Charadriiformes

1
Charadriiformes

• Diverse group of birds ? 1820 families
• 6 monotypic families
• Monophyly still in question

Tree of Life Web Project. 2005. Charadriiformes.
shorebirds and relatives. Version 14 December
2005 (temporary). http//tolweb.org/Charadriiforme
s/26342/2005.12.14 in The Tree of Life Web
Project, http//tolweb.org/
2
Charadriiformes families

• Scolopacidae (sandpipers phalaropes)
• Charadriidae (plovers lapwings)
• Recurvirostridae (Stilts and avocets)
• Laridae (Gulls terns)
• Stercorariidae (Skuas Jaegers)
• Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers)
• Jacanidae (Jacanas)
• Rynchopidae (Skimmers)
• Alcidae (Auks, Murres, Puffins)

• Burhinidae (Stone-curlews Thicknees)
• Pluvianellidae (Megallanic plover)
• Ibidorhynchidae (Ibisbill)
• Thinocoridae (Seedsnipes)
• Glareolidae (Pratincoles)
• Pedionomidae (Plains-wanderer)
• Chionidae (Sheathbill)
• Dromadidae (Crab-plover)
• Rostratulidae (Painted snipe)

3
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers Phalaropes)

• Most diverse 23 genera 86 species
• Distribution Aquatic environs. And open areas
  worldwide
• General description
• Small birds (12-65 cm)
• Long narrow bills ? aquatic Invertebrates
• Sexes similar
• General Information
• Interesting breeding behaviors ? lekking,
  elaborate displays
• Variety of mating systems polyandry, monogamy,
  polygyny
• Many are migratory

Sanderling (Calidris alba)
4
Charadriidae (Plovers Lapwings)

• Number of species 8 genera 64 species
• Distribution Cosmopolitan
• General description
• Small birds (15-40 cm)
• Shorter, broader bill than Scolopacids
• Sexes similar
• General Information
• Feed on invertebrates
• Variety of breeding systems (generally monogamy)
• Many migratory
• Lay 2-4 eggs

Two-banded plover (Charadrius falklandicus)
5
Recurvirostridae (Stilts Avocets)

• Number of species 10 species 3 genera
• Distribution aquatic nearly worldwide
• General description
• Small birds (29-48 cm)
• Straight or recurved sharp beak
• Long neck with small head
• Legs long
• Sexes similar
• General Information
• Feed on invertebrates on top of water
• Monogamous w/ biparental care
• Many are colonial

American avocet (Recurvirostra americana)
6
Laridae (Gulls Terns)

• Number of species 80 species
• Distribution Cosmopolitan aquatic and coastal
  areas
• General description
• Small to medium sized (20-75 cm)
• Stout bill
• Long wings
• Palmate feet
• Sexes monochromatic males slightly larger
• Terns ? pointed bills long tail
• General Information
• Generalist feeders (terns feed on fish)
• Found mainly along coastal regions some occur
  inland
• Highly colonial
• Monogamous w/ biparental care

Franklins gull (Larus pipixcan)
7
Stercorariidae (Skuas Jaegers)

• Number of species 5 species 1 species
• Sometimes placed in Laridae
• Distribution
• Breed in polar regions
• Winter pelagically throughout temperate oceans of
  the world
• General description
• Medium-sized birds (50-58 cm)
• Stout bill with hooked tip
• Generally dark plumage
• Jaegers ? tail with extended central rectrices
• Feet webbed reduced hallax
• Sexes similar
• General Information
• Highly aggressive ? kleptoparasitism
• Predators on smaller vertebrates
• Usually monogamous w/ biparental care

South polar skua (Stercorarius maccormicki)
8
Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers)

• Number of species 7 all in 1 genus
• Distribution Cosmopolitan Rocky coasts
• General description
• Small bird (40-45 cm)
• Black body w/ red laterally compressed bill
• Three toes slightly webbed
• General Information
• Specialize on molluscs
• Monogamous w/ biparental care
• 2-4 eggs in a scrape nest

American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)
9
Jacanidae (Jacanas)

• Number of species 8 6 genera
• Distribution Pantropical aquatic habitats
• General description
• Small birds (15-50 cm)
• Bare forehead crown wattle
• Extremely long toes ? walking on floating
  vegetation
• Females usually larger
• General Information
• Polyandrous w/ ? bigger than ?
• Male parental care
• Feed principally on invertebrates, and/or aquatic
  vertebrates
• Build a floating nest
• 4 eggs

Comb-crested jacana (Irediparra gallinacea)
10
Rynchopidae (Skimmers)

• Number of species 3 all in 1genus
• Distribution Tropical and subtropical coasts of
  both Old New World
• General description
• Small birds (40 cm)
• Lower mandible longer and latterally compressed
• Sexes similar
• General Information
• Lower bill in water and skim for fish
• Colonial
• Biparental care
• 4-5 variable colored eggs in shallow scrape

Black skimmer (Rynchops niger)
11
Alcidae (Auks, Murres, Puffins)

• Number of species 23 13 genera
• Distribution Cold water habitats throughout
  Palearctic
• General description
• Small to medium sized (14-36 cm)
• Bill often laterally compressed and colorful
• Head large neck short body compact
• Wings small tail short
• Legs short, set back with webbed toes
• Sexes similar
• General Information
• Wing-propelled divers that feed primarily on fish
• Colonial nesters w/ a variety of nesting behavior
• Monogamous w/ biparental care
• Usually 1 egg (some species 2)

Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica)