Charadriidae

Charadriidae is a family of wading birds in the order Charadriiformes, commonly known as plovers and lapwings. The family comprises about 60 to 70 species in several genera, including Charadrius (typical plovers), Pluvialis (golden plovers), and Vanellus (lapwings). Many authorities divide the group into two subfamilies: Charadriinae (plovers) and Vanellinae (lapwings).

Plovers are generally small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short necks, and short, stout bills. Lapwings are usually larger, with longer legs and a more upright posture. The two groups occupy a wide range of open habitats, from coastal beaches and tidal flats to freshwater marshes, grasslands, and tundra.

Feeding is mainly by pecking at invertebrates exposed on the surface or by probing mud and sand. Most species forage by walking or running with short flights when disturbed. Reproduction involves simple ground nests—a shallow scrape lined with vegetation or debris—with eggs and chicks that are camouflaged and precocial. In many species both parents participate in incubation and care of the young.

Most Charadriidae are migratory or partially migratory, with breeding grounds in higher latitudes and wintering areas in more temperate or tropical regions. Conservation status varies; habitat loss, disturbance on breeding grounds, and climate change threaten some species, while others remain widespread.

Notable members include the Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) and the Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), illustrating the group’s wide distribution and ecological diversity.