The Zoochat Photographic Guide to Shorebirds, Flamingos and Grebes

CHIONIDAE



The Chionidae is a family containing two species of white, pigeon-like waders native to antarctica, subantarctic islands and the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The remarkable bills of these species have given the Sheathbills their common name.


Chionis - (2 species of Sheathbills)

Spoiler: References

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 11 January 2020).

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)

 

Chionis



Snowy Sheathbill (Chionus albus)

This species’ breeding range contains the Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, Elephant Island, South Orkney Island and South Georgica. The wintering range of this species contains the Falkland Islands, Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia, though some birds stray further north.

Monotypic

Photo by @devilfish in the wild, Argentina.




Black-Faced Sheathbill (Chionis minor)

This species occurs on several isolated islands: Prince Edward Islands, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands and Heard Island and McDonald Islands. Each island (chain) has its own subspecies, as there’s very little to no natural migration between the populations. The different subspecies exhibit minor morphological and vocal differences, suggesting a relatively recent differentiation (Bried and Jouventin, 1997).

HBW recognised four subspecies, which are also recognised by the other major bird lists.

marionensis
crozettensis
minor
nasicornis

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

Spoiler: References

Bried, J., & Jouventin, P. (1997). Morphological and vocal variation among subspecies of the Black-faced Sheathbill. The Condor, 99(3), 818-825.

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 11 January 2020).

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.9.2. retrieved from https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ioc-lists/ on 27 December 2019)

 

I have uploaded (truly horrible as these birds do not let you come any close to them) pictures of the saharae subspecies of Eurasian thick-knee to the Morocco - Wildlife gallery.

 

PLUVIANELLIDAE



Another monotypic odd-ball family, containing only the Magellanic Plover. This species used to be associated with the Charadriidae, though both molecular and phenotypic evidence points towards it being more related to the Sheathbills. Sometimes contained within the Chionidae as a subfamily.


Pluvianellus - (1 species: Magellanic Plover)

Spoiler: References

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 11 January 2020).

 

Pluvianellus



Magellanic Plover (Pluvianellus socialis)

This species breeds in southern Argentina and extreme southern Chile. It’s wintering range stretches further north towards the Valdés Peninsula, sometimes as far as the Buenos Aires Province.

Monotypic

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

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.9.2. retrieved from https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ioc-lists/ on 27 December 2019)

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 11 January 2020).

 

PLUVIANIDAE



Probably among the most enigmatic species of the whole Charadriiformes orders, and certainly interesting from a phylogenetic perspective. This family contains only a single species, the Egyptian Plover. Has been associated with the Glareolidae (although this view is considered outdated), Charadrii and Chionidi. Exact placement still unknown, with molecular data generally pointing towards it being a basal Charadrii species, while morphological and osteological data place it together with the Burhinidae, the Thick-Knees. See the general post of Chionidi for a more in-depth explanation.


Pluvianus - (1 species: Egyptian Plover)

Spoiler: References

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 11 January 2020).

 

Pluvianus



Egyptian Plover (Pluvianus aegyptius)

The range of this species extends through sub-saharan Africa from Senegal in the west to Eritrea and west Ethiopia in the east, then south to the northern DRC and extreme northern Angola. Formerly also north along the Nile into Egypt, but it has been extirpated there.

Monotypic

Photo by @birdsandbats at Toledo Zoo, USA



Photo by @KevinB in Zoo Antwerp, Belgium

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.9.2. retrieved from https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ioc-lists/ on 27 December 2019)

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 11 January 2020).

 

Not a great photo (taken in low light and from a vehicle) but there is this one of the nominate form: Water Thick-knees, Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana, 29/04/16 - ZooChat

 

Thank you, not sure how I missed that!

----------------------

And that was the Chionidi suborder. It's a small suborder that is almost completely represented in the gallery at the species level, missing only two species:

Chionidae
Black-Faced Sheathbill (Chionis minor)

Pluvianellidae
Magellanic Plover (Pluvianellus socialis)

Both species are seemingly difficult to get represented, but maybe a member of our resident birding community might pull it off. Alternatively, there are also a few subspecies missing that may have a better chance to be added in the future.

I've started working on the Lari, but it is by far the most complex (and largest!) suborder of the Charadriiformes, especially the Laridae family, so we'll see how that goes. I expect a severe drop in the relative number of represented species, but maybe - and hopefully - the zoochat community surprises me again. If you happen to have pictures of (sub)species or even plumages not yet represented, even if they aren't the prettiest of photos, don't hesitate to upload them!

