Terns Gulls Plovers and Other Shorebirds: Charadriiformes - Diet, Behavior And Reproduction, Gulls, Terns, Plovers, Other Shorebirds, And People - PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS, GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Birds of the order Charadriiformes range in size from 0.06 to 4.4 pounds (25 grams to 2 kilograms). They vary greatly in body length, body shape, leg length, and bill shape, making generalizations about their physical characteristics difficult.
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Charadriiforms are found worldwide, including all seven continents.
HABITAT
Species in the order Charadriiformes occupy diverse habitats. They are generally found near water, whether coastal, inland, or on the ocean. Many charadriiforms inhabit wetland areas, both marine and freshwater. Others spend large amounts of time in or near the ocean.
Additional Topics
As a group, charadriiforms range greatly in their diet and feeding strategies. Because of their use of aquatic habitats, many Charadriiformes species eat primarily fish. Among the fish-eaters, there are various methods for pursuing prey. The terns, for example, dive from the air into water to catch fish near the surface of the ocean. Alcids (auks, puffins, and murres) are good swimmers and swim un…
Some species of Charadriiformes do not migrate, remaining instead in the same area throughout the year. Other charadriiforms, however, do migrate, traveling from one area to another and back during the course of the year. Migrations generally occur between breeding grounds in the spring or summer and wintering grounds. Among the charadriiforms, shorebirds and terns are particularly well-known for …
Humans have hunted many species of charadriiform birds for meat, feathers, oil, and eggs. Because Charadriiformes are often found in large flocks during breeding, migration, or the winter season, they have frequently made easy targets for hunters. For example, between 1988 and 1989 alone, some 300,000 to 400,000 thick-billed murres were killed in Greenland. …
Of the 343 species of Charadriiformes, thirty-four are currently considered Threatened, in danger of extinction, by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Threatened species have been affected by habitat destruction and damage (particularly in wetland areas as well as rivers and streams), pollution, hunting, and other factors. Some species have declined as over-fishing by humans eliminates important…
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