The Zoochat Photographic Guide to Shorebirds, Flamingos and Grebes

[Mr. Zootycoon]

Thinornis


Hooded Plover (Thinornis cucullatus)

Also known as Hooded Dotterel. The range of this species extends over much of extreme southern Australia.

Monotypic

Photo of an adult by @Hix in the wild, Kangaroo Island, Australia

Photo of an immature by @Hix in the wild, Kangaroo Island, Australia

Shore Plover (Thinornis novaeseelandiae)

Also known as Shore Dotterel. The historical range of this species likely included the coastlines of New Zealand's South Island, and possibly North Island, but they were wiped out by introduced predators. A relict population survives on the Chatham Islands. Recently, captive-bred birds have been released on some New Zealand islands.

Monotypic

Photo by @Chlidonias in the wild, New Zealand (part of the reintroduced population)

Spoiler: References

Wiersma, P., Kirwan, G.M. & de Juana, E. (2019). Hooded Plover (Thinornis cucullatus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from Hooded Plover (Thinornis cucullatus) on 18 September 2019).

Wiersma, P., Kirwan, G.M. & Boesman, P. (2019). Shore Plover (Thinornis novaeseelandiae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from Shore Plover (Thinornis novaeseelandiae) on 18 September 2019).

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

Vanellus

This large genus is split into three posts.


Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

The breeding range of this species covers Europe almost entirely, along with parts of the Middle-East as well as much of Kazakhstan, southern Russia, Mongolia and northern China. Winters in western Europe and from north Africa throughout the mediterranean, the Middle-East and Iran across northern India towards southeast China, Korea and Japan.

Monotypic

Photo by @gulogulogulo in Axe Valley Bird and Animal Park, UK

Photo by @Maguari of a wild flock in flight, UK

Photo by @vogelcommando of a chick, the Netherlands

Long-Toed Lapwing (Vanellus crassirostris)

This species occurs in much of eastern and central Africa. From South Sudan through Uganda, the DRC, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia to the north of South Africa and Botswana; along with two smaller disjunct populations, one found in northeast Nigeria and Chad, the other in western Angola.

Two subspecies currently recognised, with the nominate found roughly in the northern part of the range and leucopterus in the south, integrating in Tanzania, southeastern DRC and Malawi.

crassirostris - photo by @Hix in the wild, Uganda

leucopterus - photo by @Maguari in the wild, Botswana

Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus)

Sometimes placed in the genus Hoplopterus. The range of this species extends mainly throughout the southern half of Africa, though it occurs further north in eastern Africa.

Monotypic

Photo by @Maguari in the wild, Botswana

Photo by @Merintia of a chick in Zoo Santillana del Mar, Spain

Spur-Winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus)

Sometimes placed in the genus Hoplopterus. This species occurs in the eastern Mediterranean, patchily through the Middle-East and Egypt at the Nile river south towards the Sahel. There its range forms a broad band throughout the upper part of sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal and the Gambia in the west all the way towards Kenya and Somalia in the east, perhaps towards Zambia in the South.

Monotypic

Photo by @Maguari in the wild, Ethiopia

River Lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii)

Sometimes placed in genus Hoplopterus. Occurs in southern Asia from north-central India and Nepal in the west to south-central China and Indochina in the east, reaching the northern part of the Malay peninsula. May occur further east, possible towards Hainan and Hong Kong.

Monotypic

There are no pictures of this species in the Zoochat Gallery at the time of writing


Black-Headed Lapwing (Vanellus tectus)

Sometimes placed in Hoplopterus. The range of this species extends in a broad band across northern sub-Saharan Africa from Mauritania and Senegal in the west to Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya in the east.

Two subspecies recognised.

tectus - photo by @Hix in the wild, Uganda

latifrons


Yellow-Wattled Lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus)

Sometimes included in Hoplopterus, or in its own monotypic genus. This species occurs in much of the Indian subcontinent, from south Pakistan through much of India into Bangladesh.

Monotypic

Photo by @ralph in the wild, Sri Lanka

White-Headed Lapwing (Vanellus albiceps)

Sometimes included in Hoplopterus, or in its own monotypic genus. The range of this species streches from Senegal and Gambia east towards South Sudan, then south through the DRC into northwest Uganda. Also occurs in south Tanzania, along the Zambezi river and southern Mozambique.

Monotypic

Photo by @Great Argus in San Diego Zoo Safari Park, USA

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

Vanellus

Part 2 of three.


Senegal Lapwing (Vanellus lugubris)

Sometimes placed in Hoplopterus or Stephanibyx. This species occurs patchily in extreme western sub-Saharan Africa, as well as most of the eastern coast and in a band across the content roughly from Gabon eastwards through the DCR into Tanzania. Non-breeding visitor in south Somalia.

Monotypic

There are no pictures of this species in the Zoochat Gallery at the time of writing


Black-Winged Lapwing (Vanellus melanopterus)

Sometimes placed in Hoplopterus or Stephanibyx. This species has several disjunct populations. One in Eritrea and Ethiopia (nominate), another in southwest Kenya and north-central Tanzania and the last one in eastern South Africa and Swaziland (subspecies minor)

Two subspecies recognised

melanopterus
minor - photo by @lintworm in the wild, Kenya

Crowned Lapwing (Vanellus coronatus)

Sometimes placed in Hoplopterus or Stephanibyx. This species occurs in much of Africa south of central Angola and northern Zambia in the west, but reaching as far north as Ethiopia and Somalia in the east.

