Let’s Meet England’s Wonderful Wading Birds!
England has many wading birds. Also read our posts on:
For wading coastal birds, keep at least 50 metres away, as causing them to fly wastes energy, that could be spent feeding (they need extra space at high tide). Keep dogs away, as disturbing nests could cause them to abandon chicks.
Sandpiper, Art by Angie
Restoring our wetlands is the best way to help wading birds, as it provides natural food and habitat. In recent years, many wetlands have been lost to farming and building, so birds lose their nesting and feeding grounds.
Other issues are water pollution, raw sewage and climate change which changes weather patterns). So support small organic farmers that protect wildlife corridors, and avoid companies that use pesticide, that kill the creatures that wetland birds feed on.
Oystercatchers
These are not officially wading birds, but easy to know from their bright red bills and black/white feathers.
The oystercatcher stands out straight away, with its black-and-white plumage and bold, orange bill. It’s a noisy bird with a sharp pip that echoes across muddy estuaries and sandy shores.
Oystercatchers are often seen in flocks, especially in winter when huge numbers gather on the coast. They feed on shellfish, especially mussels and cockles, using their strong bills to prise shells open or jab into the mud.
In spring and summer, some nest inland on gravel beaches or riverbanks. Their curious calls and striking looks make them a favourite among birdwatchers.
Dunlins
These are grey in winter, and brown in breeding season. Like curlews, they have downward-curving bills. Little stints are similar, but smaller.
Dunlins are small, busy birds that rarely seem to rest. In breeding plumage, a black belly patch marks their spot, but for most of the year they wear softer greys and browns.
They thrive in estuaries, dashing about in large flocks and probing mud for insects, worms and crustaceans. In winter, the sight of thousands wheeling in the air over the tide is a true spectacle.
Dunlins are important indicators of healthy wetlands, so their presence means good things for local nature.
Black-tailed Godwit
Elegant and slender, black-tailed godwits show off long, straight bills and striking orange-brown necks in spring. Their black-and-white wing patterns are clear in flight, and they often gather in open wetlands or flooded fields. This species is considered near-threatened, so every sighting feels special.
Many godwits in England belong to the Icelandic population, stopping by each spring and autumn, though a small number now breed in the fens. Look for their sweeping foraging style as they move through shallow pools.
Bar-tailed godwits are smaller with striped bars on their tails and upturned bills.
Knots
Knots are robust birds, sometimes called “red knots” due to their brick-red breeding plumage, though in winter they look sleek and grey. They arrive in huge numbers along the east coast, especially at places like The Wash and Morecambe Bay. They migrate from the Arctic each autumn, flying in large flocks.
Knots feed on shellfish and marine worms, often forming tight, swirling flocks that move almost as one. Their sheer numbers and the way they shift in the sky are unforgettable sights during peak migration months.
Redshanks
Redshanks are named after their bright carrot-coloured legs, which can be seen as they pick through muddy shallows. Their call, a fast piping whistle, rings out across saltmarsh and wetland reserves.
Redshanks feed on worms, insects and tiny shellfish, but their real magic lies in their watchful, nervous posture and lively movements. Numbers rise in winter as migrants arrive from northern Europe. These birds also breed widely across the UK, especially in protected coastal sites.
Spotted redshanks have longer legs and bills, and calls ‘chew-it!’ Also look for greenshanks.
Plovers
England hosts several types of plover, but the most common along the coast is the ringed plover. Small and compact, they show off a neat black collar and orange legs. The larger males wear a ‘ruff’ around their necks. They have small heads and pointed beaks.
Plovers are well-known for their stop-start running and sudden dashes after prey, which includes insects and small crustaceans.
- Little ringed plovers are wetland birds that have golden rings on their eyes. The migrate from Africa in spring and return in autumn.
- Ringed plovers are larger and often found near the coast.
- Golden plovers have beautiful patterns and calls like flutes.
- Grey plovers are found near coasts and estuaries.
