PELICANIFORMES of The World

The Pelecaniformes order is in a state of flux. The order was originally defined to include birds that have feet with four web toes. Most members also have non functional nostril slits. They feed on fish or similar marine life. However, many of these species have obtained these features by convergemt evolution and not because of common ancestory. At least one new order will probably be formed.


Boobies and Gannets

Order disputed   Family Sulidae

The Sulidae is comprised of the gannets and boobies. They are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish and similar prey. Their body is streamlined which enables efficient diving. Like pelicans, sulids have a well-developed preen gland whose waxy secretions they spread on their feathers for waterproofing. They have stout legs and webbed feet, with the web connecting all four toes. In some species the webs are brightly colored and used in courtship displays. The bill is usually conspicuously colored, long, deep at the base, and pointed. [abstracted from Wikipedia]


Genus Sula

Booby, Blue-footed Sula nebouxii   Found: North America, South America, other Pacific Islands, Ecuador
Photographed by: 1, 4, 6, 7) Dick Daniels - Galapagos Islands   2, 3, 8) Dick - Galapagos Islands
5) Juvenile



Booby, Brown   Sula leucogaster   Found: Warm waters of North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Australia
Photographed by: 1) New Jersey Birds 2) dFaulder  3) Claudio Timm - Paraná, Brazil  4) Dick Daniels - Puerto Rico
    5) Dick - Kauai, Hawaii
5) From left to right: 2 Brown Boobies and a Great Frigatebird pursuing a Red-footy Booby that probably has a fish.



Booby, Masked  Sula dactylatra Found: North America, South America (Galapagos Islands), Australia, Africa, Hawaii
Photographed by: 1, 2) Coracias garrulus - Brazil


Booby, Nazca Sula granti Found: South America (Galapagos Islands)
Photographed by: 1) Putneymark - Espanola, Galapagos Islands  2) Soler97


Booby, Red-Footed Sula sula Found: North America, South America (Galapagos Islands), Asia, Australia
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Hawaii    4) Dick - Hawaii



Genus Morus

Gannet, Australasian  Morus serrator   Found: Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand
Photographed by: 1) Dysprosia  - Melbourne Zoo  2) Matt Binns - New Zealand 3) Oystercatcher 4) Dick Daniels  
3) Juvenile



Gannet, Cape  Morus capensis   Found: Africa
Photographed by:  1) Vanessa Stephen - Zambia    2) Pim - Namibia  3) Ian White - Zambia



Gannet, Northern Morus bassanus Found: North America, Europe, Asia
Photographed by:  1, 7) Alan D Wilson at Bonaventure Island, Near Perce, Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec1) Chesser 
    2) Dick Daniels - off the coast of Sunset Beach, North Carolina   3) Dick - off the coast of Sunset Beach
    4) Dick on the Cape May Ferry  5) Dick Daniels  6) Dick Daniels on the Cape May Ferry
1) Chick  2, 3) juveniles


<



All photos on this site are available for general use. Please credit the photographer. Some images have additional constraints such as no commercial use or no modifications. Click the photo credit link for details.    Dick Daniels, webmaster.