Shorebirds facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charadriiformes |
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| Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) | |
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Charadriiformes
Huxley, 1867
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Charadriiformes is a large group of birds, including about 350 different species. These birds come in many sizes, from small to medium-large. You can find them all over the world. Most Charadriiformes live near water and eat small creatures like invertebrates. However, some live far out at sea, some live in deserts, and a few even live in thick forests.
Contents
What Are Charadriiformes Birds Like?
These birds are very diverse, meaning they have many different looks and ways of life. Most of them are known for living near water. They often have long legs for wading in shallow water and special beaks for finding food.
Where Do Charadriiformes Live?
You can find Charadriiformes birds on every continent. Many live along coastlines, near lakes, or in wetlands. Some, like seabirds, spend most of their lives over the ocean. Others, like certain gulls, can even be found in cities or far inland.
What Do Charadriiformes Eat?
Their diet mostly includes small animals. Many eat insects, worms, and other invertebrates they find in mud or sand. Some larger species might eat small fish or other tiny animals.
Main Groups of Charadriiformes Birds
The Charadriiformes order is divided into several main groups, or suborders. Each group contains different families of birds with similar features or habits.
Shorebirds and Waders
This group includes many birds that live near water. They are often called "waders" because they walk in shallow water to find food.
- Scolopaci: This group includes birds like sandpipers and snipe. They are known for their long, sensitive beaks which they use to probe for food in mud.
- Charadrii: This group includes plovers and lapwings. They often have shorter beaks and tend to run and stop to catch insects on the ground.
Gulls and Their Relatives
This group contains birds that are often seen near coasts or large bodies of water.
- Lari: This suborder includes gulls, terns, and auks. Gulls are well-known for scavenging and eating almost anything. Terns are graceful flyers that dive for fish. Auks, like puffins, are excellent swimmers and divers.
Other Unique Charadriiformes
There are also some smaller, unique groups within the Charadriiformes.
- Thinocori: This group includes birds like jacanas, which have very long toes that help them walk on floating plants in wetlands.
- Turnici: This group contains buttonquails, which look a bit like small quails but are not closely related. They live on the ground in grasslands.
Images for kids
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A Masked Lapwing, a type of Charadriiformes bird.
