Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes is an order of birds that includes a diverse group known commonly as shorebirds and seabirds. Its members occupy a wide range of habitats, from coastal shores and open oceans to salt flats and inland wetlands. The order is cosmopolitan, with species adapted to temperate, tropical, and polar regions, and many lineages undertake long migrations between breeding and wintering grounds.

The Charadriiformes comprise several families to the extent of hundreds of species, including Charadriidae (plovers), Scolopacidae (sandpipers and their relatives), Haematopodidae (oystercatchers), Recurvirostridae (stilts and avocets), Stercorariidae (skuas), Laridae (gulls and terns), Alcidae (auks), and Jacanidae (jacanas). This grouping also encompasses a variety of feeding adaptations, such as probing mud for invertebrates, catching fish by surface dipping or pursuit, and aerial foraging by certain terns.

Morphology within Charadriiformes is broad, ranging from small sandpipers to large gulls. Most species are proficient fliers; many are strong swimmers or waders with long legs and specialized bills suited to their feeding ecology. Behaviorally, many species are social, forming flocks outside the breeding season and nesting in colonies or scattered ground nests. Breeding generally involves camouflaged eggs laid in shallow scrapes or depressions, with parental care shared between sexes in many species.

Conservation concerns affect several species due to habitat loss, pollution, and climate change, particularly on breeding and feeding grounds. While some members adapt to urban environments and exploit human-derived resources, others remain highly vulnerable, underscoring the ecological importance and conservation needs of Charadriiformes.