Two subspecies recognised by HBW, IOC recognised a third subspecies (xerophilus).

demissus
coronatus - photo by @Maguari in the wild, Botswana

Photo by @LaughingDove of two wild birds in flight, Kenya

Wattled Lapwing (Vanellus senegallus)

Sometimes placed into its own monotypic genus. This species occurs over much of sub-Saharan Africa, omitting most of the Congo Basin, much of eastern Africa (including most of Somalia, Kenya, eastern tanzania and northern Mozambique) and South Africa, Namibia and Botswana except the very north of those countries.

There’s no clear consensus over subspecies, with sometimes an additional subspecies recognised (solitaneus), or major not recognised (as by the IOC list). HBW recognises three subspecies.

senegallus
major
lateralis - photo by @LaughingDove in the wild, Kenya

Photo by @Kudu21 in the wild, South Africa

Spot-Breasted Lapwing (Vanellus melanocephalus)

Sometimes placed in Hoplopterus, Lobivanellus or its own monotypic genus. This species is endemic to the ethiopian highlands.

Monotypic

Photo by @Maguari in the wild, Ethiopia

Brown-Chested Lapwing (Vanellus superciliosus)

Sometimes placed in its own monotypic genus. The breeding range of this species extend in a narrow band from Nigeria to northeast DRC. Non-breeding birds are recorded from Ghana across Cameroon and Chad to most of the DRC, Lake Victoria and northwest Tanzania. The limits of this species’ range are poorly understood.

Monotypic

Photo by @Hix in the wild, Uganda

Grey-Headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus)

Sometimes placed in Hoplopterus and formerly in its own monotypic genus. This species breeds in part of eastern and northeastern China, far eastern Russia and Japan, and winters in south Asia from northern India and Nepal towards southern China and north Indochina, occasionally further south.

Monotypic

Photo by @Hix in the wild, Australia (vagrant)

Photo by @Chlidonias in Yadanabon Zoo, Myanmar

Red-Wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)

Sometimes placed in Hoploterus or Lobivanellus. This species occurs in the Middle-East and South and Southeast Asia, from Turkey in the west through the Indian subcontinent towards Vietnam in the east.

Four subspecies recognised.

aigneri - photo by @Daniel Sörensen in Weltvogelpark Walsrode, Germany

indicus
lankae - photo by @ralph in the wild, Sri Lanka

atronuchalis - photo by @LaughingDove in the wild, Thailand

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

Vanellus

Part three of three.


Javan Lapwing (Vanellus macropterus)

Sometimes placed in its own monotypic genus. Critically endangered and possibly extinct, this species was found in west and east Java, maybe Sumatra and Timor. Agricultural intensification and hunting has led to the demise of this species.

Monotypic

There are no pictures of this species in the Zoochat Gallery at the time of writing


Banded Lapwing (Vanellus tricolor)

Formerly placed in Lobivanellus or its own monotypic genus. This species occur throughout much of Australia and Tasmania. Absent in north Australia.

Monotypic

Photo by @Hix in the wild, Australia

Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles)

Sometimes placed in Hoploterus, Lobivanellus or Lobibyx. This species occurs in much of northern and central Australia, was well in southern and northeastern New Guinea. Often deemed conspecific with the V. novaehollandiae.

Monotypic

Photo by @KevinB in Zoo Planckendael, Belgium

Black-Shouldered Lapwing (Vanellus novaehollandiae)

Sometimes placed in Hoploterus, Lobivanellus or Lobibyx, and often deemed conspecific with the Masked Lapwing (for example in the IOC bird list). Occur in east and southeast Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand and since recently the Chatham Islands.

Monotypic

Photo by @WhistlingKite24 in the wild, Australia

Photo by @Hix of an adult with chick in the wild, Australia

Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius)

Sometimes placed in the genus Chettusa. Critically endangered. Breeds in south-central Russia and Kazakhstan. Winters in Sudan, Eritrea, Israel and parts of the Arabian peninsula, as well as Pakistan and northeast India.

Monotypic

There are no pictures of this species in the Zoochat Gallery at the time of writing


White-Tailed Lapwing (Vanellus leucrurus)

Sometimes placed in the genus Chettusa. The breeding range of this species consists of several disjunct population. It occurs in central and eastern Turkey, eastern Syria and Jordan through Azerbaijan and Transcaspia to Lake Balkhash. Also in Iraq, Iran and west Pakistan. Recently recorded in Cyprus, Romania, and India. Winters in Sudan through Iraq towards Pakistan and India.

Monotypic

There are no pictures of this species in the Zoochat Gallery at the time of writing


Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)

Formerly placed in the genus Belonopterus. HBW considers splitting this species based on vocalisations. The range stretches over much of Latin America, with the exception of the very north, parts of the Amazon Basin and the Andes.

