The Shorebird Watcher Bibliography

Dick & Jean Hoffman
The Shorebird Watcher
Bibliography

There are a large number of books and articles on shorebirds. We present a few general references of mostly recent vintage. All provide extensive bibliographies of their own. To show a bit of the scope of research and field work that reaches publication, we selected a sample of relatively recent references that cover identification, status and distribution, conservation, and behavior or breeding biology. Any of them could be the starting point for investigation, research or education. We welcome comments and suggestions of what would be useful in this bibliography. See more recent publications below.

General Shorebird References

Bent, A. C. 1927 and 1929. Life Histories of North American Shore Birds. Order Limicolae (Part 1 & 2.) U. S. Natl. Mus. Bull. 142 & 146.
Detailed information available in a single source, much is still of interest. Reprinted by Dover in 1962.
Chandler, R. J. 1989. The Facts on File Field Guide to North Atlantic Shorebirds. New York: Facts on File.
(A Photographic Guide to the Waders of Western Europe and Eastern North America.) Recommended by Claudia Wilds in Birding, it is a good little book.
Colston, P. and P. Burton. 1988. A Field Guide to the Waders of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. London: Hodder and Stoughton.
Cramp, S., and K. E. L. Simmons, eds. 1983. The Birds of the Western Palearctic, Vol III: Waders to Gulls. New York: Oxford University Press.
Hayman, P., J. Marchant & T. Prater. 1986. Shorebirds: An Identification Guide. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
The second in this worldwide series and totally wonderful. A must for shorebird enthusiasts.
Hoskings, E., and W. G. Hale. 1983. Eric Hosking's Waders. London: Pelham Books.
Johnsgard, P. A. 1981. The Plovers, Sandpipers, and Snipes of the World. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.
Kaufman, K. 1990. A Field Guide to Advanced Birding. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Chapters 9, Basics of Shorebird Identification; 10, The Dowitchers (text by Claudia Wilds); 11, Sharp-tailed and Pectoral Sandpipers; 12, Semipalmated and Western Sandpipers
Lane, B. A. 1987. Shorebirds in Australia. Melbourne: Nelson Publishers.
Paulson, D. 1993. Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
color photos of almost everything and references to photos in other books. An excellent book with considerable value outside the U.S. Northwest!
Prater, A. J., J. H. Marchant, and J. Vuorinen. 1977. Guide to the Identification and Ageing of Holarctic Waders. BTO Guide 17. Tring: Brit. Trust for Ornithol.
Pringle, J. D. 1987. The Shorebirds of Australia. North Ryde, Australia: Angus & Robertson.
Rosair, D. and D. Cottridge. 1995. Photographic Guide to the Shorebirds of the World. (Facts on File; published in the UK as The Hamlyn Photographic Guide to the Waders of the World).
There are 212 (give or take) recognized species of shorebirds in the world. This book describes each one's attributes in two-page spreads, images next to descriptions with species grouped for comparison. 650 color photographs.
Stout, G.D.,P. Matthiessen, R.V. Clem and R.S. Palmer. 1967. The Shorebirds of North America. New York: Viking Press.
32 magnificent plates of shorebirds by Clem; thorough, technical species accounts by Palmer; and a marvelous essay on the wind birds by Matthiessen which has been reprinted as a separate book (The Wind Birds 1994).

NEW

Shorebirds by Des Thompson and Ingvar Byrkjesdal

Our view on the latest publication:
Shorebirds by Des Thompson and Ingvar Byrkjedal. Voyager Press, Inc., 10 Oct 2001, 72 pgs., $16.95US

This slender book, the latest in Voyager Press' WoldLife Library series, provides a concise introduction to this remarkable group of birds from the authors of the outstanding Tundra Plovers. Though classified as "juvenile", the information it contains is relevant to anyone interested in shorebirds. Beginning with a description of shorebird taxonomy based on the latest DNA findings of Charles Sibley and Jon Ahlquist, the book then describes what shorebirds look like, relates their incredible migration schemes, discusses breeding and social behavior, feeding habits and conservation concerns. The largely non-technical text is easy to read and the 50 excellent color plates are well placed to illustrate points in the text. A full list of all shorebirds of the world and a list of extinct or endangered species is included. We especially recommend this book to the novice shorebirder.