 

I have uploaded a file of the Canary Island Stone Curlew B.oedicenemus insularum to the Spain wildlife gallery

 

LARI


The Lari is the largest suborder of the Charadriiformes, and contains birds as diverse as coursers, auks, gulls and the enigmatic Crab-Plover. While the smaller families have their own difficulties, it is clear that the Laridae, the gull and tern family, provides the biggest challenge for this thread so far. It is large (100 species and 200 taxa), widespread and there’s plenty of debate between authorities on how many and which species to recognise. This family deserves a more in-depth approach on the family or even genus or species level, and a such you can expect somewhat longer posts.

The Lari does contains several families that do not seem related at first glance, especially the Glareolidae (Coursers and Pratincoles, both of which are also very different from each other) do not seem to fit well with the gulls and skuas. However, their relatedness has been indicated by both morphological and molecular data, and seems reasonably well supported (e.g. Fain and Houde, 2007; Baker et al, 2007, Thomas et al, 2004). Auks (Alcidae) are another morphologically highly derived family, and have in the past been proposed to be a basal clade to the entire Charadriiformes order. Nevertheless, their relationship with the other Lari are also supported by multiple lines of evidence. Of course, a Charadriiform suborder is not complete without at least a single oddball species, in this case the Crab-Plover. Previously it was often associated with Laridae or Alcidae, or placed in it’s own superfamily. A molecular study has placed it as a sister clade to the Glareolidae, and therefore it is placed within Lari (Pereira et al, 2010).


DROMADIDAE - Crab-plover (1 genus, 1 species)

GLAREOLIDAE - Coursers and Pratincoles (5 genera, 17 species)

LARIDAE - Gulls, Terns and Skimmers (20 genera, 100 species)

STERCORARIIDAE - Skuas (2 genera, 7 species)

ALCIDAE - Auks (10 genera, 24 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.

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

Paton, T. A., Baker, A. J., Groth, J. G., & Barrowclough, G. F. (2003). RAG-1 sequences resolve phylogenetic relationships within Charadriiform birds. Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 29(2), 268-278.

Pereira, S. L., & Baker, A. J. (2010). The enigmatic monotypic crab plover Dromas ardeola is closely related to pratincoles and coursers (Aves, Charadriiformes, Glareolidae). Genetics and molecular biology, 33(3), 583-586.

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

 

DROMADIDAE



The Dromadidae is a monotypic family containing only the Crab-Plover. The exact placement of this species has been uncertain for a long time, though molecular evidence points to a relationship with the Coursers and Pratincoles, to which the Dromadidae appears to be a sister clade.


Dromas - (1 species: Crab-Plover)

Spoiler: References

Pereira, S. L., & Baker, A. J. (2010). The enigmatic monotypic crab plover Dromas ardeola is closely related to pratincoles and coursers (Aves, Charadriiformes, Glareolidae). Genetics and molecular biology, 33(3), 583-586.

Rands, M.R.W. & Bonan, A. (2020). Crab-plover (Dromadidae). 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 Crab-plover (Dromadidae) | HBW Alive on 10 February 2020).

 

I've just uploaded a photo of an American Golden-Plover in breeding plumage:

American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) - ZooChat

 

Dromas



Crab-plover (Dromas ardeola)

This species occurs along the coasts of the Indian Ocean, breeding along the shores of the northwestern Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. It winters along the east African coast, Madagascar, and shores of western India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and western Southeast Asia.

Monotypic

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

Spoiler: References

Rands, M.R.W. & Kirwan, G.M. (2020). Crab-plover (Dromas ardeola). 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 Crab-plover (Dromas ardeola) on 13 February 2020).

 

GLAREOLIDAE



The Glareolidae is a relatively small family containing pratincoles and coursers. Their appearance is rather plover-like, but both detailed morphological studies and molecular data points towards a relationship with the other Lari. Note that the IOC bird list considers the Double-banded Courser as part of the genus Rhinoptilus, instead of having its own monotypic genus (as recognised by HWS and the Clements bird list).


Smutsornis - (1 species: Double-banded Courser)

Rhinoptilus - (3 species of coursers)

Cursorius - (5 species of coursers)

Stiltia - (1 species: Australian Pratincole)

Glareola - (7 species of pratincoles)

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.9.2. retrieved from https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ioc-lists/ on 27 December 2019)

Maclean, G.L. & Bonan, A. (2020). Coursers, Pratincoles (Glareolidae). 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 Coursers, Pratincoles (Glareolidae) | HBW Alive on 13 February 2020).

 

Smutsornis



Double-banded Courser (Smutsornis africanus)

Considered part of Rhinoptilus by some authorities, the range of this species consists of three disjunct parts: one in Ethiopia and Somalia, one is south Kenya and Tanzania and one in southwest Africa from southwest Angola east to northeast Botswana and west Zimbabwe, then south the cape of South Africa.

