Introduction to Bird Order Ciconiiformes

Copyright: Tracy J. Thomas
Six families make up the bird Order Ciconiiformes. Within those families are species of Herons and Bitterns, Storks, Spoonbills and Ibises, and the New World Vultures. Primarily wading birds, with the exception of the vultures, they range from small to large and most have long legs, long flexible necks, dagger-like bills and long, broad wings. Their long legs allow them to wade in the shallow waters of freshwater habitats, in both coastal and interior wetlands. Upright in stance they use their sharp eyesight to scan the water slowly and with deliberation, looking for movement below the surface. Once they spy their prey it is grabbed with a quick thrust of the bill. These birds feed primarily on amphibians, fish, snails, and invertebrates such as crab and crawfish with some of the species feeding on rodents and insects away from water. There are some 60-65 species within this order depending on the taxonomy applied...read more

Introduction to Bird Order Podicipediformes

Copyright: Tracy J. Thomas
Twenty species of Grebes make up the Family Podicipedidae in the Bird Order Podicipediformes. These small to medium sized diving birds are found in waters throughout the world with the exception of Antarctica. Grebes share many similar characteristics with Loons, though they occur in more diverse aquatic habitats including large lakes, flooded scrubland, roadside ditches and coastal bays.

Fossilized remains for the order Podicipediformes were discovered from the Cretaceous period of some 80 million years ago. The modern day grebe seems to have evolved more than 30 million years ago during the Oligocene epoch.

Physically, the grebe can be distinguished by short wings, legs that are set back with lobed toes, sharp and pointed bills, long necks and little tail. Grebes, like loons walk poorly on land due to the positioning of their legs which are set to the back to aid in swimming and diving for prey. Their lobed toes with highly flexible joints serve them well for propulsion and steering underwater. Sleek bodies and dense bones allow them to dive down to depths as deep as 90 feet. Grebes typically forage for food near the water’s surface and dive for aquatic invertebrates such as insects and crayfish, small fish, aquatic vegetation and amphibians. Peculiarly, the grebe ingests a large number of their own feathers, believed to protect their stomachs from puncture wounds by bones and hard items entering their intestines...read more

Introduction to Bird Order Gaviiformes

Copyright: Robert Bergman - USFWS

Bird Order Gaviiformes consists of only one family, Family Gaviidae. There are 5 species of Loon or Diver that make up this family; the Red-Throated Loon, the Arctic Loon, the Common Loon, the Yellow-Billed Loon and the Pacific Loon. The Pacific Loon which is similar to the Arctic Loon is considered by some ornithologists as a super-species and not a separate species. The Loon is a rather large, common diving bird that occurs in the Northern Hemisphere and most winter in the southern coastal waters off of central Mexico. Some are known to winter in lakes, reservoirs or coastal bays.

Fossilized remains of loon-like birds have been dated back to the late Cretaceous period of over 70 million years ago with birds that resemble the modern day loon occurring in the Miocene epoch some 20 million years ago...read more

Introduction to Bird Order Pelecaniformes

Copyright: Tracy J. Thomas

Family Sulidae (Gannets and Boobies), Family Anhingidae (Anhingas and Darters), Family Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags), Family Fregatidae (Frigatebirds), Family Pelecanidae (Pelicans) and Family Phaethontidae (Tropicbirds) are the six families that fall into the bird order Pelecaniformes. Inhabitants of inland and marine waters, these aquatic birds are found worldwide. Pelecaniformes are of medium to large size and feed primarily on squid and fish though occasionally consume reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, mollusks and crustaceans.

The species in the order Pelecaniformes are the only bird species with webbing between all four toes and they contain a gular sac in their throat. Their webbed feet are utilized for steering and propulsion in the water. The gular sac is utilized to scoop up fish or to create a flashy exhibit while courting. Small or closed nostrils help prevent water from entering their airways when they go below the surface while feeding. Some Pelecaniformes are plunge-divers with surface feathers that reduce buoyancy and allow them to dive underwater from great heights for their prey while others are surface feeders with water-repellent plumage that allow them to float with ease...read more