Story: Wading birds

Wrybill feeding at the coast (2nd of 2)

Wrybill feeding at the coast

At winter feeding grounds, a wrybill’s diet comes from the sea shore. Now the bill is used as a scoop. By sweeping sideways up to the right, it collects tiny crustaceans. A wrybill can make up to 100 of these sweeping movements per minute. It will also probe for worms and bivalves, and snatch at crabs.

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Eco-vista: Photography & Research
Reference: Image 010005_031027
Photograph by Brent Stephenson

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How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching, 'Wading birds - Wrybills and shore plovers', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/9175/wrybill-feeding-at-the-coast (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 12 Jun 2006, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015