Click on images to enlarge. Colloquial names are given in brackets where appropriate.

Northern Lapwing is a rare and exotic plover that visits occasionally from Europe. It has a tuft of feathers on the crest of the head.

European Golden-plover is a much sought-after rarity that arrives rarely but regularly in Newfoundland in mid-Spring. It is usually found after prolonged northeasterly winds around headlands. Photo © Bruce Mactavish

Piping Plover is an endangered shorebird that nests sparsely in Newfoundland, mostly in the southwest part of the island. It is similar to Semipalmated Plover, a much more common bird. Note the extremely pale plumage, the incomplete black breast band, and the lack of dark facial markings.

Semipalmated Plover is a common breeding species. It resembles the Piping Plover, but is darker, has a dark mark on the face, and usually has a full black breast band. Immature "Semis" are most often confused with Piping Plovers, but even the immatures are a richer cocoa brown than the Piping Plovers, which are the color of dry sand.

Common Greenshank is very similar to Greater Yellowlegs, but it is in fact a rare visitor from Europe. This bird was photographed at Harbour Grace in 2001. The first Common Greenshank for Canada was found in exactly the same place in 1983!

  Greater Yellowlegs (Twillick) is a common breeding shorebird in Newfoundland and Labrador. It breeds on open barrens and bogs. It is very similar to the smaller Lesser Yellowlegs, a species that occurs far lest often in this province. Right Photo © Cal King

Common Redshank is a common species in Europe, but an extremely rare visitor to North America. The first records for this species in the Western Atlantic were from Bonavista, Newfoundland. Note the bright orange legs and bill base and the generally brown (not gray) plumage on the back.

Spotted Sandpiper is a common breeding shorebird throughout Newfoundland. It can be found near fresh or salt water. When startled it gives a series of shrill call notes as it flutters away on stiff, slightly down-curved wings. In flight the bold white wing stripe is obvious. In fall, the spots disappear from the breast, making this species look very like its close European relative, the Common Sandpiper. Photo © Cal King

American Whimbrel (Curloo) is a common shorebird during migration. One of the earliest to return from its Arctic nesting grounds, these birds begin to show up on coastal crow-berry barrens in late July and early August. This bird was photographed on its wintering grounds at Zapallar, Chile.

Sanderling is a common sandpiper seen most often in the late summer and fall. This is a breeding plumage adult. Sanderlings are commonly seen running right at the edge of the surf, where they forage for invertebrates. 

American Woodcock is a poorly understood species in Newfoundland. It breeds on the West Coast, but although local residents report the birds regularly, confirmed records are few and far between. Their nocturnal habits and early breeding season probably have a lot to do with the dearth of records.