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The sheathbills are a small family of birds confined to Antarctic regions.
They have white plumage, with only the face and leg colours distinguishing the two species. They look plump and dove-like, but are believed to be similar to the ancestors of the modern gulls and terns.
They derive their English name from the horny sheath which partially covers the upper mandible of their stout bills.
The sheathbills are scavengers, but will take chicks and eggs as well as offal.
They lay 2 or 3 blotchy white eggs on the ground.
Two species:
- 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
- Snowy Sheathbill Chionis alba
- Black-faced Sheathbill Chionis minor
- Family Burhinidae: thick-knees
- Family Haematopodidae: oystercatchers
- Family RecurvirostridaeRecurvirostridae : Animalia : Chordata : Aves : Charadriiformes : Recurvirostridae Genera Recurvirostra ''Himantopus ''Cladorhynchus Recurvirostridae is a family of birds in the wader suborder Charadri. It contains two distinct groups: The avocets, with l: avocets
- Family Ibidorhynchidae: Ibisbill
- Family CharadriidaeCharadriidae Masked Lapwing : Animalia : Chordata : Aves : Charadriiformes Charadriidae Subfamilies Charadriinae Vanellinae The bird family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings, about 64 to 66 species in all. They are small to medium plovers and lapwings
- Family Pluvianellidae: Magellanic Plover
- Family Dromadidae: Crab Plover
- Family GlareolidaeGlareolidae Oriental Pratincole''. Animalia : Chordata : Aves : Charadriiformes : Glareolidae Genera Pluvianus ''Cursorius ''Rhinoptilus ''Stiltia ''Glareola Glareolidae is a family of birds in the wader suborder Charadri. It contains two distinct groups:: pratincoles and coursers
- Suborder Lari: gulls and allies; 4 families
- Suborder Alcae: auks; 1 family
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