order

Pelecaniformes

Pelecaniformes is an order in the class Aves. This database currently files 143 species under it, 15 of them threatened, recorded across 2 countries.

Species filed: 143
Threatened: 15
Countries recorded: 2
With a free photo: 68%
Weight range: 80 g – 9.51 kg

What is in Pelecaniformes?

10 families filed directly under this order.

Ardeidae
grey heron, great egret, black-crowned night heron, western cattle egret …
86 species
Threskiornithidae
glossy ibis, eurasian spoonbill, african sacred ibis, northern bald ibis …
41 species
Pelecanidae
great white pelican, dalmatian pelican, spot-billed pelican, brown pelican …
11 species
Pelagornithidae
Protodontopteryx ruthae, Pelagornis stirtoni
2 species
Scopidae
hamerkop, Scops longipennis
2 species
Balaenicipitidae
shoebill
1 species
Cladornithidae
0 species
Cyphornithidae
0 species
Elopterygidae
0 species
Empheresula
0 species

Best-known members of Pelecaniformes

Ranked by popularity score.

Grey heron

Ardea cinerea

Ardeidae

Great egret

Ardea alba

Ardeidae

Black-crowned night heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Ardeidae

Western cattle egret

Ardea ibis

Ardeidae

Eurasian bittern

Botaurus stellaris

Ardeidae

Little egret

Egretta garzetta

Ardeidae

Purple heron

Ardea purpurea

Ardeidae

Great white pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Pelecanidae

How threatened is Pelecaniformes?

100 of 143 species filed here have an IUCN category on record.

IUCN category	Species	Share of assessed
CRCritically Endangered	3	3%
ENEndangered	5	5%
VUVulnerable	7	7%
NTNear Threatened	9	9%
LCLeast Concern	76	76%

Where is Pelecaniformes found?

Species on file in this order listed for each country. Checklist listings, which are incomplete for many species; not range maps.

