WILCOCK

Waders are mostly seen on the seashore, the mudflats of estuaries and wetlands, or the shallow shores of other bodies of water. They typically have long legs relative to their size but this is not true of them all. Many are relatively small and some are so well camouflaged and inconspicuous that they may not be noticed unless one specifically searches for them.

They eat a variety of prey species which they forage for at different depths, as one would suspect from the adaptations producing the different lengths and shapes of their beaks. Their food species includes worms, small molluscs and other insects.

In many species the plumage varies between summer and winter and this of course means that some species have an "in-between" appearance whilst going from one stage to the next, which can make identification difficult. 

At present this section shows photographs of only a few species, which nevertheless show a variety of beak sizes and shapes. I will add others as the opportunity arises.