Arkansas is a haven for shorebirds, thanks to its rich wetlands, riverbanks, and mudflats. These areas are essential for both local and migrating birds, offering food and rest during their long journeys.
Whether you’re a seasoned birdwatcher or just curious about nature, exploring Arkansas’s shorebirds is a rewarding experience. In this article, we’ll introduce you to 27 of the common shorebird species you might encounter in the state.
List of 27 Types Of Shorebirds In Arkansas
1.Semipalmated Plover
A small plover featuring a single black breast band and short, stubby bill. Its brown upperparts contrast with white underparts. Often seen on mudflats and sandy shores during migration.
- Scientific Name: Charadrius semipalmatus
- Length: Approximately 7.1 inches (18 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 1.6 ounces (45 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 18.1 inches (46 cm)
2.Killdeer
Medium-sized with two black breast bands and a distinctive reddish-orange rump visible in flight. Prefers open habitats like fields and grasslands, frequently far from water.
- Scientific Name: Charadrius vociferus
- Length: Approximately 9.1-11.0 inches (23-28 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 2.6-4.5 ounces (75-128 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 18.1-18.9 inches (46-48 cm)
3.Greater Yellowlegs
Tall shorebird distinguished by long, bright yellow legs and a slightly upturned bill longer than its head. Inhabits marshes and the edges of lakes and ponds.
- Scientific Name: Tringa melanoleuca
- Length: Approximately 14 inches (35 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 6.3 ounces (178 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 28 inches (71 cm)
4.Lesser Yellowlegs
Similar to the Greater Yellowlegs but smaller, with a straight bill about the same length as its head. Favors shallow wetlands and mudflats.
- Scientific Name: Tringa flavipes
- Length: 9.1-10.6 inches (23-27 cm)
- Weight: 2.8-3.2 ounces (79.5-90.9 g)
- Wingspan: 23.2-25.2 inches (59-64 cm)
5.Spotted Sandpiper
Notable for its teetering behavior; breeding adults display bold black spots on white underparts. Common along riverbanks and lake shores.
- Scientific Name: Actitis macularius
- Length: Approximately 7.1-7.9 inches (18-20 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 0.8-1.9 ounces (22-53 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 14.6-15.8 inches (37-40 cm)
6.Ruddy Turnstone
Stocky build with bright orange legs and a striking black-and-white facial pattern. Often observed flipping over stones and debris on beaches to find food.
- Scientific Name: Arenaria interpres
- Length: Approximately 8.3-9.4 inches (21-24 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 3-4.6 ounces (84-130 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 19.7-22.4 inches (50-57 cm)
7.Dunlin
Medium-sized sandpiper with a slightly drooping black bill; breeding adults have a distinctive black belly patch. Common on coastal mudflats during migration.
- Scientific Name: Calidris alpina
- Length: Approximately 8.3 inches (21 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 1.9-2.1 ounces (54-60 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 17.3 inches (44 cm)
8.Least Sandpiper
The smallest shorebird, characterized by a short, slightly decurved bill and yellowish legs. Prefers muddy edges of ponds and marshes.
- Scientific Name: Calidris minutilla
- Length: Approximately 5.1-5.9 inches (13-15 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 0.7-1.1 ounces (19-30 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 10.6-11 inches (27-28 cm)
9.Sanderling
Pale, medium-sized sandpiper with a stout black bill and black legs; often seen running along beaches, chasing waves.
- Scientific Name: Calidris alba
- Length: Approximately 7.1-7.9 inches (18-20 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 1.4-3.5 ounces (40-100 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 13.8 inches (35 cm)
10.Wilson’s Snipe
Stocky shorebird with a long, straight bill and cryptic brown and buff plumage, providing excellent camouflage in marshy habitats.