None on record
1
2–21
22
23+

species per country · small islands are not drawn at this scale

Australia22
Sweden1

All species in Pelecaniformes

Open this list in the browser to filter and sort it

Common name	Scientific name	Family	Status	Weight	Countries
Grey heron	Ardea cinerea	Ardeidae	Least Concern	1.44 kg	Not recorded
Great egret	Ardea alba	Ardeidae	Least Concern	871.3 g	1
Black-crowned night heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	Ardeidae	Least Concern	810 g	Not recorded
Western cattle egret	Ardea ibis	Ardeidae	Least Concern	365.9 g	Not recorded
Eurasian bittern	Botaurus stellaris	Ardeidae	Least Concern	1.32 kg	Not recorded
Little egret	Egretta garzetta	Ardeidae	Least Concern	312 g	1
Purple heron	Ardea purpurea	Ardeidae	Least Concern	1.06 kg	Not recorded
Great white pelican	Pelecanus onocrotalus	Pelecanidae	Least Concern	9.32 kg	Not recorded
Glossy ibis	Plegadis falcinellus	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	626.6 g	Not recorded
Eurasian spoonbill	Platalea leucorodia	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	1.87 kg	Not recorded
Shoebill	Balaeniceps rex	Balaenicipitidae	Vulnerable	5.94 kg	Not recorded
Dalmatian pelican	Pelecanus crispus	Pelecanidae	Near Threatened	9.51 kg	Not recorded
Little bittern	Botaurus minutus	Ardeidae	Least Concern	147 g	Not recorded
African sacred ibis	Threskiornis aethiopicus	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	1.49 kg	Not recorded
Squacco heron	Ardeola ralloides	Ardeidae	Least Concern	287 g	Not recorded
Spot-billed pelican	Pelecanus philippensis	Pelecanidae	Near Threatened	5.01 kg	Not recorded
Brown pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis	Pelecanidae	Least Concern	3.43 kg	Not recorded
Hamerkop	Scopus umbretta	Scopidae	Least Concern	472 g	Not recorded
Northern bald ibis	Geronticus eremita	Threskiornithidae	Endangered	1.2 kg	Not recorded
Scarlet ibis	Eudocimus ruber	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	660.1 g	Not recorded
Striated heron	Butorides striata	Ardeidae	Least Concern	201.5 g	Not recorded
Indian pond heron	Ardeola grayii	Ardeidae	Least Concern	253 g	Not recorded
Australian pelican	Pelecanus conspicillatus	Pelecanidae	Least Concern	5.51 kg	1
Roseate spoonbill	Platalea ajaja	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	1.49 kg	Not recorded
Black-headed ibis	Threskiornis melanocephalus	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	1.53 kg	Not recorded
Goliath heron	Ardea goliath	Ardeidae	Least Concern	4.47 kg	Not recorded
Pink-backed pelican	Pelecanus rufescens	Pelecanidae	Least Concern	5.42 kg	Not recorded
Western reef heron	Egretta gularis	Ardeidae	Least Concern	312 g	Not recorded
Boat-billed heron	Cochlearius cochlearius	Ardeidae	Least Concern	643.2 g	Not recorded
Agami heron	Agamia agami	Ardeidae	Near Threatened	567 g	Not recorded
Great blue heron	Ardea herodias	Ardeidae	Least Concern	2.52 kg	Not recorded
Medium egret	Ardea intermedia	Ardeidae	Least Concern	458.8 g	1
Pacific reef heron	Egretta sacra	Ardeidae	Least Concern	502 g	1
American white pelican	Pelecanus erythrorhynchos	Pelecanidae	Least Concern	5.61 kg	Not recorded
Red-naped ibis	Pseudibis papillosa	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	823 g	Not recorded
American bittern	Botaurus lentiginosus	Ardeidae	Least Concern	706 g	Not recorded
Chinese pond heron	Ardeola bacchus	Ardeidae	Least Concern	304.9 g	Not recorded
American white ibis	Eudocimus albus	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	889.7 g	Not recorded
Black-faced spoonbill	Platalea minor	Threskiornithidae	Vulnerable	1.23 kg	Not recorded
Snowy egret	Egretta thula	Ardeidae	Least Concern	371 g	Not recorded
Black-headed heron	Ardea melanocephala	Ardeidae	Least Concern	1.06 kg	Not recorded
Great-billed heron	Ardea sumatrana	Ardeidae	Least Concern	2.02 kg	1
Malayan night heron	Gorsachius melanolophus	Ardeidae	Least Concern	412.3 g	Not recorded
Tricolored heron	Egretta tricolor	Ardeidae	Least Concern	372.3 g	Not recorded
Crested ibis	Nipponia nippon	Threskiornithidae	Endangered	1.9 kg	Not recorded
African spoonbill	Platalea alba	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	1.52 kg	Not recorded
Royal spoonbill	Platalea regia	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	1.72 kg	1