HBW recognised 8 subspecies.

raffertyi
hartingi
gracilis - photo by @lintworm in the wild, Tanzania



bisignatus
erlangeri
traylori
africanus
granti

Spoiler: References

Maclean, G.L. & Kirwan, G.M. (2020). Double-banded Courser (Smutsornis africanus). 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/53780 on 19 February 2020).

 

Rhinoptilus



Three-banded Courser (Rhinoptilus cinctus)

The range of this species consists of two disjunct parts. One is found in east Africa (Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and northeast Zambia) and one in south-central Africa (extreme south Angola, northern Namibia, south Zambia, Zimbabwe and extreme northeast South Africa).

The number of subspecies recognised differs substantially among authorities, but HBW recognises 5.

mayaudi - photo by @Maguari in the wild, Ethiopia



balsaci
cinctus
emini
seebohmi

Photo by @Hix in the wild, Tanzania. This bird belongs to the gracilis form as recognised by IOC and Clement’s bird lists, and HBW is not entirely clear whether these populations belong to cinctus or emini.




Bronze-Winged Courser (Rhinoptilus chalcopterus)

The range of this species extends throughout sub-saharan Africa. From Senegal across the Sahel to south Sudan and west Ethiopia, then south through Kenya, Gabon, Tanziania, Congo, the DRC and Angola to northern South Africa.

Monotypic

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


Jerdon’s Courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus)

Critically endangered, the current range of this species is restricted to the Pennar Valleys in east-central India.

Monotypic

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

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.9.2. retrieved from https://www.worldbirdnames.org/ioc-lists/ on 27 December 2019)

Maclean, G.L. & Kirwan, G.M. (2020). Three-banded Courser (Rhinoptilus cinctus). 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 Three-banded Courser (Rhinoptilus cinctus) on 19 February 2020).

Maclean, G.L. & Kirwan, G.M. (2020). Bronze-winged Courser (Rhinoptilus chalcopterus). 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 Bronze-winged Courser (Rhinoptilus chalcopterus) on 19 February 2020).

Maclean, G.L., Sharpe, C.J. & Kirwan, G.M. (2020). Jerdon's Courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus). 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 Jerdon's Courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus) on 19 February 2020).

 

Cursorius



Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius cursor)

Occurs on the Cape Verde Islands, north Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and from south Turkey through southwest Iran to Afghanistan, Pakistan and northwest India. Northern populations overwinter south to the sahel region and Saudi Arabia.

Three subspecies generally recognised

bogolubovi
cursor - photo by @gust1 in the wild, Kuwait



exsul


Somali Courser (Cursorius somalensis)

The distribution of this species is restricted to the Horn of Africa and adjacent countries: Somalia, eastern Ethiopia, north Kenya and extreme southeast South Sudan. Occasionally seen in Eritrea.

Two subspecies generally recognised

somalensis
littoralis

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


Burchell’s Courser (Cursorius rufus)

This species occurs in the drier regions of southern Africa. From southwest Angola through most of Namibia and the Kalahari Basin to the Western Cape, Karoo and the high plateau of South Africa.

Monotypic

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


Temminck’s Courser (Cursorius temminckii)

This species is widespread over the savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa from the sahel region south to northeast South Africa.

Three subspecies recognised by the HBW, though they are not universally accepted.

temminckii
ruvanensis - photo by @Hix in the wild, Uganda



aridus


Indian Courser (Cursorius coromandelicus)

Endemic to the Indian subcontinent, this species occurs in Pakistan, Nepal, West Bengal, most of India and dry regions of Sri Lanka.

Monotypic

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

Spoiler: References

del Hoyo, J., Collar, N. & Kirwan, G.M. (2020). Somali Courser (Cursorius somalensis). 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 Somali Courser (Cursorius somalensis) on 28 February 2020).

Maclean, G.L. & Kirwan, G.M. (2020). Indian Courser (Cursorius coromandelicus). 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 Indian Courser (Cursorius coromandelicus) on 28 February 2020

Maclean, G.L. & Kirwan, G.M. (2020). Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius cursor). 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 Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius cursor) on 28 February 2020).

Maclean, G.L. & Kirwan, G.M. (2020). Burchell's Courser (Cursorius rufus). 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 Burchell's Courser (Cursorius rufus) on 28 February 2020).

Maclean, G.L., Kirwan, G.M. & Christie, D.A. (2020). Temminck's Courser (Cursorius temminckii). 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 Temminck's Courser (Cursorius temminckii) on 28 February 2020).

 

I might still have one, though it is not great.