Skull identification key for Central European shorebirds (Aves: Charadriiformes: Scolopaci and Charadrii)

Abstract

Abstract Although the shorebirds (Charadriiformes: Scolopaci and Charadrii) are among the most thoroughly studied bird orders in Central Europe, no precise key for the identification of their skulls was available. This paper seeks to remedy this lack by presenting a dichotomous identification key for 38 species of shorebirds from Germany. Photographs and biometric measurements of the skulls are included to support the identification process.