White-bellied heron	Ardea insignis	Ardeidae	Critically Endangered	2.02 kg	Not recorded
Javan pond heron	Ardeola speciosa	Ardeidae	Least Concern	253 g	Not recorded
Hadada ibis	Bostrychia hagedash	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	1.24 kg	Not recorded
Black heron	Egretta ardesiaca	Ardeidae	Least Concern	324 g	Not recorded
Australian white ibis	Threskiornis molucca	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	1.8 kg	1
Cocoi heron	Ardea cocoi	Ardeidae	Least Concern	1.75 kg	Not recorded
Gaulin	Butorides virescens	Ardeidae	Not recorded	211 g	Not recorded
Whistling heron	Syrigma sibilatrix	Ardeidae	Least Concern	463 g	Not recorded
Humblot's heron	Ardea humbloti	Ardeidae	Endangered	1.06 kg	Not recorded
Nankeen night heron	Nycticorax caledonicus	Ardeidae	Least Concern	856 g	1
Australasian bittern	Botaurus poiciloptilus	Ardeidae	Vulnerable	1.08 kg	1
Little blue heron	Egretta caerulea	Ardeidae	Least Concern	338.6 g	Not recorded
Madagascar ibis	Lophotibis cristata	Threskiornithidae	Vulnerable	583 g	Not recorded
White-faced ibis	Plegadis chihi	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	616.9 g	Not recorded
Straw-necked ibis	Threskiornis spinicollis	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	1.35 kg	1
Zigzag heron	Zebrilus undulatus	Ardeidae	Least Concern	123 g	Not recorded
Chinese egret	Egretta eulophotes	Ardeidae	Vulnerable	461.8 g	Not recorded
White-faced heron	Egretta novaehollandiae	Ardeidae	Least Concern	558.6 g	1
Pied heron	Egretta picata	Ardeidae	Least Concern	259 g	1
Puna ibis	Plegadis ridgwayi	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	579.4 g	Not recorded
Black-faced ibis	Theristicus melanopis	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	1.25 kg	Not recorded
White-necked heron	Ardea pacifica	Ardeidae	Least Concern	881 g	1
Pinnated bittern	Botaurus pinnatus	Ardeidae	Least Concern	812.2 g	Not recorded
Southern bald ibis	Geronticus calvus	Threskiornithidae	Near Threatened	1.2 kg	Not recorded
Japanese night heron	Gorsachius goisagi	Ardeidae	Vulnerable	527 g	Not recorded
Yellow-billed spoonbill	Platalea flavipes	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	1.74 kg	1
Reunion ibis	Threskiornis solitarius	Threskiornithidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Malagasy pond heron	Ardeola idae	Ardeidae	Endangered	253 g	Not recorded
Olive ibis	Bostrychia olivacea	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	866 g	Not recorded
Reddish egret	Egretta rufescens	Ardeidae	Near Threatened	614 g	Not recorded
Green ibis	Mesembrinibis cayennensis	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	756 g	Not recorded
Yellow-crowned night heron	Nyctanassa violacea	Ardeidae	Least Concern	681.7 g	Not recorded
Peruvian pelican	Pelecanus thagus	Pelecanidae	Near Threatened	3.43 kg	Not recorded
Capped heron	Pilherodius pileatus	Ardeidae	Least Concern	568.6 g	Not recorded
Buff-necked ibis	Theristicus caudatus	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	1.73 kg	Not recorded
Rufescent tiger heron	Tigrisoma lineatum	Ardeidae	Least Concern	813 g	Not recorded
Spot-breasted ibis	Bostrychia rara	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	866 g	Not recorded
Sharp-tailed ibis	Cercibis oxycerca	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	1.82 kg	Not recorded
Bare-faced ibis	Phimosus infuscatus	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	559 g	Not recorded
White-shouldered ibis	Pseudibis davisoni	Threskiornithidae	Critically Endangered	1.59 kg	Not recorded
Plumbeous ibis	Theristicus caerulescens	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	1.5 kg	Not recorded
Rufous-bellied heron	Ardeola rufiventris	Ardeidae	Least Concern	201.5 g	Not recorded
Wattled ibis	Bostrychia carunculata	Threskiornithidae	Least Concern	1.5 kg	Not recorded
Stripe-backed bittern	Botaurus involucris	Ardeidae	Least Concern	80 g	Not recorded
White-crested tiger heron	Tigriornis leucolopha	Ardeidae	Least Concern	846 g	Not recorded
Bare-throated tiger heron	Tigrisoma mexicanum	Ardeidae	Least Concern	1.15 kg	Not recorded
Slaty egret	Egretta vinaceigula	Ardeidae	Vulnerable	288 g	Not recorded
White-eared night heron	Oroanassa magnifica	Ardeidae	Near Threatened	480.3 g	Not recorded
