shorebirds crossword clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Answercrossword.com! If you're tackling a crossword and the clue "shorebirds" has you stumped, you've come to the right place. Below you'll find a comprehensive list of possible answers, organized by letter count, to help you complete your puzzle quickly and accurately.
Solutions for "shorebirds crossword clue" by Letter Count
5 Letters
TERNS: Graceful, often white, long-winged seabirds commonly found on coastlines, known for diving for fish.
GULLS: Common, noisy coastal birds, often scavengers, found near water bodies including shores, beaches, and harbors.
6 Letters
PLOVER: A short-billed, plump wading bird often found foraging on beaches, mudflats, and open grasslands near water.
SNIPES: Wading birds with long, slender bills, known for their distinctive zigzag flight, often found in marshy shore areas and wetlands.
7 Letters
CURLEWS: Large wading birds with distinctive long, downcurved bills, typical inhabitants of shorelines, estuaries, and wet grasslands.
9 Letters
SANDPIPER: A small to medium-sized wading bird, typically found foraging for invertebrates on sandy shores, mudflats, and wetlands worldwide.
More About "shorebirds crossword clue"
Shorebirds are a diverse group of birds typically found in coastal habitats, wetlands, and open shores, hence their common name. They are characterized by their long legs, often slender bodies, and specialized bills adapted for probing in sand or mud for invertebrates. Their presence in crosswords is frequent due to the variety of species and their distinctive features.
When "shorebirds" appears as a clue, solvers should consider not just the general term, but specific species that fit the given letter count. The clue might be direct, or it could hint at a specific type of shorebird through its behavior, habitat, or a unique physical attribute. Familiarizing yourself with common shorebird names can give you a significant edge in these types of clues.
Many shorebird species are migratory, traveling vast distances between breeding and non-breeding grounds. This global distribution means they appear in puzzles from various regions, making them a universal subject in the world of crosswords. Understanding their habits and typical appearances helps in quickly identifying the correct answer.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Consider the Letter Count: Always start by counting the available spaces in your grid. This immediately narrows down the possibilities significantly, allowing you to focus only on answers that fit the exact length, such as "TERNS" for 5 letters or "SANDPIPER" for 9.
- Think Broadly and Specifically: While "shorebirds" is a broad term, sometimes a crossword setter is looking for a very specific type, like a "wading bird" or a bird known for its "long bill." Conversely, if specific names don't fit, consider more general terms that might still qualify.
- Cross-Reference with Other Clues: Crosswords are interconnected. If you have a few letters from intersecting words, use them to confirm or narrow down your shorebird answer. The more letters you have, the easier it becomes to deduce the correct bird name.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are common shorebird answers in crosswords?
Common answers for 'shorebirds' in crosswords include TERNS, GULLS, PLOVERS, SANDPIPERS, and CURLEWS, with the specific answer depending on the number of letters required for the puzzle.
How do I identify a shorebird clue in a crossword?
Look for clues related to beaches, coasts, wetlands, wading birds, long bills, or specific bird names known to inhabit these areas. Phrases like 'coastal wader' or 'beach bird' are strong indicators.
Are all wading birds considered shorebirds?
While many wading birds are indeed shorebirds, the term 'shorebird' specifically refers to a distinct group of birds (Order Charadriiformes, excluding gulls and terns, which are often associated but distinct) that primarily inhabit shorelines. However, in crosswords, the term might be used more broadly to include any bird commonly found near water.