Charadriiformes

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Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 350 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most Charadriiformes live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic, some occupy deserts and a few are found in thick forest.

The order is usually divided into three suborders:

The waders (or Charadrii) are typical shorebirds, most of which feed by probing in the mud or picking items off the surface in both coastal and freshwater environments.
The suborder Lari includes the gulls and their allies. These are generally larger species which take fish from the sea. Several gulls and skuas will also take food items from beaches, or rob smaller species, and some have become adapted to inland environments.
The auks (or Alcae) are coastal species which nest on sea cliffs and "fly" underwater to catch fish.

The Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, which has been widely accepted in America, lumps all the Charadriiformes together with the seabirds and birds of prey into a greatly enlarged order Ciconiiformes.

ORDER CHARADRIIFORMES
* Suborder Charadrii: waders
** Family Thinocoridae: seedsnipe
** Family Pedionomidae: Plains Wanderer
** Family Scolopacidae: snipe, sandpipers, phalaropes, and allies
** Family Rostratulidae: painted snipe
** Family Jacanidae: jacanas
** Family Chionididae: sheathbills
** Family Burhinidae: thick-knees
** Family Haematopodidae: oystercatchers
** Family Recurvirostridae: avocets
** Family Ibidorhynchidae: Ibisbill
** Family Charadriidae: plovers and lapwings
** Family Pluvianellidae: Magellanic Plover
** Family Dromadidae: Crab Plover
** Family Glareolidae: pratincoles and coursers
* Suborder Lari: gulls and allies
** Family Laridae: gulls
** Family Sternidae: terns
** Family Stercorariidae: skuas
** Family Rhynchopidae: skimmers
* Suborder Alcae: auks
** Family Alcidae: puffins, guillemots, murres, and allies

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