Charadriidæ

Charadriidæ, a large family of birds, placed among the so-called Grallatores, including about 120 species, distributed throughout the world, and especially frequenting the shores of lakes and rivers. They run and fly with equal success, are often seen in migratory flocks, use simple excavations for nests, and feed, often at night, on worms, insects, molluscs, and amphibians. Plovers (q.v., Charadrius), Oyster-catchers (Hæmatopus), Turnstones (Strepsilas), Crocodile-birds (Pluvianus), and Sandpipers (Ægialitis) are good examples of the family.