British Birds - Dippers, Divers and Sandpipers

Here is the largest European wading bird but do you recognise it? Question 10 will reveal if you do!

British Birds - Dippers, Divers and Sandpipers

Dippers are unique among passerines for their ability to dive and swim underwater. Divers are excellent swimmers, using their feet to propel themselves above and under water while their wings provide assistance. Most species of sandpipers nest in open areas, and defend their territories with aerial displays.

Which of these options do you prefer?

  1. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of Oldbilluk
    • Group: Sandpipers and allies
    • Binomial: Lymnocryptes minimus
    • Order: Charadriiformes
    • Family: Scolopacidae
    • Status: Winter Visitor & Passage Migrant
    • A secretive bird and when approached it tends to crouch down, relying on its camouflaged plumage.
    • When feeding it has a characteristic 'bouncing' motion, as if on a spring.

  2. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of Carley, Curtis
    • Group: Divers
    • Binomial: Gavia arctica
    • Order: Galliformes
    • Family: Gaviidae
    • Status: Resident Breeder And Winter Visitor
    • These streamlined diving birds sit low in the water and dive with consummate ease.
    • Calls include a yodelling high-pitched wail and harsh growls.

  3. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of David Karna
    • Group: Divers
    • Binomial: Gavia stellata
    • Order: Galliformes
    • Family: Gaviidae
    • Status: Resident Breeder And Winter Visitor
    • They usually jump up to dive and can stay underwater for a minute and a half.
    • It is the only species of its kind able to take off directly from land.

  4. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of Mdf
    • Group: Sandpipers and allies
    • Binomial: Calidris alpina
    • Order: Charadriiformes
    • Family: Scolopacidae
    • Status: Winter Visitor And Passage Migrant
    • Highly gregarious in winter, sometimes forming large flocks on coastal mudflats or sandy beaches.
    • Large numbers can often be seen swirling in synchronized flight.

  5. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of J M Garg
    • Group: Sandpipers and allies
    • Binomial: Gallinago gallinago
    • Order: Charadriiformes
    • Family: Scolopacidae
    • Status: Resident Breeding Species And Summer Visitor
    • The male performs 'winnowing' displays during courtship, flying high in circles and then taking shallow dives to produce a 'drumming' sound by vibrating its tail feathers.

  6. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of Ronald Sl at Wikipedia
    • Group: Sandpipers and allies
    • Binomial: Scolopax rusticola
    • Order: Charadriiformes
    • Family: Scolopacidae
    • Status: Resident Breeding Species
    • A large bulky wading bird.
    • Largely nocturnal, spending most of the day in dense cover.
    • Their eyes are located on the sides of their heads, which gives them 360 degree vision.

  7. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of Loon
    • Group: Divers
    • Binomial: Gavia immer
    • Order: Galliformes
    • Family: Gaviidae
    • Status: Winter Visitor
    • This species is a specialist fish-eater, diving as deep as 60 m.
    • It flies with its neck outstretched, usually calling a particular tremolo.
    • Its call has been called 'haunting' and 'enchanting'.

  8. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of Mark Medcalf
    • Group: Dippers
    • Binomial: Cinclus cinclus
    • Order: Passeriformes
    • Family: Cinclidae
    • Status: Resident Breeding Species
    • Flies rapidly and straight, its short wings whirring swiftly and without pauses or glides.
    • When displaying, the male will take long and high flights accompanied by sharp metallic calls.

  9. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of Ken Billington
    • Group: Sandpipers and allies
    • Binomial: Calidris minuta
    • Order: Charadriiformes
    • Family: Scolopacidae
    • Status: Winter Visitor & Passage Migrant
    • This bird nests on a scrape in bare ground, laying 3-5 eggs.
    • It is polygamous, and male and female may incubate separate clutches.
    • The call is a sharp 'stit'.

  10. What is the name of this bird?

    Photograph courtesy of http://www.naturespicsonline.com/
    • Group: Sandpipers and allies
    • Binomial: Numenius arquata
    • Order: Charadriiformes
    • Family: Scolopacidae
    • Status: Resident Breeding Species
    • The largest European wading bird.
    • Instantly recognisable on winter estuaries or summer moors by its long, downcurved bill, brown upperparts, long legs and evocative call.
    • Coastal numbers build up from July.
TJS - Web Design Lincolnshire