Wader Guru FAQs

• ‘What is the difference between waders and shorebirds?’

SHORT ANSWER: Nothing the two words are synonymous.  More detail in LONG ANSWER.

• ‘What is an inspiration of waders / shorebirds?’

SHORT ANSWER: ‘An Inspiration of waders’ is the collective noun for a mixed or unidentified flock of waders swirling in flight over estuaries and anywhere waders gather in large numbers, around the world. More detail in LONG ANSWER.

• ‘How many species of wader / shorebird are there in the world?’

SHORT ANSWER: There are 259 species of wader in the world. More detail in LONG ANSWER.

• ‘How many species of wader / shorebird are there in the UK?’

SHORT ANSWER: There are 79 species on the official British Ornithologists’ Union list. More detail in LONG ANSWER.

• ‘Which is the most endangered wader / shorebird in the UK?’

SHORT ANSWERS:

Most endangered breeder (rare). Purple Sandpiper
Most endangered breeder (steepest decline) Eurasian Curlew
Most endangered regular non breeder: Bar-tailed Godwit and Red Knot
Most endangered regular passage species: Curlew Sandpiper
Most endangered accidental – Sociable Lapwing.

More detail in LONG ANSWER.

• ‘Which is the world’s biggest wader / shorebird?’

SHORT ANSWER: Far Eastern Curlew. More detail in LONG ANSWER.

• ‘Which is the world’s smallest wader / shorebird?’

SHORT ANSWER: Quail-Plover. More detail in LONG ANSWER.

• ‘What is the longest flight ever recorded for a wader / shorebird?’

SHORT ANSWER: 13,050 kilometres / 8,109 miles by a Bar-tailed Godwit. More detail in LONG ANSWER.

• ‘What is a ‘Plover’s page’?’

SHORT ANSWER: The Dunlin Calidris alpina is sometimes called ’Plover’s page’ because of its close association with the European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria. More detail in LONG ANSWER.