Often four subspecies recognised: cayennensis and lampronotus, according to the HBW, may constitute a separate species from chilensis and fretensis.

cayennensis - photo @ronnienl in the wild, Ecuador

chilensis - photo by @devilfish in the wild, Argentina

fretensis
lampronotus

Photo by @ro6ca66 of a Southern Lapwing in a zoo, Cotwold Wildlife Park and Gardens, UK

Andean Lapwing (Vanellus resplendens)

Formerly placed in monotypic genus Ptiloscelys, this species occurs in the Andes from southwest Colombia to north Chile and northwest Argentina.

Monotypic

There are no pictures of this species in the Zoochat Gallery at the time of writing



As an interesting addition, I found this picture of a hybrid lapwing in the Zoochat Gallery. It is supposedly a hybrid between a Masked and a Southern Lapwing (Vanellus miles x Vanellus chilensis), though it looks nothing like the two. A very interesting bird.

Photo by @Vision in the Olmense Zoo, Belgium.

Spoiler: References

Clements, J. F., Schulenberg, T. S., Iliff, M. J., Roberson, D., Fredericks, T. A., Sullivan, B. L. & Wood, C. L. (2018). The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. retrieved from Downloadable Checklist | Clements Checklist on 30 Januari 2019)

Gill, F & Donsker, D. (Eds). (2019). IOC World Bird List (v9.1). doi:10.14344/IOC.ML.9.1. retrieved from https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ioc-lists/ on 30 january 2019)

Piersma, T. & Bonan, A. (2019). Plovers (Charadriidae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/52243 on 9 November 2019).

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

HAEMATOPODIDAE


The Haematopodidae contains the oystercatchers, a distinct group of nine shorebird species in a single genus. They all have distinct pied or black (or dark brown) plumage and brightly coloured bills. Mostly found in coastal environments, though some species occur inland. This family is sometimes contained within the Charadriidae, but is generally accepted as a separate family. There is some dispute on the number of species, with both the IOC and Clements bird list accepting two more species, as some forms considered subspecies by HBW are elevated to full species status.

Additionally, one species currently recognised by at least the IOC and Clements bird lists is considered extinct: the Canary Island (Black) Oystercatcher (H. mealdewaldoi). Populations attributed to this species were extripated by increased disturbance and competition by people around 1940 (Saenger, 1990; Ens and Underhill, 2014). However, recent genetic analyses by Shannon et al. (2019) place the species firmly within the range of genetic variation of the Eurasian Oystercatcher (H. ostralegus). They therefore conclude that it was a recent black morph of H. ostralegus, and not a separate species.


Haematopus - (9 species of Oystercatchers)

Spoiler: References

Clements, J. F., Schulenberg, T. S., Iliff, M. J., Billerman, S. M., Fredericks, T. A., Sullivan, B. L., and Wood, C. L. (2019). The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from Downloadable Checklist | Clements Checklist

Ens, B. J., & Underhill, L. G. (2014). Synthesis of oystercatcher conservation assessments: general lessons and recommendations. International Wader Studies, 20, 5-22.

Gill, F & Donsker, D. (Eds). (2019). IOC World Bird List (v9.2). doi:10.14344/IOC.ML.9.1. retrieved from https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ioc-lists/ on 27 December 2019)

Hockey, P., Sharpe, C.J. & Bonan, A. (2019). Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae) | HBW Alive on 24 December 2019).

Saenger, P. (1990). Environmental impacts of coastal tourism: an overview and guide to relevant literature.

Shannon, T. J., Van Grouw, H., Paijmans, D. M., Tavares, E. S., Baker, A. J., Lees, A. C., & Collinson, J. M. (2019). Taxonomic status of the extinct Canary Islands Oystercatcher Haematopus meadewaldoi. Ibis.

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

Haematopus



Magellanic Oystercatcher (Haematopus leucopodus)

This species occurs in southern South America, from south-central Chile and south-central Argentina in the north to Cape Horn and the Falkland Islands in the south. Shares many characteristics with old-world oystercatchers, and less with other new-world species.

Monotypic

Photo by @lintworm in the wild, Falkland Islands

Blackish Oystercatcher (Haematopus ater)

This species occurs mainly on the western coasts of the Americas. One subspecies breeds from the Aleutian Island through Alaska, Canada and the west coast of the USA towards Mexico, and winters mainly in British Columbia and Baja California. The other breeds on the west coast of South Amerika, from Peru to Tierra del Fuego, then north towards south-central Argentina. Has a broader range in winter.

Two subspecies recognised, with bachmani breeding in North America and ater in South America. Both subspecies are elevated to species status in the IOC and Clements bird lists.

bachmani - photo by @Tomek in Oceanário Lisbon, Portugal

ater - photo by @lintworm in the wild, Falkland Islands

American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)

Breeds along the coasts of the Americas. From the Gulf of California south to central Chile in the west, and from Massachusetts south to south-central Argentina in the east. A separate subspecies is endemic to the galapagos Islands.

Two subspecies recognized

palliatus - photo by @Vision in the wild, Panama

galapagensis


African Oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini)

Occurs from northern Namibia south round the Cape of Good Hope, and then north again in the east towards south Angola.

