Order Information (Charadriiformes)

Charadriiformes

Charadriiformes, Latin charadrius (“plover”) and Latin -fōrmis (“-shaped”), means “plover-like”, in reference to the fact that these animals are all plover-shaped and plover-related.

Sandpipers, plovers, gulls, waders, murres, guillemots, auklets, puffins, and murrelets

Photos

DISTRIBUTION

Worldwide.

SIZE

They range from 15.5 g and 13 cm in length to 1.75 kg and 76 cm.

MORPHOLOGY

They have large bodies, long wings, and somewhat lengthy necks, and their shapes are generally homogeneous. They have fully webbed feet and somewhat long legs. The larger species have stouter bills than the lesser species, which are typically hefty and slightly hooked. Some have lengthy bills and legs. Others have small wings, an upright stance, and black-and-white colors.

ECOLOGY & HABITAT

Certain species are found in deep forests, marshes, swamps, rivers, and lakes, while others are pelagic and often inhabit deserts.

DIET

Its diet consists of fish and both dead and alive marine and freshwater invertebrates; terrestrial arthropods and invertebrates including earthworms and insects; rodents, eggs, carrion, offal, amphibians, reptiles, and human waste; and even other birds.

REPRODUCTION

Most are monogamous and colonial breeders.

REFERENCES

del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D. A. (2010). Handbook of the Birds of the World Series. Lynx Edicions.

Lovette, I. J., Fitzpatrick, J. W. (2016). Handbook of Bird Biology. Wiley-Blackwell.

Gill, F. B., Prum, R. O. (2019). Ornithology. W.H. Freeman & Co. Ltd.

Total species known

386

Species in the collection

26

Species in Hong Kong

107

MBS000061 3

MBS000061 5

MBS000058 10

MBS000061 3

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MBS000009-2

MBS000009-3

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