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Where do Charadriiformes live around the world?

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Illustration of a crab plover (Dromas ardeola), showing a slender wading bird with long legs, a long pointed black bill, white head and underparts, and contrasting black wings and back. — Charadriiform Crab plover (Dromas ardeola)

The order Charadriiformes is worldwide in distribution, with its members inhabiting a diverse range of environments across the globe. These birds are a familiar presence in the following regions and habitats:1

Coasts and Waterways: They are commonly found along the world’s seacoasts, islands, and inland waterways.1
Open Country and Tundra: Many species, particularly shorebirds, inhabit open areas such as grasslands and the Arctic tundra.12
Oceans: Charadriiformes are widespread across the world's oceans. While some species are pelagic (living on the open ocean) outside of the breeding season, others are found on islands and seacoasts.123

Specific distribution patterns vary by group:
* Shorebirds (Charadrii): These are primarily birds of shorelines and open areas. While most families are found globally, the Scolopacidae family does not breed in Australia.2
* Gulls and Allies (Lari): Skuas and jaegers are found in high latitudes of both hemispheres and range widely across the oceans.2
* Auks (Alcae): These are widespread throughout the oceans, islands, and seacoasts of the Northern Hemisphere.2
* Specialized Habitats: Some groups have more restricted ranges, such as the crab plovers limited to the shores of the Indian Ocean or the seedsnipe found in southern South America and the Andes.2