Monotypic

Photo by @Kudu21 in the wild, South Africa

Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)

Widespread species that breeds on Iceland, Scandinavia, western Europe including the British Islands, locally in southern Europe, west and north-central Russia south to the Black, Caspian and Aral seas and east to west Siberia. Further breeding populations occur in north-east Russia and South Island (New Zealand), both of which have an unclear taxonomic status and are sometimes treated as distinct species. Subspecies finschi from New Zealand has been associated with several other oystercatcher species, and has hybridised with H. unicolor (Crocker et al, 2010). Several other Oystercatcher species were included in H. ostralegus in the past, including moquini, ater bachmani, palliatus, chathamensis, unicolor and longirostris.

HBW recognises 4 subspecies, though the taxonomy is far from clear currently. IOC and Clements bird lists for example, recognise finschi as a distinct species.

ostralegus - photo by @swedish beaver in the wild, Sweden

longipes
osculans
finschi (South Island Pied Oystercatcher) - photo by @Hix in the wild, Australia (vagrant)

Photo by @Daniel Sörensen from an Eurasian Oystercatcher is a zoo (likely subspecies ostralegus), Weltvogelpark Walsrode, Germany

Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris)

The range of this species contains the coasts of Australia, Tasmania, Aru Islands and Kai Islands, as well as occasionally on the south coast of New Guinea, though probably non-breeding.

Monotypic

Photo by @Chlidonias in the wild, Australia

Chatham Oystercatcher (Haematopus chathamensis)

Sometimes included in H. longirostris or H. unicolor, with weak differentiation, though genetic studies seem to indicate full species status (Banks and Paterson, 2007). Endemic to the Chatham Island, where it is restricted to the coastal areas of Chatham, Mangere, Rangatira and Pitt. Occasionally at Star Keys. The only endangered oystercatcher species.

Monotypic

Photo by @joe99 in the wild, Chatham Islands

Variable Oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor)

In the past considered conspecific with the H. chathamensis or H. ostralegus, this species is restricted to New Zealand, where it occurs in coastal areas of both North and South Island, as well as adjacent islands. H. ostralegus finschi was once taught to have been a pied morph from of this species, and the two have hybridised multiple times (Crocker et al, 2010).

Monotypic

Photo by @lintworm in the wild, New Zealand

Photo by @Najade of a rare white colour morph, Otorohanga Kiwi House, New Zealand

Sooty Oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus)

This species occurs along much of the coasts of Australia, Tasmania and surrounding islands. Has occasionally hybridised with H. longirostris. HWB argues that there’s a case to raise both subspecies from the Sooty Oystercatcher to full species status, as there is no good evidence of interbreeding. However, more research is necessary, especially as there is confusion about the range limits of both subspecies.

opthalmicus
fuliginosus - photo by @Hix in the wild, Australia

Spoiler: References

Banks, J. C., & Paterson, A. M. (2007). A preliminary study of the genetic differences in New Zealand oystercatcher species. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 34(2), 141-144.

Clements, J. F., Schulenberg, T. S., Iliff, M. J., Billerman, S. M., Fredericks, T. A., Sullivan, B. L., and Wood, C. L. (2019). The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from Downloadable Checklist | Clements Checklist

Crocker, T., Petch, S., & Sagar, P. (2010). Hybridisation by South Island pied oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi) and variable oystercatcher (H. unicolor) in Canterbury. Notornis, 57, 27-32.

Gill, F & Donsker, D. (Eds). (2019). IOC World Bird List (v9.2). doi:10.14344/IOC.ML.9.1. retrieved from IOC Lists – IOC World Bird List on 27 December 2019)

Hockey, P., Sharpe, C.J. & Bonan, A. (2019). Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae) | HBW Alive on 24 December 2019).

 

[birdsandbats]

I am almost sure I have a closer-up photo of an American Oystercatcher - will see what I can find.

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

IBIDORHYNCHIDAE



The Ibidorhynchidae is a monotypic family, containing only the highly distinctive Ibisbill. It is one of the enigmatic odd-ball species that are found within the Charadriiformes. The Ibisbill is often associated with the Recurvirostridae and the Haematopodidae, and was found to be a sister species to the latter (Baker et al, 2007).


Ibidorhyncha - (one species: Ibisbill)

Spoiler: References

Baker, A. J., Pereira, S. L., & Paton, T. A. (2007). Phylogenetic relationships and divergence times of Charadriiformes genera: multigene evidence for the Cretaceous origin of at least 14 clades of shorebirds. Biology Letters, 3(2), 205-210.

Knystautas, A.J. & Bonan, A. (2019). Ibisbill (Ibidorhynchidae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from Ibisbill (Ibidorhynchidae) | HBW Alive on 27 December 2019).

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

IBIDORHYNCHA



Ibisbill (Ibidorhyncha struthersii)

This species occurs in central Asia, from southeast Kazakhstan south to Kashmir and east to northwest China, Tibet and northeast India to east-central and north-central India. Within this range it inhabits mostly the major mountainous regions. Its winter distribution stretches slightly further south.

Monotypic

Photo by @Chlidonias in the wild, India

Spoiler: References

Knystautas, A.J. & Bonan, A. (2019). Ibisbill (Ibidorhynchidae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from Ibisbill (Ibidorhynchidae) | HBW Alive on 27 December 2019).

