Solicitriiformes

Solicitriiformes is a proposed order of birds that has appeared in some phylogenetic analyses as a distinct lineage separate from Charadriiformes. The concept arises from molecular studies that suggest a clade grouping certain shorebirds and seabirds more closely than traditional classifications would indicate, though the exact composition varies among analyses.

Taxonomic status and acceptance are currently uncertain. No major taxonomic authority has universally adopted Solicitriiformes as a formal order. Some researchers treat it as a provisional clade identified in molecular work, while others consider it an artifact of sampling or analytical methods. As a result, Solicitriiformes remains a contested concept rather than a consensus classification.

Composition and diagnosis are therefore not fixed. Because different studies yield different member sets, there is no stable list of families or species. The proposed group is generally supported by molecular data from mitochondrial and nuclear genes and is often linked with shared ecological traits such as shore and pelagic lifestyles. If accepted, Solicitriiformes would encompass lineages that exhibit adaptations related to coastal, estuarine, and open-water environments.

Distribution and ecology would be broad if the order were recognized, covering regions across multiple continents. Members, in theory, would occupy similar habitats to various shorebirds and seabirds, with diverse foraging strategies and migratory patterns.

Evolution and fossil records for Solicitriiformes are uncertain owing to the lack of formal recognition. Any durable classification would depend on further, more comprehensive phylogenetic analyses and broader consensus among ornithological authorities.