RECENT

Bodsworth, F., A. Rorer, Illustrator. 1995. Last of the Curlews. Counterpoint.
The latest edition of this classic tale of the migration of possibly the last Eskimo Curlew.
Look for a new non-fiction book on Eskimo Curlew from Wetlands International.
Byrkjedal, I. and D. Thompson. 1998. Tundra Plovers : The Eurasian, Pacific and American Golden Plovers and Grey Plover. Art Ellipsis.
An outstanding book on the taxonomy, appearance, behaviour, ecology and conservation of the four species in the genus Pluvialis.
Handbook of the Birds of the World Home Page, Volume 3: Hoatzin to Auks. This includes all shorebirds. [See reviews.]
Harrington, B., with C. Flowers. 1996. The Flight of the Red Knot. W. W. Norton.
Miller, D. S., D. Van Zyle, illustrator. 1996. Flight of the Golden Plover: The Amazing Migration Between Hawaii and Alaska. Alaska Northwest Books.
A juvenile non-fiction book on the Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva.
Morris, A. 1996. Shorebirds: Beautiful Beachcombers .Northword Press.
An introductory look at North American shorebirds with Morris' handsome photos. Information on conservation and field study.
Duncan, C. D. 1996. The Migration of Red-necked Phalaropes. Birding 28: 482-488.
Knopf, F. L. 1997. Rare, Local, Little-Known, and Declining North American Breeders: A Closer Look: Mountain Plover. Birding 29: 38-44.
Kovshar, A. F. 1996. PhotoNote: The Ibisbill. Birding 28: 320-323.
Mactavish, B. 1996. First ABA-Area Records: Common Redshank in Newfoundland. Birding 28: 302-307.
Morse, B. 1996. Birding at Ocean Shores, Washington. Birding 28: 389-398.
Obst, B. S., W. H. Hamner, P. P. Hamner, E. Wolanski, M. Rubega and B. Littlehales. 1996. Kinematics of Phalarope Spinning. Nature 384: 121.
Szantyr, M. S. 1997. Semipalmated Sandpiper or Little Stint? A Matter of Degrees. Birding 29: 132-134.

