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Collection  >  Order (Birds)  >  Order Information (Suliformes)

Suliformes

Suliformes, from Old Norse súla (“gannet”) and Latin -fōrmis (“-shaped”), in reference to the fact these animals are all gannet-shaped and gannet-related.

Frigatebirds, cormorants, gannets, shags, darters and boobies

Photos

DISTRIBUTION

Nearly all coastal areas (and some inland water bodies) in every continent.

SIZE

They range from 45 cm and 340 g to 100 cm and 5 kg in size.

MORPHOLOGY

a few have highly colorful plumage. Numerous species exhibit coloured patches on their faces, which can be brilliant blue, orange, red, or yellow. These patches usually become more vibrant during the breeding season. The bill has a sharp hook and is long and narrow. Webbing connects each of their four toes on their feet.

ECOLOGY & HABITAT

Some are restricted to seacoasts, while others occur in both coastal and inland waters (rivers, lakes, swamps) to varying degrees.

DIET

They primarily eat similar-sized marine invertebrates, such as cephalopods and other mollusks, and mid-sized fish.

REPRODUCTION

The male will select a nest site and then display from his site to the passing females. Female  then selects the mate. After establishing a pair-bond, they will build and protect the nest together. Also they will preen each other.

REFERENCES

del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D. A. (2010). Handbook of the Birds of the World Series. Lynx Edicions.

Lovette, I. J., Fitzpatrick, J. W. (2016). Handbook of Bird Biology. Wiley-Blackwell.

Gill, F. B., Prum, R. O. (2019). Ornithology. W.H. Freeman & Co. Ltd.

Total species known

59

Species in the collection

2

Species in Hong Kong

8

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