(photo by Dave Cagnolatti)

American Oystercatcher
(Haematopus palliatus)

An exclusively coastal bird, the American Oystercatcher is fairly common all year on beaches and mud flats. It breeds on the Alabama coast.

(photo by Dave Cagnolatti)

Ruddy Turnstone
(Arenaria interpres)

The Ruddy Turnstone is common in winter, spring, and fall and uncommon in summer. It flips over rocks and shells with its bill to find crustaceans, mollusks and worms.

(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti)

Solitary Sandpiper
(Tringa solitaria)

The Solitary Sandpiper is fairly common on the Alabama coast in spring and fall. It often shakes one foot rapidly underwater to bring food up out of the mud.

(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti)

Semipalmated Sandpiper
(Calidris pusilla)

The Semipalmated Sandpiper is seen in large flocks in the spring and fall. It is occasional on the Alabama coast in the summer.

(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti) 

Western Sandpiper
(Calidris pusilla)

The Western Sandpiper is common on the Alabama coast fall and winter, uncommon in the spring, and rare in summer. Found on beaches, mudflats, and along pond edges and lakeshores, it is of moderate conservation concern.

(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti)

Willet
(Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)

The Willet is a noisy bird that is seen in small flocks or singly on beaches. It is common throughout the year and breeds on the Alabama coast.

(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti )

Dunlin
(Calidris alpina)

The Dunlin wades slowly through shallow water, probing with its bill to find mollusks, worms and small crustaceans. It is common in winter and spring, and uncommon in fall.

(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti)

Marbled Godwit
(Limosa fedoa)

Marbled Godwit is uncommon spring and fall, and rare in the winter on the Alabama coast. Taking its name from its call of godWHIT , godWHIT, this buff-brown bird is distinguished by its long upturned bicolored bill.

(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti)

Wilson's Plover
(Charadrius wilsonia)

Wilson's Plover can usually be distinguished by its pink-gray legs and long, thick, black bill. It is known to have bred in the area and is rare in spring, summer, and fall.

(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti)

Semipalmated Plover
(Charadrius semipalmatus)

The Semipalmated Plover is the most common of the small plovers and can usually be distinguished by its yellow-orange legs and dark yellow bill with black tip. It is fairly common in winter, common in spring, rare in summer, and common in fall.

(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti)

Piping Plover
(Charadrius melodus)

The Piping Plover can usually be distinguished by its pale plumage, orange-yellow legs and stubby bill. It is fairly common in winter, spring, and fall.

(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti)

Black-bellied Plover
(Pluvialis squatarola)

Black-bellied Plover is common on the Alabama coast winter, spring and fall, and uncommon in summer. The black belly is only present during breeding season. It breeds on Arctic coasts and islands from northern Alaska to western Baffin Island. It is the largest and stockiest of its family in Alabama. (Photo by Dave Cagnolatti)

Lesser Yellowlegs
(Tringa flavipes)

The Lesser Yellowlegs and the Greater Yellowlegs forage actively, even running after small fishes, and bob their heads and body when alarmed.

(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti)

Lesser Yellowlegs
(Tringa flavipes)    

Often seen walking gracefully on mudflats or shores, this sandpiper is tame and approachable. It is best distinguished from the Greater Yellowlegs by its smaller size and its bill, which is completely straight and only one- third the length of its cousin's bill, as well as by its different voice.

(photo by Marlene Cashen)

Greater Yellowlegs
(Tringa melanoleuca)

The bill of the 14 inch Greater Yellowlegs appears slightly upturned and much longer than the head. The bill of the10.5 inch Lesser Yellowlegs appears straight and slightly longer than the head. The two species can also be distinguished by voice.
(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti)

Killdeer
(Charadrius vociferus)

It is distinguished from similar species by its large size, orange on upper tail, and double neck bands.

Photo by
Marlene Cashen

Sanderling
(Calidris alba)

Juvenile plumage
(July-November)

Photo by
Marlene Cashen

Common Snipe
(Gallinago gallinago)

This species feeds in wet areas by rhythmic, jerky vertical probing.

Photo by
Marlene Cashen

Common Snipe
(Gallinago gallinago)

Photo by
Marlene Cashen

Black-necked Stilt
(Himantopus mexicanus)

This species occurs in shallow, marshy or muddy ponds.

Photo by
Marlene Cashen

American Avocet

(Recurvirostra americana)

American Avocet is fairly common on the Alabama Gulf Coast winter, spring and fall. It is rare in the summer. The male's bill is longer, straighter, than the female's.

(photo by Terry Hartley)

Short-billed Dowitcher nonbreeding adult

(Limnodromus griseus)

This shorebird is common fall, winter, and spring and occasional in summer on the Alabama coast.

( photo by Terry Hartley )