Endangered lapwings (also a kind of plover) prefer fields and marshes, showing off a glossy green back and enjoying a tumbling display in spring. Both bring life to open spaces with their calls and active foraging.
Ruffs
Males in spring show impressive breeding plumage with ornate ruffs around their necks, while in autumn and winter, both sexes are plainer and blend into the crowd. These medium-sized waders favour flooded meadows, wetlands and the muddy edges of lakes.
The ruff’s lekking behaviour—where males display and compete for females—is a highlight, though it’s only seen at a few sites. Ruffs are rare breeders in England but regular as migrants and winter visitors.
Snipes
Snipe are secretive, well-camouflaged birds that spend much of their time hidden in reeds or long grass. They have long, straight bills which they use to probe soft mud for earthworms and insects.
When startled, snipe explode from cover in a zigzag flight, often uttering a rasping call. In spring, males “drum” by vibrating their tail feathers in display. Snipe nest in wet grasslands, making them hard to spot, but their drumming is a sign that wild wetlands are close by.
- Common snipes use a ‘sewing machine’ method to investigate marshes for food, and then ‘hums’ by shaking his feathers.
- Jack snipes are only seen in England in winter (he ‘pumps his body up and down’ as he walks!)
Black-winged Stilts
With impossibly long pink legs and striking black-and-white feathers, the black-winged stilt looks almost tropical. It’s a rare breeder in England but has begun nesting here more often as our climate gets warmer.
You may spot them in shallow lagoons, where they wade through still water in search of insects, snails and small fish. Stilts are unmistakable, and their arrival is a cause for excitement among birders.
Spoonbills (with spatula-shaped bills!)
Spoonbills are named after their spatula-shaped bills. They may look bizarre, but their bills can sift through wate and mud, to scoop and filter food (to find tasty treats like beetles, small fish and tadpoles).
They were once thought to be extinct, but numbers have recovered, and now mostly found on the north Norfolk coast.
Spoonbills are found worldwide, from the icy coasts of Siberia to the lush wetlands of Africa. Some spoonbills migrate vast differences to find suitable habitats for each season. The Spoon-Billed Sandpiper is near extinction, due to habitat loss, climate change and human actions.
Avocet: England’s Unique Wading Birds
Avocets are elegant wading birds with unique upturned curved beaks, which they use to build ground nests surrounded by water, as well as to feed. A conservation success story, these highly protected black-and-white birds are the emblem for the RSPB.
Avocets didn’t always call England home. By the mid-19th century, they had vanished from the country, mainly due to hunting and loss of wetlands. But after the Second World War, when coastlines were flooded for defence, suitable habitats returned—and so did the avocets.
Their comeback is seen as a major conservation success. Today, Britain’s population is strongest in the east and south, thanks to ongoing efforts from conservation groups and changes in land management.
Meet Cranes (England’s tallest birds!)
Cranes almost became extinct due to loss of habitat and hunting. Thankfully due to restoration of wetlands and peatlands, numbers are recovering.
These graceful birds with long necks and curved tail feathers are mostly found in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Somerset, known for their beautiful courtship dances.
Over the border, American whooping cranes are also very tall, with sandhill cranes (above) preferring marshy areas. Some cranes are such good fliers, they can cross the Himalayas! However many birds die of fatigue (or get eaten by birds of prey) on the journey.
The crane mating dance is fabulous. Each bird walks around each other with wings spread, using quick steps. Then leaps up in the air, to bow to each other. They pick up grass blades or sticks, and throw them in the air, to show their love!
Lapwings (critically endangered wading birds)
Lapwings are known for their striking black and white plumage, and distinct calls. Populations have decreased by over half since the late 1960s. This is mostly due to wetlands being built over, and pesticide use. Laptops are near extinction in the west of England.
Often spotted in grasslands and wetlands, lapwings require grasslands (for food and camouflage against predators) and wetlands (for rich feeding grounds).
Lapwings breed from March to July. They nest on the ground, laying eggs in shallow scrapes. This means their nests are vulnerable to predators and human activity. Disturbed nests could lead to chicks being abandoned.