 

[Chlidonias]

Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)

Widespread species that breeds on Iceland, Scandinavia, western Europe including the British Islands, locally in southern Europe, west and north-central Russia south to the Black, Caspian and Aral seas and east to west Siberia. Further breeding populations occur in north-east Russia and South Island (New Zealand), both of which have an unclear taxonomic status and are sometimes treated as distinct species. Subspecies finschi from New Zealand has been associated with several other oystercatcher species, and has hybridised with H. unicolor (Crocker et al, 2010). Several other Oystercatcher species were included in H. ostralegus in the past, including moquini, ater bachmani, palliatus, chathamensis, unicolor and longirostris.

HBW recognises 4 subspecies, though the taxonomy is far from clear currently. IOC and Clements bird lists for example, recognise finschi as a distinct species.

I'm genuinely surprised that the HBW still lumps finschi in here. The New Zealand species is a long long way from any ostralegus population. Nobody else still lumps them - it certainly hasn't been the case in New Zealand for a really long time - and the HBW likes to split everything else!

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I'm genuinely surprised that the HBW still lumps finschi in here. The New Zealand species is a long long way from any ostralegus population. Nobody else still lumps them - it certainly hasn't been the case in New Zealand for a really long time - and the HBW likes to split everything else!

The relevant text:

Taxonomic status of form finschi unclear, and may be a distinct species: has frequently been lumped with H. longirostris, or occasionally H. unicolor, or even linked with H. chathamensis; has hybridized repeatedly with H. unicolor.

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

RECURVIROSTRIDAE



The recurvirostridae is another very distinct family of waders, and contains the avocets and the stilts. This family contains 3 genera, 7 species and 11 taxa, as recognised by the HBW. It should be said the IOC and Clements bird lists recognise several more Himantopus species, which HBW surprisingly lumps into two species. According to them, the differences between the H. himanotopus s.l. forms are slight, mostly based on the black patterns on the neck and minor vocal differences. They conclude that there is not enough evidence to split the species, and they recognise it as a cosmopolitan species with a lot of variation and several subspecies. There is surprisingly little data on the phylogeny of this family.


Cladorhynchus - (1 species: Banded Stilt)

Recurvirostra - (4 species of Avocets)

Himantopus - (2 species of Stilts)

Spoiler: References

Clements, J. F., Schulenberg, T. S., Iliff, M. J., Billerman, S. M., Fredericks, T. A., Sullivan, B. L., and Wood, C. L. (2019). The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from Downloadable Checklist | Clements Checklist

Gill, F & Donsker, D. (Eds). (2019). IOC World Bird List (v9.2). doi:10.14344/IOC.ML.9.1. retrieved from https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ioc-lists/ on 27 December 2019)

Pierce, R.J. & Bonan, A. (2019). Avocets, Stilts (Recurvirostridae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from Avocets, Stilts (Recurvirostridae) | HBW Alive on 30 December 2019).

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

Cladorhynchus



Banded Stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus)

This species has a patchy distribution in Australia, mainly southern and central inland areas, where it inhabits (hyper)saline waters.

Monotypic

Photo of a group in flight by @LaughingDove in the wild, Australia

Spoiler: References

Pierce, R.J. & Kirwan, G.M. (2019). Banded Stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from Banded Stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus) on 30 December 2019).

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

Recurvirostra



Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)

The range of this species extends from much of coastal Europe through west and central Asia to southeast Siberia and northeast China. Locally in north, east and southern Africa, northwest India and the Arabian peninsula. Winters from western Europe and Africa through the Middle-East to India, Myanmar and southeast China.

Monotypic

Photo by @vogelcommando at Landgoed Hoenderdael, the Netherlands

Photo by @Patrick87 in Zoo Berlin, Germany

American Avocet (Recurvirosta americana)

This species’ breeding range extends from southern Canada to Baja California, southern USA, central Mexico and recently on Cuba. Winters along the coasts of North America (south from California in the east and North Carolina in the west) south to Guatemala, with irregular records from Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras.

Monotypic

Photo by @jbnbsn99 in the wild, USA (summer plumage)

Photo by @jayjds2 in Monterey Bay Aquarium, USA (winter plumage)

Red-Necked Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae)

This species occurs in Australia, mainly in the south but the species is widespread with a highly scattered and patchy distribution.

Monotypic

Photo by @LaughingDove in the wild, Australia

Andean Avocet (Recurvirostra andina)

The range of this species extends from central Peru south through western Bolivia towards north Chile and northwest Argentina.

Monotypic

There are no pictures of this species in the Zoochat Gallery at the time of writing

Spoiler: References

Pierce, R.J. & Bonan, A. (2019). Avocets, Stilts (Recurvirostridae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from Avocets, Stilts (Recurvirostridae) | HBW Alive on 30 December 2019).

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

Himantopus



Black-Winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

This species is cosmopolitan and in found on all continents except Antarctica. It occurs in western and southern North America, much of Latin America except the Amazon Basin; throughout Europe (except the north) and through central Asia towards north-central China, the Indian subcontinent, Indochina and Southeast Asia. Also found in Australia, New Zealand and throughout Africa except the Sahara and the Congo Basin. The taxnomy used by HBW is not universally accepted, as both the IOC and Clements bird list elevate several subspecies to full-species status (both mexicanus and leucocephalus, with IOC also recognising melanurus as a separate species). According the HBW, the variation is limited and mostly based on the “amount and distribution of black on the neck”, which they deem insufficient evidence to split the species (Pierce and Kirwan, 2020). There is a notable lack of research on this species complex.

