CHAPTER VIII 



SHORE BIRDS 



Snipes and Sandpipers are generally distributed through- 

 out the world, breeding particularly in the northern part of 

 the Northern Hemisphere, forty-five species being found in 

 North America. They are shore birds and are seldom found 

 far from water. While gregarious in migration, they do not 

 nest in colonies. Their long bills, some of which are sensi- 

 tive, are used as probes, while the woodcock moves the 

 upper mandible by curving the point downward, the better 

 to extract worms from the earth. While not song birds, 

 some of them have a short musical note at nesting times. 

 Although small, they are favorite game birds. 



Eight species of plover are found in North America. 

 They have a general resemblance to the true snipes, but 

 have shorter bills and are not fitted for probing, as they 

 obtain food from the surface of the ground. In feeding 

 habits some plovers resemble the grouse. All shore birds 

 are powerful fliers and perform extensive migrations. They 

 possess pleasing call notes or whistles. Economically the 

 group is useful, both because they are game birds and 

 because of the nature of their food. 



Turnstones are of the family Aphrizidfe. They are a 

 small family consisting of only three species, all of which 

 are found in North America. They are small, plover-like, 

 sea coast birds. They prefer the outer beaches. 

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