Herons & Relatives (Order Ciconiiformes)

Herons and their relatives (Order Ciconiiformes) are wading birds that have long necks, large bodies, long legs, and strong, specialized bills. These adaptations make Ciconiiformes well-suited for their wetland habitats. Their long bills and flexible necks enable them to probe down into the muddy shallows to forage for prey. Long legs ensure that their bodies remain out of the water as the wade through wetlands.

The Order Coconiiformes includes herons, ibises, spoonbills, storks, bitterns, and egrets. Most species are solitary feeders and roost in large groups at night. When they breed, they form colonies.

Habitat: Freshwater wetland habitats.

Diet: Fish, amphibians. Some species are also scavengers.

Members of Order Ciconiiformes: The Order Ciconiiformes comprises the following families:

• Family Ciconiidae (storks)
• Family Ciconiidae (storks)
• Family Ardeidae (herons)
• Family Threskiornithidae (ibises and spoonbills)
• Family Scolopacidae (sandpipers)
• Family Balaenicipitidae (shoebill)
• Family Cathartidae (new world vultures)
• Family Procellariidae (petrels and shearwaters)
• Family Rostratulidae (painted snipe)
• Family Scopidae (hamerkop)