Selected Shorebird Publications

Antas, P. T. Z. 1983. Migration of Nearctic shorebirds (Charadriidae and Scolopacidae) in Brazil--Flyways and their different seasonal use. Wader Study Group Bull. 39: 52-56.
Clark, K. E., L. J. Niles, and J. Burger. 1993. Abundance and distribution of migrant shorebirds in Delaware Bay. Condor 95: 694-705.
Connors, P.G., B.J. McCaffery, and J.L. Maron. 1993. Speciation in Golden-Plovers, Pluvialis dominica and P. fulva: Evidence from the Breeding Grounds. Auk. 110(1): 9-20.
Dittmann, D.L., and R.M. Zink. 1991. Mitochondrial DNA Variation Among Phalaropes and Allies. Auk. 108: 771-779.
Gibson, D.D., and B. Kessel. 1989. Geographic Variation in the Marbled Godwit and Description of an Alaska Subspecies. Condor. 91: 436-443.
Gollop, J. B, T. W. Barry and E. H. Iversen. 1986. Eskimo Curlew. A Vanishing Species? Saskatchewan Nat. Hist. Soc., Spec. Publ. No 17.
Grant, P. J. 1984. Identification of stints and peeps. British Birds 77: 293-315
accompanied by the same paintings by Lars Jonsson as Veit & Jonsson 1984.
Howe, M. A. , P. H. Geissler, and B.A. Harrington. Population trends of North American shorebirds based on the International Shorebird Survey. Biological Conservation 49: 185-200.
Jehl, Jr., J.R. 1987. Moult and Moult Migration in a Transequatorially Migrating Shorebird: Wilson's Phalarope. Ornis Scandinavica. 18: 173-178.
Johnson, O. W., and R. M. Nakamura. 1981. The use of roofs by American Golden Plovers Pluvialis dominica fulva wintering in Oahu, Hawaiian Islands. Wader Study Group Bull. 31: 45-46.
Lanctot, R. B. 1995. A Closer Look: Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Birding 27: 384-390.
Lank, D. B., C. M. Smith, O. Hanotte, T. Burke, and F. Cooke. 1995. Genetic polymorphism for alternative mating behaviour in lekking male Ruff Philomachus pugnax. Nature 378: 59-62.
Marks, J.S., and R.L. Redmond. 1994. Migration of Bristle-Thighed Curlews on Layson Island: Timing, Behavior and Estimated Flight Range. Condor. 96: 316-330.
Myers, J. P., R. I. G. Morrison, P. Z. Antas, B. A. Harrington, T. E. Lovejoy, M. Sallaberry, S. E. Senner, and A. Tarak. 1987. Conservation strategy for migratory species. American Scientist 75: 19-26.
Nethersole-Thompson, D., and M. Nethersole-Thompson. 1986. Waders: Their Breeding, Haunts and Watchers. Calton, England: T. & A. D. Poyser.
Oring, L. W., D. B. Lank, and S. J. Maxson. 1983. Population studies of the polyandrous Spotted Sandpiper. Auk 100: 272-85.
Page, G., L. E. Stenzel, W. D. Shuford, and C. R. Bruce. 1991. Distribution and abundance of the snowy plover on its western North American breeding grounds. J. Field Ornithol. 62: 245-255.
Piersma, T. 1986. Eastern Curlews Numenius madagascariensis feeding on Macrophthalmus and other ocypodid crabs in Nakdong Estuary, South Korea. Emu 86: 155-60.
Powell, A.N., and F.J. Cuthbert. 1992. Habitat and Reproductive Success of Piping Plovers Nesting on Great Lakes Islands. Wilson Bulletin. 104: 155-161.
Pruett-Jones, S. G. 1988. Lekking versus solitary display: temporal variations in dispersion in the Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Anim. Behav. 36: 1740-52.
Ryan, M.R., B.G. Root, and P.M. Mayer. 1993. Status of Piping Plover in the Great Plains of North America: A Demographic Simulation Model. Conservation Biology. 7: 581-585.
Sager, L. 1994. Oystercatcher Redux. Bird Observer. 22: 185-192.
Sauer, J. R., and J. B. Bortner. 1991. Population trends from the American Woodcock singing-ground survey, 1970-88. J. Wildlife Management 55: 300-312.
Schamel, D., and D. Tracy. 1991. Breeding site fidelity and natal philopatry in the sex role-reversed Red and Red-necked Phalaropes. J. Field Ornithol. 62: 390-398.
Sharrock, J. T. R. 1980. The Frontiers of Bird Identification. Biggleswade.
articles reprinted from British Birds (1960-1977) with updating postscripts. Includes dowitchers, Spotted Sandpiper, small Calidrid sandpipers, snipes and more.
Vaugham, R. 1980. Plovers. Suffolk: Terence Dalton Ltd.
Veit, R. R., and L. Jonsson. 1984. Field identification of smaller sandpipers within the genus Calidris. American Birds 38: 853-876. Reprinted in American Birds 41: 212-236 (Summer 1987 issue).
Thorough text and brilliant paintings by Jonsson, make this the standard reference on "peeps" and stints. See also Grant 1984.
Wake, W. 1990. Species in Danger: Waterfront Property is Costly for Piping Plovers. Nature Canada. 19: 53.
White, R. P. 1988. Wintering grounds and migration patterns of the Upland Sandpiper. American Birds 42: 1247-1253.
Wilds, C. 1982. Separating the yellowlegs. Birding 14: 172-178.
Wilds, C., and M. Newlon. 1983. The identification of dowitchers. Birding 15: 151-165.
Field identification and distribution in North America with color photos of forms and plumages.
Yovanovich, G. D. L. 1995. Collared Plover in Uvalde, Texas. Birding 27: 102-104.

The Artist's View

A few selections of books by artists which include appealing representations of shorebirds.

Jonsson, Lars. 1983. Bird Island, Pictures from a Shoal of Sand. (translated by David Christie) London: Croon Helm.
This incredibly lovely book includes many watercolors and sketches of shorebirds from a summer on the Swedish coast.
Sutton, George Miksch. 1971. High Arctic, An Expedition to the Unspoiled North. New York: Paul S. Eriksson, Inc.
This account of Sutton's stay at a Bathurst Island research station in the Canadian arctic is illustrated with color plates of his paintings, including Purple Sandpiper and Sanderlling.
Warren, Michael. 1984. Shorelines, Birds at the Water's Edge. New York: Times Books.
The artist visits the shores of the world throughout the seasons and shares images of many kinds of birds there, but especially shorebirds.

The Shorebird Watcher Lapwing

Bibliography

[Birding from the North Coast]

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Changes last made on: Nov. 20, 2001