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KEVIN: Shorebirds are captivating, and even charming. But let’s face it—shorebird ID is
not always easy, even for experienced birders.
Hi, I’m Kevin McGowan. In this self–paced, online course on shorebird identification,
we’ll go beyond the field guide to help you build your own shorebird ID toolkit. We’ll
examine all kinds of shorebird plumage, from the spectacularly bold patterns of some
breeding shorebirds to drab, indistinct ones. But one of the things that makes shorebirds
so tricky is that at first glance, they all look alike, especially from far away.
So, I’ll share strategies that will help you tell some of the most similar–looking birds apart,
including noticing distinctive behaviors, like how they forage and how they fly.
This course breaks shorebirds into categories, so you can master the key distinctions
among 8 different types and learn the unique body shapes that can enable you to easily
pick the bird out in a crowd.
Our “Shorebird Yardstick” will help you learn the relative size of each species.
And our SnapID tool will allow you to practice what you’ve learned as much as you
like—giving you the chance to refresh your skills before heading into the field.
Shorebirds are tough, but with this course as your guide, I know you can become
comfortable identifying these fascinating birds.
I hope you’ll join me to learn about shorebirds.
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Build Your Shorebird Confidence
Learn the keys to identifying shorebirds with world-renowned birding expert and ornithologist Kevin McGowan.
- Discover size and shape cues to help you with IDs
- Get familiar with telltale shorebird foraging techniques
- Practice with exclusive SnapID visual recognition tools
Be a Better Birder: Shorebird Identification
- Lessons inside: 16
- Topics inside: 56
- Completion time (estimated): 12 hours
- Instructional videos: 59
- Total instructional video time: 3.25 hours
- Level: Advanced
- Categories: Bird Identification
- Regionality: United States/Canada – General
- SnapID makes practice easy
- Self-paced, no expiration date, 100% online
- 60-day refund guarantee
Why I Made This Course
"There’s no doubt about it. Shorebirds can be tricky—so I’ve designed this course to get you up-to-speed on the distinctive silhouettes, markings, and behaviors that will unlock your ability to identify everything from sandpipers and plovers to oystercatchers and stilts. You’ll get up-close-and-personal with all 47 species found in the United States and Canada so that next time you encounter birds on the shore, you’ll be able to enjoy the thrill of recognizing what you see and confidently adding them to your list."
What's Inside
This powerful course will take you well beyond the field guide by combining guided video tutorials with specific ID strategies for 47 shorebird species. With more than 200 minutes of video training, Kevin McGowan will walk you through how to distinguish among the many similar looking shorebird species. Plus, you will be able to practice your newfound skills using Bird Academy’s exclusive Shorebird Yardstick and SnapID learning tools as often as you like, to really reinforce what you have learned. Hint! With shorebirds, shape and behavior are the most helpful cues to help you quickly nail your ID.
Take a Free Peek Inside the Course
Dip in and preview the training materials on the Spotted Sandpiper.
Explore the Free PreviewCourse Overview
Get an overview of the types of shorebirds, and tips for how to make the most of this course.
Shorebird shape is one of the best clues for making an ID. Learn how to put this feature to use in the field.
Learn to cue in on the most diagnostic behaviors of shorebirds, including how they forage and fly.
Learn how to use our “Shorebird Yardstick” to see how different birds measure up to one another.
Where and when you see a shorebird is important to notice. Learn the microhabitats and migration timings that are key to pay attention to.
Even though shorebirds aren’t super colorful, there are some spots, streaks, and stripes that are good ID clues.
Get to know the handful of recognizable calls that will help you make an ID in the field, even if you can’t see the bird.
Learn about the seven species of tringas found in the continental U.S. and Canada—and practice for the field with SnapID.
Learn about the 11 species of peeps found in the continental U.S. and Canada—and practice for the field with SnapID.
Learn about the four snipe-type species found in the continental U.S. and Canada—and practice for the field with SnapID.
Learn about the three species of phalaropes found in the continental U.S. and Canada—and practice for the field with SnapID.
Learn about the five species of small “other” shorebirds found in the continental U.S. and Canada—and practice for the field with SnapID.
Learn about the nine species of plovers found in the continental U.S. and Canada—and practice for the field with SnapID.
Learn about the four species of curlews and godwits found in the continental U.S. and Canada—and practice for the field with SnapID.
Learn about the four large “other” species of shorebirds found in the continental U.S. and Canada—and practice for the field with SnapID.
Discover how to figure out what shorebirds are nearby and how to find the sites that shorebirds frequent.
Meet the Course Instructor
The Wonderful World of Woodpeckers
This Course is Entirely Online
There’s nothing to be shipped, and no additional material is necessary. Bird Academy courses are online, self-paced, and have no deadline to complete the course. You can return to them for reference or practice as often as you want. All course material, practice tools, instructional videos, and quizzes are available through your web browser. Learn anytime, anywhere.* Gain the skills and understanding you’re looking for.
*Requires an internet connection and a modern web browser.
Course Instructor: Kevin McGowan
Course Developer: Laura Helft
Video Producer and Editor: Jess Ahearn
Graphic Designers: Jessica French and Jill Leichter
Video Captionning: Marla Coppolino
Web Designer: Jeff Szuc
Copy Editor: Jill Leichter
Marketing and Promotion: Bobby Stickel and Katherine Welch
Student Support: Lee Ann van Leer
Executive Producers: Laura Helft and Mya Thompson
Special Thanks: Andrew Bibeault, Eric Sibbald, Subhradip Sarker, Katie Sullivan, Don DesJardin, Brian L. Sullivan, and Jay McGowan
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