- Scientific Name: Gallinago delicata
- Length: Approximately 10.6-11.8 inches (27-30 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 3.1-5.2 ounces (88-145 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 16.5-18.1 inches (42-46 cm)
Related article: 12 Largest Birds In Arkansas
11.American Woodcock
Plump, short-legged bird with a long bill and mottled brown plumage; eyes are set high on the head, giving a wide field of vision. Inhabits moist woodlands and fields.
- Scientific Name: Scolopax minor
- Length: 9.8-12.2 inches (25-31 cm)
- Weight: 4.1-9.8 ounces (116-279 g)
- Wingspan: 16.5-18.9 inches (42-48 cm)
12.Wilson’s Phalarope
Slim shorebird with a thin, straight bill; females are more brightly colored than males, featuring gray and rust-colored plumage. Often seen spinning in shallow waters to stir up food.
- Scientific Name: Phalaropus tricolor
- Length: Approximately 8.3-9.8 inches (21-25 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 1.2-2.2 ounces (35-63 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 15.8-16.9 inches (40-43 cm)
13. Pectoral Sandpiper
Medium-sized sandpiper with a distinct sharp boundary between its streaked breast and white belly. Notable for its yellowish legs and slightly decurved bill. Often found in grassy marshes and flooded fields during migration.
- Scientific Name: Calidris melanotos
- Length: Approximately 7.5–9 inches (19–23 cm)
- Weight: Males: 1.6–4.4 ounces (45–126 g); Females: 1.1–3.4 ounces (31–97 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 14.6–17.7 inches (37–45 cm)
14. Solitary Sandpiper
Medium-sized shorebird with dark olive-brown upperparts speckled with white spots and a distinctive white eye-ring. Prefers secluded freshwater habitats like wooded swamps and pond edges, often seen alone rather than in flocks.
- Scientific Name: Tringa solitaria
- Length: Approximately 8.3–9.1 inches (21–23 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 1.4–2.3 ounces (40–65 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 21.7 inches (55 cm)
15. Black-necked Stilt
Striking black-and-white plumage with exceptionally long, pink legs. Features a long, thin, straight black bill. Commonly found in shallow wetlands, salt pans, and flooded fields, where it forages for aquatic invertebrates.
- Scientific Name: Himantopus mexicanus
- Length: Approximately 13.8–15.4 inches (35–39 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 5.3–6.7 ounces (150–190 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 28 inches (71 cm)
16. Semipalmated Sandpiper
Small sandpiper with a short, straight black bill and partially webbed feet. Grayish-brown upperparts and white underparts. Typically seen in large flocks on mudflats and sandy beaches during migration.
- Scientific Name: Calidris pusilla
- Length: Approximately 5.5–6.7 inches (14–17 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 0.7–1.1 ounces (21–32 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 13.8 inches (35 cm)
17. Long-billed Dowitcher
Robust shorebird with a long, straight bill and a hunchbacked appearance when feeding. Breeding plumage is rich rufous below, while non-breeding plumage is gray. Favors marshes, mudflats, and shallow ponds.
- Scientific Name: Limnodromus scolopaceus
- Length: Approximately 11 inches (28 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 3.1–5.6 ounces (88–160 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 18.9 inches (48 cm)
18. American Avocet
Elegant bird with a long, upturned bill and striking black-and-white pattern on the back and wings. In breeding plumage, the head and neck are a warm cinnamon color, turning grayish in non-breeding season. Commonly found in shallow wetlands and salt flats.
- Scientific Name: Recurvirostra americana
- Length: Approximately 16.9–18.5 inches (43–47 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 9.7–12.3 ounces (275–350 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 28.3 inches (72 cm)
19. Sora
Small, secretive rail with a short yellow bill, gray face and breast, and black-and-white barred flanks. Often heard more than seen, it inhabits freshwater marshes with dense vegetation.
- Scientific Name: Porzana carolina
- Length: Approximately 8.3–9.8 inches (21–25 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 2.6 ounces (75 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 14.2 inches (36 cm)
20. Western Sandpiper
Small shorebird with a slightly drooping bill and rufous highlights on the crown and scapulars during breeding season. Non-breeding plumage is more subdued gray. Commonly seen on mudflats and sandy beaches during migration.
