Charadriiformes & Gaviiformes

Austin Fidler Natalie Lainhart

Similarities and Differences in Charadriiformes and Gaviiformes

Similarities

➢ Waterbirds (Pelagic)➢ Webbed Feet

Differences

➢ Charadriiformes are found worldwide whether than being like Gaviiformes stuck in the northern region

➢ Calls ○ Gaviiformes known for eerie calls while

Charadriiformes vary

Charadriiformes

What is Charadriiformes?

➢ Primarily water birds○ Most are pelagic

■ Pelagic- Found at sea○ Very few found in thick forests

■ Killdeer

➢ Includes up to 350 different species of birds○ Gulls, auks, plovers and lapwings

➢ 3 suborders➢ 17 families

Suborders➢ Charadrii- Smaller birds

○ Plovers, sandpipers, killdeer○ Walk and wade while feeding○ 220 species

➢ Lari- Generally larger birds○ Gulls, terns, skimmers○ Adapted bills for fishing○ 107 species

➢ Alcae- Compact birds, short narrow wings○ Auks, murres○ Spend the least time flying○ Adapted for swimming underwater○ 23 species

Common Characteristics

❖ Share common plumage patterns➢ White, greys, browns and black

❖ Either bright red or yellow feet❖ Strong, fast flyers❖ Little sexual dimorphism

➢ Females are the larger, brighter of the two❖ Webbed feet

Location

❖ Found all over the world, from coastal areas of the US, to tropics, to Arctic regions

❖ Only place they are not found is Antarctica

GullCommon Name: Ring-billed Gull

Scientific Name: Larus delawarensis

❖ Medium sized❖ Seen around during migration season❖ Many live inland

➢ Golf courses, garbage dumps and parking lots

❖ White body & tail, gray on top❖ Yellow bill with black band❖ Juveniles are brown & gray with pink

bill

Adult

Juvenile

PloversCommon Name: Black Bellied Plover

Scientific Name: Pluvialis squatarola

❖ Medium sized❖ Short bill, short neck, long body❖ Large, round head❖ Black from face to belly❖ White on top with black spots❖ Sexual dimorphism❖ Found along US coast during winter

TernsCommon Name: Common Tern

Scientific Name: Sterna hirundo

❖ Medium sized❖ White and black cap❖ Long, forked tail

➢ Forked- Branching❖ White wings with dark tips❖ Juveniles are mainly brown on top with white belly❖ Found here during migration

AukCommon Name: Razorbill

Scientific Name: Alca torda

❖ Medium sized❖ Black back and head❖ Rounded bill❖ White belly❖ No sexual dimorphism❖ Not native❖ Found only in arctic regions

SandpiperCommon Name: Least sandpiper

Scientific Name: Calidris minutilla

❖ Smallest sandpiper❖ Round bodies❖ Short, pointed wings❖ Slim, medium long legs❖ Yellow-green legs❖ Known for high pitched “Creep” call❖ Arctic during summer, migrate through US, South and Central America

during Winter

Charadriiformes Review

Found mainly at shorelines, few exceptions which are found in forest areas. There are three suborders which are Charadrii, Alcae, and Lari. The order includes: killdeer, auks, terns, plovers and sandpipers.

Gaviiformes

What is Gaviiformes?

➢ An order of aquatic birds containing loons or divers and their closest extinct relatives.

➢ Foot-propelled diving birds with webbed feet and pointed bills

➢ “Waterbirds”○ Birds that make their living in the water

➢ One of the oldest groups of birds (close to grebes)○ Podicipediformes

What does Gaviiformes Include?

➢ 1 family ○ Gaviidae

➢ 5 Species○ White Billed Diver; Yellow Billed Diver○ Arctic Loon○ Pacific Loon○ Common Loon○ Red-throated Diver

Gaviiformes Main Characteristics

➢ Denser bones than other birds➢ Famous for vocalizations

○ Eerie and haunting sounds➢ They require a lot of land to take flight➢ Lobed feet

○ Lobed-Having a webbed foot

Location

➢ All are migratory, but are restricted to the Northern Hemisphere

➢ Modern Gaviiformes are found in North America and Northern Eurasia

➢ Winter is spent on the coast or in the bays➢ Spring is spent in the north

Loons & Divers Common Characteristics➢ 2-3 ft. long➢ Strong tapered bill

○ Tapered- gradually smaller toward one end➢ Small pointed wings➢ Webbed toes➢ Legs are far back on the body

○ Makes for awkward walkers➢ Thick plumage

○ Usually black or gray

Loons and Divers Characteristics Continued

➢ Almost wholly aquatic○ Swim underwater sometimes○ Dive 200 ft.

➢ In order to decrease buoyancy, they compress air from lungs, feathers, and air sacs

➢ Loons are specialized fish eaters○ Dagger-like bills

Loons and Divers Characteristics Continued

➢ Strong fliers, but awkward walkers➢ Precocial birds

○ Precocial- Well-developed at birth➢ The birds are limited to large bodies of water

like lakes/oceans

Sounds of Loons and Divers

➢ Guttural sounds➢ Eerie wailing sounds

○ Lomr- To moan➢ Common Loon➢ Red Throated Loon

Breeding Habits

➢ Freshwater Lakes ○ Occasional saltwater

➢ Monogamous- Pair for life○ If the mate dies, they find a new mate as

soon as they can

Gaviiformes Review➢ Waterbirds➢ Eerie vocalizations➢ Limited to the northern hemisphere➢ Monogamous➢ All are loons or divers➢ Spear-like bills for fishing➢ Awkward walkers, graceful fliers➢ 5 species in 1 family

Gavia

Gavia adamsiiWhite Billed Diver; Yellow Billed Diver

● Largest group of species in the family Gaviidae

● Appears to be larger than the Great Northern Diver○ You can determine the

difference by the bill. ■ The Yellow or

White Billed Diver has a long yellow bill that looks slightly upward.

Gavia arcticaArctic Loon or Black Throated Diver

● Gray head, black throat, white underparts and checkered black and white mantle.

● Looks almost identical to the Pacific Loon

Gavia pacificaPacific Loon

● Most abundant in North America

● Gets its name from spending most of its time on the Pacific Ocean

Gavia immerCommon Loon

● Stealthy divers

● Call to each other at night

Gavia stellataRed Throated Diver

● The smallest of the loons

● Dark gray with red throat in summer

● White and gray in winter