HBW recognises five subspecies. IOC and Clements bird lists also recognise five taxa, but respectively classify them as either four or three species with subspecies.

himantopus - photo by @Hix in the wild, Tanzania

leucocephalus - photo by @LaughingDove in the wild, Australia

knudseni - photo by @African Grey in the wild, USA (Maui)

mexicanus - photo by @savethelephant in the wild, Costa Rica

melanurus


Black Stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae)

This highly endangered species is currently restricted to the upper Waitaki Valley, New Zealand. Formerly the species had a much wider distribution throughout North and South Island.

Monotypic

Photo by @lintworm in the wild, New Zealand

Spoiler: References

Clements, J. F., Schulenberg, T. S., Iliff, M. J., Billerman, S. M., Fredericks, T. A., Sullivan, B. L., and Wood, C. L. (2019). The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from Downloadable Checklist | Clements Checklist

Gill, F & Donsker, D. (Eds). (2019). IOC World Bird List (v9.2). doi:10.14344/IOC.ML.9.1. retrieved from https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ioc-lists/ on 27 December 2019)

Pierce, R.J. & Bonan, A. (2019). Avocets, Stilts (Recurvirostridae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from Avocets, Stilts (Recurvirostridae) | HBW Alive on 30 December 2019).

Pierce, R.J. & Kirwan, G.M. (2020). Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) on 10 January 2020).

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

And that wraps up the Charadrii! I should say that there were a lot more species represented in the gallery that I had imagined when I started the thread. Nonetheless, there are 28 species of Charadrii that are not yet represented. The far majority (26) are Charadriidae, and mostly within the Charadrius genus, though there are a fair few Vanellus also lacking. Outside that family we have al almost complete photographic guide, with only a single missing species in both the Haematopodidae and Recurvirostridae. Given that a fairly large chuck of the missing species does occur in areas that are or have been visited by Zoochatters, I suspect a few more species could be added over time or have been photographed by Zoochatters but not uploaded (yet). Of course, clearer pictures or photos of missing subspecies are just as welcome.

The missing species are:

Charadriidae
Southern Red-Breasted Plover (Charadrius obscurus)
Long-Billed Plover (Charadrius placidus)
Saint Helena Plover (Charadrius sanctaehelenae)
Madagascan Three-Banded Plover (Charadrius bifrontatus)
Forbes's Plover (Charadrius forbesi)
White-Fronted Plover (Charadrius dealbatus)
Javan Plover (Charadrius javanicus)
Malay Plover (Charadrius peronii)
Chestnut-Banded Plover (Charadrius pallidus)
Collared Plover (Charadrius collaris)
Puna Plover (Charadrius alticola)
Two-Banded Plover (Charadrius falklandicus)
Caspian Plover (Charadrius asiaticus)
Oriental Plover (Charadrius veredus)
Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus)
Rufous-Chested Plover (Charadrius modestus)

Red-Kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus)

Pied Lapwing (Hoploxypterus cayanus)

Tawny-Throated Dotterel (Oreopholus ruficollis)

Diademed Plover (Phegornis mitchellii)

River Lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii)
Senegal Lapwing (Vanellus lugubris)
Javan Lapwing (Vanellus macropterus)
Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius)
White-Tailed Lapwing (Vanellus leucrurus)
Andean Lapwing (Vanellus resplendens)


Haematopodidae
Chatham Oystercatcher (Haematopus chathamensis)


Recurvirostridae
Andean Avocet (Recurvirostra andina)


As a little side-note: I found this picture of a Pied Avocet x Black-Winged Stilt in NaturZoo Rheine (by @Maguari) in the gallery. It is too late to add it to the previous post, but I still wanted to show it.

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

CHIONIDI


The Chionidi is a relatively basal suborder that is mostly associated with the Charadrii, as either the Chionidi families are thought to be basal to the Charadrii, or they form a monophyletic sister group to them (Thomas et al, 2004). It generally contains three small families - Thick-Knees, Sheathbills and the Magellanic Plover - that generally cluster together, even though they are highly distinct at first glance (Baker et al, 2007). Basically, the group is an assembly of odd-ball families common in the Charadriiformes. However, there is a fourth family sometimes associated with the other Chionidi, and that is the one is much more difficult to place.

One the most enigmatic species of shorebirds, at least phylogenetically, is the Egyptian Plover (Pluvianus aegyptius). Originally it was placed within the Glareolidae, along with the coursers and pratincoles, among other things based on natal plumage (Lowe, 1931). Although that placement would be questioned every now and then, it was only since the late 1970’s that osteological data placed the species as a sister of the Burhinidae (Strach, 1978, Chu, 1995). A more recent morphological study by Mayr (2011) reached the same conclusion, and identified several synapomorphies. However, most molecular studies have placed the species - now generally accepted to belong in a monotypic (sub)family - basal to the Charadrii clade, such as the multilocus study by Fain and Houde (2007), as well as Baker et al. (2007). Fain and Houde also note that most synapomorphies attributed to the Burhinidae + Pluvianus clade may be symplesiomorphies of basal Charadriiformes.

