through water. Rust-orange head and neck in breeding plumage. Flocks of hundreds in fall.

Tidal mudflats, bay margins

Small, hunched shorebird with drooping bill tip. Black belly patch in breeding plumage. Huge flocks that wheel in unison.

Mudflats, sandy beaches

One of the most abundant migrating shorebirds. Rusty shoulder patches in spring. Often confused with Semipalmated Sandpiper.

Mudflats, wet sand, tidal flats

Nearly identical to Western Sandpiper — bill slightly shorter and straighter. Webbing between toes, visible up close.

Mudflats, marsh edges, wet fields

Smallest North American shorebird. Yellow-green legs (not black) — the key field mark separating it from similar "peeps."

Freshwater marshes, flooded fields

Long straight bill probed rapidly in sewing-machine motion. Prefers freshwater edges, unlike Short-billed which favors tidal flats.

Tidal mudflats, saltmarsh

Nearly identical to Long-billed — bill length overlaps. Best separated by habitat, call, and subtle plumage differences.

Coastal mudflats, shallow bays

Large shorebird with long upturned cinnamon-buff bill. Warm buffy-brown overall. Frequently winters in Aransas Bay in flocks.

Coastal wetlands, tidal mudflats

Rarer than Marbled. Black-and-white tail in flight, dark brick-red belly in breeding plumage. A major rarity for Texas coast.

Rocky jetties, shell beaches, wrack lines

Bold harlequin pattern of black, white, and rufous. Flips shells and debris with its short, pointed bill. Common on the Rockport jetties.

Sandy ocean beaches

The classic beach sandpiper — runs back and forth chasing waves. Pale silvery-gray in winter, rusty in breeding plumage.

Sandy beaches, tidal flats

Federally threatened. Pale sand-colored plover with orange legs and single dark breast band. Often overlooked against pale sand.

Shell beaches, sandy tidal flats

Tiny pale plover with dark partial collar. State-threatened in Texas. Nests on barren shell beaches near Rockport.

Sandy beaches, tidal flats

Medium plover with distinctively thick black bill — much heavier than other plovers. Complete black breast band, pink-orange legs.

Wet fields, parking lots, short grass

The most familiar plover — bold double breast band and loud "kill-dee" call. Found far from water in any short-grass habitat.

Tidal mudflats, sandy beaches

Largest common plover. Stunning black-and-white breeding plumage. Shows distinctive black "armpits" (axillaries) in flight.

Shallow ponds, flooded fields

Swims in tight spinning circles to stir up invertebrates. Females brighter than males — reversed sexual dimorphism.

Tidal flats, coastal grasslands

Large shorebird with long decurved bill. Bold crown stripe. Often heard before seen — distinctive "pee-pee-pee-pee" call in migration.

Coastal grasslands, mudflats

Largest North American shorebird. Extraordinarily long decurved bill — up to 8 inches. Cinnamon-buff overall. Year-round on nearby ranches.

Shallow marshes, mudflats, pond edges

Bright yellow legs, long neck, active and noisy. Three-note alarm call. Often compared with Lesser Yellowlegs for practice.

Shallow freshwater marshes, flooded fields

Slimmer-billed than Greater, gentler call (two notes). Occurs in same flocks — comparison is the best shorebird teaching tool.

Stream edges, bay margins, piers

Constant teetering walk is diagnostic at any distance. Spots on breast in breeding plumage. Bobs ceaselessly while foraging.