This section follows the AviList phylogenetic sequence through a group of water‑associated bird lineages that sit just beyond the early Neoavian clades in Section 2. Although rails, cranes, shorebirds, gulls, and terns look very different, they share deeper evolutionary roots that place them near one another in the modern bird tree.

Ecologically, this group spans secretive marsh dwellers, open‑wetland specialists, long‑legged waders, and the vast diversity of coastal and pelagic shorebirds. Many are long‑distance migrants, linking wetlands, estuaries, and coastlines across continents. Together, they form one of the most globally widespread and ecologically varied sections of modern birds.

Orders included

• Order: Opisthocomiformes (Hoatzin)
• Order: Gruiformes (Rails, Crakes, Coots, Cranes, Limpkins, Trumpeters)
• Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns, Auks)

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Species I’ve Seen in This Section

Listed below by Order, Family, and species, with notes on where and when each was recorded.

Families recorded: expand each to view species.

Family: Opisthocomidae (Hoazin) – 1

1. Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin) — Amazon 2024

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Families recorded: expand each to view species.

Family: Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots) – 18

1. Gray-cowled Wood Rail (Aramides cajaneus) — Amazon 2024
2. American Coot (Fulica americana) — Costa Rica 2015; Yellowstone 2017; Texas 2024
3. Red-gartered Coot (Fulica armillata) — Buenos Aires 2021
4. Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) — Various – common UK bird
5. White-winged Coot (Fulica leucoptera) — Buenos Aires 2021
6. Red-fronted Coot (Fulica rufifrons) — Buenos Aires 2021
7. Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) — Various – common UK bird
8. Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Buenos Aires 2021; Texas 2024
9. Weka (Gallirallus australis) — New Zealand 2023
10. South Island Takahe (Porphyrio hochstetteri) — New Zealand 2023
11. Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024; Amazon 2024
12. Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus) — New Zealand 2023
13. Grey-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) — Bhutan & India 2020
14. Western Swamphen (Purple Swamphen) (Porphyrio porphyrio) — Spain 2016
15. Sora (Porzana carolina) — Yellowstone 2017; Texas 2024
16. Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) — Spain 2016
17. Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024
18. Brown Crake (Black-tailed Crake) (Zapornia akool) — Bhutan & India 2020

Family: Heliornithidae (Finfoots) – 1

1. Sungrebe (Heliornis fulica) — Costa Rica 2015; Amazon 2024

Family: Aramidae (Limpkin) – 1

1. Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) — Costa Rica 2015; Buenos Aires 2021; Amazon 2024

Family: Gruidae (Cranes) – 4

1. Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) — Yellowstone 2017
2. Whooping Crane (Grus americana) — Texas 2024
3. Common Crane (Grus grus) — Norway & Finland 2018
4. Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) — Bhutan & India 2020

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Families recorded: expand each to view species.

Family: Burhinidae (Thick-knees) – 2

1. Double-striped Thick-knee (Burhinus bistriatus) — Costa Rica 2015
2. Indian Thick-knee (Burhinus indicus) — Bhutan & India 2020

Family: Chionidae (Sheathbills) – 1

1. Snowy Sheathbill (Chionis albus) — Antarctica 2021

Family: Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers) – 6

1. Blackish Oystercatcher (Haematopus ater) — Antarctica 2021
2. South Island Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi) — New Zealand 2023
3. Magellanic Oystercatcher (Haematopus leucopodus) — Antarctica 2021
4. Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) — Various – common UK bird
5. American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) — Texas 2024
6. Variable Oystercatcher (Haematopus unicolor) — New Zealand 2023

Family: Ibidorhynchidae (Ibisbill) – 1

1. Ibisbill (Ibidorhyncha struthersii) — Bhutan & India 2020

Family: Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets) – 7

1. Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) — Spain 2016; Bhutan & India 2020; Slovenia 2024
2. Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus) — New Zealand 2023
3. Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024
4. Black Stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae) — New Zealand 2023
5. Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
6. American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) — Texas 2024
7. Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) — Norway & Finland 2018

Family: Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings) – 22

1. Wrybill (Anarhynchus frontalis) — New Zealand 2023
2. Double-banded Plover (Charadrius bicinctus) — New Zealand 2023
3. Collared Plover (Charadrius collaris) — Amazon 2024
4. Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) — Spain 2016; Slovenia 2024
5. Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
6. Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) — Texas 2024
7. Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
8. Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus) — Texas 2024
9. New Zealand Dotterel (Charadrius obscurus) — New Zealand 2023
10. Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024
11. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) — Costa Rica 2015; Yellowstone 2017; Texas 2024
12. Wilson’s Plover (Charadrius wilsonia) — Texas 2024
13. Pied Plover (Hoploxypterus cayanus) — Amazon 2024
14. Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
15. Black-bellied Plover (Grey Plover) (Pluvialis squatarola) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024
16. Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Antarctica 2021; Amazon 2024
17. Grey-headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus) — Bhutan & India 2020
18. River Lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii) — Bhutan & India 2020
19. Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus) — Bhutan & India 2020
20. Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) — New Zealand 2023
21. Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
22. Rufous-chested Dotterel (Zonibyx modestus) — Antarctica 2021

Family: Jacanidae (Jacanas) – 3

1. Wattled Jacana (Jacana jacana) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Buenos Aires 2021; Amazon 2024
2. Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) — Costa Rica 2015
3. Bronze-winged Jacana (Metopidius indicus) — Bhutan & India 2020