São Tomé ibis	Bostrychia bocagei	Threskiornithidae	Critically Endangered	866 g	Not recorded
Fasciated tiger heron	Tigrisoma fasciatum	Ardeidae	Least Concern	850 g	Not recorded
Forest bittern	Zonerodius heliosylus	Ardeidae	Near Threatened	802 g	1
Malagasy sacred ibis	Threskiornis bernieri	Threskiornithidae	Endangered	1.49 kg	Not recorded
Lava heron	Butorides sundevalli	Ardeidae	Not recorded	214.2 g	Not recorded
Dimorphic egret	Egretta dimorpha	Ardeidae	Not recorded	495 g	Not recorded
Asian cattle egret	Ardea coromanda	Ardeidae	Not recorded	332 g	1
Mauritius night heron	Nycticorax mauritianus	Ardeidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Rodrigues night heron	Nycticorax megacephalus	Ardeidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Andean ibis	Theristicus branickii	Threskiornithidae	Near Threatened	1.49 kg	Not recorded
Reunion night heron	Nycticorax duboisi	Ardeidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Night-heron	Nyctanassa carcinocatactes	Ardeidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Ascension night heron	Nycticorax olsoni	Ardeidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Little heron	Butorides atricapilla	Ardeidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	1
Not recorded	Protodontopteryx ruthae	Pelagornithidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Molokai flightless ibis	Apteribis glenos	Threskiornithidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Not recorded	Geronticus thackerayi	Threskiornithidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Not recorded	Matuku otagoense	Ardeidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Not recorded	Pikaihao bartlei	Ardeidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Not recorded	Syrigma sanctimartini	Ardeidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Not recorded	Taphophoyx hodgei	Ardeidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Not recorded	Ajaia chione	Threskiornithidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Yellow-billed egret	Ardea brachyrhyncha	Ardeidae	Not recorded	458.8 g	Not recorded
Not recorded	Ardea cinerea x alba	Ardeidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	1
Not recorded	Ardea flavimana	Ardeidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Not recorded	Ardea longicollis	Ardeidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Plumed egret	Ardea plumifera	Ardeidae	Least Concern	458.8 g	1
Not recorded	Ardea pumila	Ardeidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Not recorded	Ardea scolopacea	Ardeidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Not recorded	Ardea timoriensis	Ardeidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Cinnamon bittern	Botaurus cinnamomeus	Ardeidae	Not recorded	126.5 g	Not recorded
Black-backed bittern	Botaurus dubius	Ardeidae	Not recorded	83.9 g	1
Schrenck's bittern	Botaurus eurhythmus	Ardeidae	Not recorded	139 g	Not recorded
Least bittern	Botaurus exilis	Ardeidae	Not recorded	86.3 g	Not recorded
Black bittern	Botaurus flavicollis	Ardeidae	Not recorded	321 g	1
New Zealand bittern	Botaurus novaezelandiae	Ardeidae	Not recorded	146 g	1
Yellow bittern	Botaurus sinensis	Ardeidae	Not recorded	94.3 g	Not recorded
Dwarf bittern	Botaurus sturmii	Ardeidae	Not recorded	140 g	Not recorded
White-backed night heron	Calherodius leuconotus	Ardeidae	Least Concern	480.2 g	Not recorded
Not recorded	Eopelecanus aegyptiacus	Pelecanidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Not recorded	Eudocimus leiseyi	Threskiornithidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Not recorded	Ibis sacra	Threskiornithidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Not recorded	Nyctisoma robusta	Ardeidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Not recorded	Pelagornis stirtoni	Pelagornithidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Not recorded	Pelecanus cirrhatus	Pelecanidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Not recorded	Pelecanus sharpei	Pelecanidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded
Giant ibis	Pseudibis gigantea	Threskiornithidae	Not recorded	3.52 kg	Not recorded
Not recorded	Scops longipennis	Scopidae	Not recorded	Not recorded	Not recorded