Charadriiformes – Shorebirds/waders
Found near water bodies, these ‘frequent flyers’ inhabit all continents
Members of this order inhabit all seven continents of the world. Charadriiformes are divided into the waders, the gulls, and the auks. Auks look strikingly similar to penguins but can fly!
Predominantly aquatic birds, members of this family are strong fliers, and some pull off the longest and most impressive migrations among birds. Their plumage is typically white, grey, brown, or black, although many will have a bright contrast of yellow or red on either feet, eyes, or bills. They usually nest in huge colonies with thousands of nests, making their eggs prone to human harvesting. Unfortunately, many of these species are threatened by oil pollution or hunting.
Families in this order
One of the most widely distributed families in the world
Birds of this family will put even the best dancers to shame
Well known for their rather annoying calls and songs!
This colorful family lost a member for a good mid-19th century – the great auk
You can easily confuse the birds from this family for a wetland species even though they are 100% terrestrial
One of the few bird families that have only three toes as the hind toe is missing
The family with a very muddy taxonomic history
Members of this family have an extraordinarily girthy legs giving them a unusual appearance
Medium-sized birds who are always ready for any formal occasion with their tuxedo-like plumage
This family has a very peculiar style of sexual selection where females are more attractive and vibrant than males
This family is proficient in robbing other birds of their prey and devouring anything they can get
Widely known for their erratic zig-zag flight pattern
Known for their extended toes and toenails that help them spread out their weight efficiently
The only birds family that reside in Antarctica without webbed feet
This bird has learned how to use a spear and made it an extension of itself
Owner of one of the most peculiar-looking beak shapes in all of the bird kingdom
The janitors of the bird world
The monotypic family that is almost on the brink of extinction
On the brink of disappearance due to habitat destruction, global warming, and overgrazing