Family: Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Snipes) – 45

1. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) — Spain 2016; Norway & Finland 2018; Bhutan & India 2020
2. Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) — Costa Rica 2015; Yellowstone 2017; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024; Amazon 2024
3. Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
4. Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) — Texas 2024
5. Sanderling (Calidris alba) — Norway & Finland 2018; Texas 2024
6. Dunlin (Calidris alpina) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
7. Baird’s Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) — Yellowstone 2017; Antarctica 2021; Texas 2024
8. Red Knot (Calidris canutus) — Norway & Finland 2018; New Zealand 2023
9. Broad-billed Sandpiper (Calidris falcinellus) — Norway & Finland 2018
10. White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) — Antarctica 2021; Amazon 2024
11. Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) — Texas 2024
12. Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima) — Norway & Finland 2018; Svalbard 2019
13. Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024
14. Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) — Texas 2024
15. Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024
16. Ruff (Calidris pugnax) — Norway & Finland 2018
17. Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) — Costa Rica 2015; Texas 2024
18. Temminck’s Stint (Calidris temminckii) — Norway & Finland 2018
19. Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata) — Yellowstone 2017
20. Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicta) — Texas 2024
21. Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
22. Magellanic Snipe (Gallinago magellanica) — Antarctica 2021
23. Solitary Snipe (Gallinago solitaria) — Bhutan & India 2020
24. Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) — Texas 2024
25. Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) — Texas 2024
26. Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) — Texas 2024
27. Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) — Norway & Finland 2018; New Zealand 2023
28. Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) — Norway & Finland 2018
29. Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) — Norway & Finland 2018
30. Curlew (Numenius arquata) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
31. Whimbrel (Numenius hudsonicus) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024
32. Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) — Costa Rica 2015; Norway & Finland 2018
33. Red Phalarope (Grey Phalarope) (Phalaropus fulicarius) — Svalbard 2019
34. Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) — Norway & Finland 2018
35. American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) — Costa Rica 2015; Texas 2024
36. Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
37. Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus) — Norway & Finland 2018
38. Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) — Yellowstone 2017; Texas 2024; Amazon 2024
39. Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) — Norway & Finland 2018
40. Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024; Amazon 2024
41. Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
42. Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) — Spain 2016; Norway & Finland 2018; Bhutan & India 2020
43. Willet (Tringa semipalmata) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024
44. Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024; Amazon 2024
45. Redshank (Tringa totanus) — Various (Widespread UK Species)

Family: Stercorariidae (Skuas and Jaegers) – 8

1. Brown (Subantarctic) Skua (Stercorarius antarcticus) — Antarctica 2021
2. Brown Skua (Falkland) (Stercorarius antarcticus ssp. antarcticus) — Antarctica 2021
3. Chilean Skua (Stercorarius chilensis) — Antarctica 2021
4. Long-tailed Skua (Stercorarius longicaudus) — Norway & Finland 2018
5. South Polar Skua (Stercorarius maccormicki) — Antarctica 2021
6. Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus) — Various
7. Pomarine Skua (Jaeger) (Stercorarius pomarinus) — Norway & Finland 2018
8. Great Skua (Stercorarius skua) — Various

Family: Glareolidae (Pratincoles and Coursers) – 1

1. Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincola) — Spain 2016

Family: Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers) – 43

1. Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019
2. Black-fronted Tern (Chlidonias albostriatus) — New Zealand 2023
3. Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) — Texas 2024
4. Brown-hooded Gull (Chroicocephalus maculipennis) — Antarctica 2021
5. Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) — Texas 2024
6. Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) — Various – common UK bird
7. Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) — Spain 2016; Texas 2024
8. Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus) — Norway & Finland 2018
9. Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) — New Zealand 2023; Texas 2024
10. Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) — Various – common UK bird
11. Black-billed Gull (Larus bulleri) — New Zealand 2023
12. California Gull (Larus californicus) — Yellowstone 2017
13. Common Gull (Larus canus) — Various – common UK bird
14. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) — Yellowstone 2017; Texas 2024
15. Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) — Antarctica 2021; New Zealand 2023
16. Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) — Various – common UK bird
17. Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) — Norway & Finland 2018
18. Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) — Norway & Finland 2018; Svalbard 2019
19. Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) — Various – common UK bird
20. Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) — Spain 2016; Slovenia 2024
21. Silver Gull (Red-billed Gull) (Larus novaehollandiae) — New Zealand 2023
22. American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) — Texas 2024
23. Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024
24. Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) — Texas 2024
25. Dolphin Gull (Leucophaeus scoresbii) — Antarctica 2021
26. Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019
27. Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019
28. Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea) — Svalbard 2019
29. Large-billed Tern (Phaetusa simplex) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Amazon 2024
30. Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) — Various – common UK bird
31. Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri) — Texas 2024
32. South American Tern (Sterna hirundinacea) — Antarctica 2021
33. Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) — Various – common UK bird
34. Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) — Norway & Finland 2018; Antarctica 2021; Svalbard 2019
35. White-fronted Tern (Sterna striata) — New Zealand 2023
36. Antarctic Tern (Sterna vittata) — Antarctica 2021
37. Least Tern (Sternula albifrons) — Texas 2024; Slovenia 2024
38. Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019
39. Yellow-billed Tern (Sternula superciliaris) — Amazon 2024
40. Cabot’s Tern (Thalasseus acuflavidus) — Texas 2024
41. Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024
42. Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) — Costa Rica 2015
43. Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024; Amazon 2024

Family: Alcidae (Auks, Puffins, Guillemots) – 6

1. Razorbill (Alca torda) — Various – Various (Widespread UK Species)
2. Little Auk (Dovekie) (Alle alle) — Svalbard 2019
3. Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
4. Puffin (Fratercula arctica) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
5. Guillemot (Common Murre) (Uria aalge) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
6. Brünnich’s Guillemot (Thick-billed Murre) (Uria lomvia) — Norway & Finland 2018; Svalbard 2019

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