I have yet to see a truly convincing case for the placement of Pluvianus, though all current data points to its placement outside the Glareolidae. I have chosen to discuss the species here, though be aware that its phylogenetic placement is far from certain. As such, the Chionidi as discussed here contains four families.


BURHINIDAE - Thick-Knees (2 genera, 10 species)

CHIONIDAE - Sheathbills (1 genus, 2 species)

PLUVIANELLIDAE - Magellanic Plover (1 genus, 1 species)

PLUVIANIDAE - Egyptian Plover (1 genus, 1 species)

Spoiler: References

Baker, A. J., Pereira, S. L., & Paton, T. A. (2007). Phylogenetic relationships and divergence times of Charadriiformes genera: multigene evidence for the Cretaceous origin of at least 14 clades of shorebirds. Biology Letters, 3(2), 205-210.

Burger, A.E. & Bonan, A. (2020). Sheathbills (Chionidae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from Sheathbills (Chionidae) | HBW Alive on 10 January 2020).

Chu, P. C. (1995). Phylogenetic reanalysis of Strauch's osteological data set for the Charadriiformes. The Condor, 97(1), 174-196.

Clements, J. F., Schulenberg, T. S., Iliff, M. J., Billerman, S. M., Fredericks, T. A., Sullivan, B. L., and Wood, C. L. (2019). The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from Downloadable Checklist | Clements Checklist

Fain, M. G., & Houde, P. (2007). Multilocus perspectives on the monophyly and phylogeny of the order Charadriiformes (Aves). BMC Evolutionary Biology, 7(1), 35.

Hume, R. & Bonan, A. (2020). Thick-knees (Burhinidae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from Thick-knees (Burhinidae) | HBW Alive on 10 January 2020).

Gill, F & Donsker, D. (Eds). (2019). IOC World Bird List (v9.2). doi:10.14344/IOC.ML.9.1. retrieved from https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ioc-lists/ on 27 December 2019)

Lowe, P. R. (1931). An Anatomical Review of the “Waders”(Telmatomorphae), with special reference to the Families, Sub‐families, and Genera within the Suborders Limicolæ, Grui‐Limicolæ and Lari‐Limicolæ. Ibis, 73(4), 712-771.

Maclean, G.L. & Kirwan, G.M. (2020). Egyptian Plover (Pluvianus aegyptius). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from Egyptian Plover (Pluvianus aegyptius) on 10 January 2020).

Mayr, G. (2011). The phylogeny of charadriiform birds (shorebirds and allies)-reassessing the conflict between morphology and molecules. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 161(4), 916-934.

Strauch Jr, J. G. (1978). The phylogeny of the Charadriiformes (Aves): a new estimate using the method of character compatibility analysis. The Transactions of the Zoological Society of London, 34(3), 263-345.

Thomas, G. H., Wills, M. A., & Székely, T. (2004). A supertree approach to shorebird phylogeny. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 4(1), 28.

Wiersma, P. & Kirwan, G.M. (2020). Magellanic Plover (Pluvianellus socialis). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from Magellanic Plover (Pluvianellus socialis) on 13 January 2020).

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

BURHINIDAE



The Thick-Knees, also called Stone Curlews, are a group of mainly terrestrial waders with long legs and mostly short bills. There is little controversy on Burhinidae taxonomy. However, recent studies on Eurasian Thick-Knees identified genetic patterns different from the current subspecies classification (Mori et al, 2014, Mori et al, 2017). The classification of the Burhinidae may thus not be as clear cut as it seems.


Burhinus - (8 species of Thick-Knees)

Esacus - (2 species of Thick-Knees)

Spoiler: References

Clements, J. F., Schulenberg, T. S., Iliff, M. J., Billerman, S. M., Fredericks, T. A., Sullivan, B. L., and Wood, C. L. (2019). The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from Downloadable Checklist | Clements Checklist

Hume, R. & Bonan, A. (2020). Thick-knees (Burhinidae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from Thick-knees (Burhinidae) | HBW Alive on 10 January 2020).

Gill, F & Donsker, D. (Eds). (2019). IOC World Bird List (v9.2). doi:10.14344/IOC.ML.9.1. retrieved from https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ioc-lists/ on 27 December 2019)

Mori, A., Baldaccini, N. E., Baratti, M., Caccamo, C., Dessì‐Fulgheri, F., Grasso, R., ... & Spena, M. T. (2014). A first assessment of genetic variability in the Eurasian Stone‐curlew Burhinus oedicnemus. Ibis, 156(3), 687-692.

Mori, A., Giunchi, D., Rodríguez-Godoy, F., Grasso, R., Baldaccini, N. E., & Baratti, M. (2017). Multilocus approach reveals an incipient differentiation process in the Stone-curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus around the Mediterranean basin. Conservation genetics, 18(1), 197-209.

