List of Charadriiformes by population

This is a list of Charadriiformes species by global population. Charadriiformes (Charadrius being Latin for "plover") is the taxonomic order to which the waders, gulls, and auks belong. While numbers are estimates, they have been made by the experts in their fields.

Not all Charadriiformes have had their numbers quantified, but species without population estimates are included in a secondary table below.

The Charadriiformes were sometimes grouped with the Ciconiiformes in older taxonomic systems (e.g., Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy). However, the American Ornithological Society, International Ornithologists' Union (IOC) and BirdLife International, which informs IUCN taxonomy, now agree on it being a separate order following more recent genetic analyses.

A variety of methods are used for counting Charadriiformes. For example, the piping plover is subject to the quinquennial Piping Plover International Census, which is carried out in 9 Canadian provinces, 32 US states, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. In the 2006 survey, Saskatchewan alone had 159 volunteers scour 294 waterbodies. The mountain plover has had its nests counted through the drive transect method. Once density has been calculated, the numbers are extrapolated over a bird's range. For more information on how these estimates were ascertained, see Wikipedia's articles on population biology and population ecology.

The IOC World Bird List (version 15.1) recognizes 392 species of Charadriiformes, eight of which are extinct. There are several disagreements about the species status of taxa within Charadriiformes. As of January 2026, IOC lists ten species which are considered subspecies by IUCN/BirdLife International. Similarly, IUCN/BirdLife International list three species which still have subspecies status in IOC taxonomies. See 'Notes' column of included tables for more information on these taxonomic disputes.

This list follows IUCN classifications for species names and taxonomy. Where IUCN classifications differ from other ornithological authorities, alternative names and taxonomies are noted.

Some members of Charadriiformes are extinct:

  • Christmas sandpiper, or Kiritimati sandpiper (Prosobonia cancellata) - likely extinct by 1860.
  • Tahiti sandpiper (Prosobonia leucoptera) - last seen in 1777, when only specimen was collected.
  • Moorea sandpiper (Prosobonia ellisi) - last seen in 1777, when only specimen was collected.
  • Canarian oystercatcher, or Canary Islands oystercatcher (Haematopus meadewaldoi) - last specimen collected in 1913; last observations occurred in 1940s.
  • Great auk (Pinguinus impennis) - extinct from being hunted; last observed in 1852.
  • Slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) - last observed in 1995; declared extinct in 2025.
  • North Island snipe (Coenocorypha barrierensis) - last recorded in 1870.
  • South Island snipe (Coenocorypha iredalei) - last recorded in 1964.
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