Why do semipalmated Sandpipers and Plovers flock together? (1 Viewer)

[crazyfingers]

Has anyone seen a good explanation why these two species so often flock together? I understand that they have similar habits but so do other birds.

These two species, when I see them at all, are always flocking together, even flying in unison together.

Is there some kind of symbiotic advantage? Is one good at something that complements what the other is good at, or bad at, that they have a better chance of survival together than separate?

 

[Nutcracker]

Safety in numbers :t:

 

[AllanM]

As well as safety, different species do occasionally have the same foraging habits and food source needs, so hang around the same spots. They are quite sociable. Humans take note

 

[fugl]

Without claiming more knowledge of the 2 species than I actually possess, I agree that safety in numbers plus similar foraging niches probably pretty much cover it.

 

[fdokykcu]

I guess they flock together to make more interesting what is already a nice photo!

 

[Allen S. Moore]

Has anyone seen a good explanation why these two species so often flock together? I understand that they have similar habits but so do other birds.

These two species, when I see them at all, are always flocking together, even flying in unison together.

Is there some kind of symbiotic advantage? Is one good at something that complements what the other is good at, or bad at, that they have a better chance of survival together than separate?

Dunlin and Ringed Plover do that, too, at least at a couple of sites on the southern coast of the Isle of Man.

 

[Zheljko]

Maybe they recognize flock members by foot shape

 

[Nutcracker]

Dunlin and Ringed Plover do that, too, at least at a couple of sites on the southern coast of the Isle of Man.

Ditto Sanderling and Ringed Plover.

 

[Tiraya]

Other consistent pairings I've encountered, some odder than others:

-Dunlin and curlew sand
-Knot and turnstones
-Ruff and black-tailed godwits
-lesser and greater yellowlegs

And this one I've heard of but there was no golden plover when I went to check it:

-Oystercatcher and golden plover