- Scientific Name: Calidris mauri
- Length: Approximately 5.5–6.7 inches (14–17 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 0.8–1.2 ounces (22–35 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 13.8 inches (35 cm)
21. Short-billed Dowitcher
Similar in appearance to the Long-billed Dowitcher but with a slightly shorter bill. Breeding plumage is rich rufous below, while non-breeding is gray. Prefers coastal mudflats and estuaries during migration.
- Scientific Name: Limnodromus griseus
- Length: Approximately 10–11 inches (25–28 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 3.5–4.9 ounces (100–140 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 18.5 inches (47 cm)
22. Willet
Large, stocky shorebird with gray-brown plumage and a striking black-and-white wing pattern visible in flight. Inhabits a variety of wetlands, including marshes, mudflats, and beaches.
- Scientific Name: Tringa semipalmata
- Length: Approximately 13–16 inches (33–41 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 7.2–10.9 ounces (204–310 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 27.6 inches (70 cm)
23. Virginia Rail
Small, slender rail with a long, slightly curved bill, gray face, and rusty-colored breast. Inhabits freshwater marshes with dense vegetation, often heard more than seen due to its secretive nature.
- Scientific Name: Rallus limicola
- Length: Approximately 9.4–10.6 inches (24–27 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 2.3–3.4 ounces (65–95 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 13.8 inches (35 cm)
24. Black-bellied Plover
Large plover with a stout bill and, in breeding plumage, a striking black face, neck, and belly contrasted by a white crown and nape. Non-breeding plumage is mottled gray above and white below. Found on coastal beaches and mudflats during migration.
- Scientific Name: Pluvialis squatarola
- Length: Approximately 11–11.4 inches (28–29 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 7.2–10.9 ounces (203–310 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 23–24 inches (58–61 cm)
25. Red-necked Phalarope
Small, slender shorebird with a thin, straight bill. Breeding females display a gray back, white face, and a distinctive reddish neck, while males are duller. Known for spinning in circles on the water’s surface to stir up prey.
- Scientific Name: Phalaropus lobatus
- Length: Approximately 6.3–7.1 inches (16–18 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 0.7–1.4 ounces (20–40 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 15 inches (38 cm)
26. Marbled Godwit
Large shorebird with a long, slightly upturned bill that is pink at the base and black at the tip. Buffy cinnamon overall with darker barring on the wings and back. Commonly found in coastal mudflats and estuaries during migration.
- Scientific Name: Limosa fedoa
- Length: Approximately 16.5–18.9 inches (42–48 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 10.1–16.0 ounces (285–454 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 27.6–31.9 inches (70–81 cm)
27. King Rail
Largest North American rail with a long, slightly curved bill, rich cinnamon underparts, and olive-brown upperparts. Inhabits freshwater marshes with dense vegetation, often heard giving loud, clattering calls.
- Scientific Name: Rallus elegans
- Length: Approximately 15.5–19.3 inches (39–49 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 10.2 ounces (290 g)
- Wingspan: Approximately 19.3 inches (49 cm)
Faqs
When can I see shorebirds in Arkansas?
The best times are during migration: late March to May and July to October. Species like plovers and sandpipers are abundant during these periods.
Where should I go to watch shorebirds?
Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge is a prime spot, especially during fall migration starting in August. Thousands of shorebirds gather here annually.
How do I tell similar shorebirds apart?
Focus on bill length and shape, leg color, and plumage patterns. For example, Greater Yellowlegs have longer, slightly upturned bills compared to Lesser Yellowlegs.
Are any shorebirds in Arkansas endangered?
Yes, the Piping Plover is considered threatened due to habitat loss. Conservation efforts are ongoing to protect this species.
What gear is helpful for shorebird watching?
Binoculars or a spotting scope enhance viewing. A regional field guide aids identification. Wearing neutral clothing helps you blend into the environment.
