charadriiformes

from The Century Dictionary.

• In Garrod's arrangement, one of four orders of homalogonatous birds, including the pigeons, plovers, cranes, gulls, etc. They are distinguished by the schizorhinal structure of the nasal bones.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• noun large diverse order of aquatic birds found along seacoasts and inland waters; shorebirds and coastal diving birds; most feed on animal life.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun large diverse order of aquatic birds found along seacoasts and inland waters: shorebirds and coastal diving birds; most feed on anima life