Pronunciation: [ʃˈɔːbɜːdz] (IPA) 
The word "shorebirds" is spelled as /ˈʃɔːr.bɜːdz/. The "sh" sound is represented by the digraph "sh" /ʃ/, while "or" is pronounced as /ɔːr/. The "e" in "birds" is silent, making the "i" pronounced as /ɜːr/. The ending "-s" /z/ is added to indicate plural form. Shorebirds are a diverse group of birds found near bodies of water like beaches, marshes, and estuaries. They include sandpipers, plovers, and avocets, among others.
Shorebirds, also known as waders, are a group of birds that primarily inhabit coastal areas, including beaches, mudflats, marshes, and estuaries. They are defined by their unique adaptations for feeding and nesting in these shoreline environments. Shorebirds are known for their long legs, slender bills, and webbed feet, which enable them to wade in shallow water, probe the sand, and capture their prey.
These birds are highly migratory, with many species undertaking long-distance journeys to their breeding and wintering grounds. They often undertake these arduous migrations in large flocks, known as formations or waves. Some shorebird species have some of the longest known migration routes in the animal kingdom, traveling thousands of miles between their breeding grounds in the Arctic or temperate regions to their wintering habitats in warmer areas, such as wetlands or coastal regions.
Shorebirds primarily feed on small invertebrates, including insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and worms. They have a variety of feeding techniques, such as probing their bills into mud or sand, pecking at the surface, and even capturing prey in flight. Their diet and feeding techniques make them essential for maintaining the ecological balance of coastal ecosystems, as they help control populations of prey species while serving as a food source for larger predators.
Shorebirds come in a wide range of sizes and plumage colors. Some common examples include sandpipers, plovers, snipes, stilts, avocets, and godwits. Due to their aesthetic appeal and ecological significance, shorebirds are often the subject of nature photography and birdwatching activities at coastal areas around the world.
The term "shorebirds" is a compound word formed by combining "shore" and "birds".
The word "shore" dates back to Middle English and is derived from the Old English word "sceoru", meaning "coast" or "shoreline". It has Germanic roots and is related to the Old Norse "sker", meaning "rock" or "obstacle". The general idea is that "shore" refers to the area of land along the edge of a body of water.
On the other hand, "bird" traces its roots back to the Old English word "brid", which is related to the Old High German "brato" and the Sanskrit "bhṛtár". It is thought to be an onomatopoeic word imitating the sound of the bird's cry.
So, "shorebirds" simply refers to bird species that inhabit the shores or coastal areas.