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

Burhinus



Eurasian Thick-Knee (Burhinus oedicnemus)

This species has a wide but scattered distribution from western Europe and the mediterranean east through the Balkans, Transcapia and Turkestan towards east Kazakhstan, south through Iran to Pakistan and the Middle East. Also found on the Canary Islands. Wintering populations can be found in and south of the Sahara in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

HBW recognises 5 subspecies but note that assigning them is difficult. Recent papers (Mori et al, 2014 and Mori et al, 2017) have identified genetic clusters which do not always correspond with the subspecies classification (especially regarding saharae).

oedicnemus - photo by @Merintia in the wild, Spain

saharae
harterti
distinctus
insularum - photo by @Zoovolunteer in the wild, Canary Islands

Indian Thick-Knee (Burhinus indicus)

Formerly deemed conspecific with the B. oedicnemus, this species occur in India south of the Himalayas, Sri-Lanka, Indochina and the northern Malayan Peninsula. Possibly in Pakistan east of the Indus Valley.

Monotypic

Photo by @ralph in the wild, Sri Lanka

Senegal Thick-Knee (Burhinus senegalensis)

The range of this species stretches in a broad band south of the Sahara from Senegambia east to Sudan, northwest Kenya and Ethiopia. From there north along the Nile to Egypt.

Monotypic

Photo by by @jayjds2 in Sylvian Heights Bird Park, USA

Water Thick-Knee (Burhinus vermiculatus)

This species occurs in Africa. From Liberia to Nigeria and Gabon, with another subspecies occur in DRC east to Somalia and south to South Africa.

Two subspecies recognised

buettikoferi
vermiculatus

There are no pictures of this species in the Zoochat Gallery at the time of writing


Spotted Thick-Knee (Burhinus capensis)

Widespread in Africa. Occurring in a wide band south of the Sahara from Senegal to Eritrea, then south through eastern Africa towards the South Africa, reaching Zambia and northwest Angola in the west. Also has a patchy distribution in south Arabia.

HBW recognises four subspecies, but note that other subspecies have been proposed.

maculosus
dodsoni
capensis - photo by @Nick@Amsterdam in the wild, South Africa

damarensis


Double-Striped Thick-Knee (Burhinus bistriatus)

This species has a patchy distribution in southern Mexico and Hispaniola, along the west coast of Central America and in Columbia, Venezuela, Guyana and extreme northern Brazil.

HBW recognised four subspecies

bistriatus
dominicensis
pendiacus
vocifer

Photo by @MinxFox at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, USA

Peruvian Thick-Knee (Burhinus peruvianus)

This species occurs along a stretch of Pacific coast from extreme south Ecuador to extreme north Chile.

Monotypic

Photo by @Goura in Zoo Heidelberg, Germany

Bush Thick-Knee (Burhinus grallarius)

This species has a rather patchy distribution in Australia. It is found in west, north and east Australia, along with some areas deep inland. Also occurs in southern New Guinea.

Monotypic

Photo by @gentle lemur in Paignton Zoo, UK

Spoiler: References

Clements, J. F., Schulenberg, T. S., Iliff, M. J., Billerman, S. M., Fredericks, T. A., Sullivan, B. L., and Wood, C. L. (2019). The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from Downloadable Checklist | Clements Checklist

Hume, R. & Bonan, A. (2020). Thick-knees (Burhinidae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from Thick-knees (Burhinidae) | HBW Alive on 10 January 2020).

Gill, F & Donsker, D. (Eds). (2019). IOC World Bird List (v9.2). doi:10.14344/IOC.ML.9.1. retrieved from https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ioc-lists/ on 27 December 2019)

Mori, A., Baldaccini, N. E., Baratti, M., Caccamo, C., Dessì‐Fulgheri, F., Grasso, R., ... & Spena, M. T. (2014). A first assessment of genetic variability in the Eurasian Stone‐curlew Burhinus oedicnemus. Ibis, 156(3), 687-692.

Mori, A., Giunchi, D., Rodríguez-Godoy, F., Grasso, R., Baldaccini, N. E., & Baratti, M. (2017). Multilocus approach reveals an incipient differentiation process in the Stone-curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus around the Mediterranean basin. Conservation genetics, 18(1), 197-209.

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

Esacus



Great Thick-Knee (Esacus recurvirostris)

This species occurs from Iran and Pakistan into the Indian subcontinent to Indochina and Hainan.

Monotypic

Photo by @ralph in the wild, Sri Lanka

Beach Thick-Knee (Esacus magnirostris)

This species occurs along the coasts of much of Southeast Asia and Australia. From the Andaman Island and the Malayan Peninsula east through the Philippines, Wallacea and New Guinea to northern and western Australia, along with some Pacific Islands.

Photo by @LaughingDove at Territory Wildlife Park, Australia

Spoiler: References

Clements, J. F., Schulenberg, T. S., Iliff, M. J., Billerman, S. M., Fredericks, T. A., Sullivan, B. L., and Wood, C. L. (2019). The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from Downloadable Checklist | Clements Checklist

Hume, R. & Bonan, A. (2020). Thick-knees (Burhinidae). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from Thick-knees (Burhinidae) | HBW Alive on 10 January 2020).

Gill, F & Donsker, D. (Eds). (2019). IOC World Bird List (v9.2). doi:10.14344/IOC.ML.9.1. retrieved from https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ioc-lists/ on 27 December 2019)