鵜形目 Pelecaniformes

鵜形目 Pelecaniformes，來自拉丁文的 pelecānus (鵜鶘) 和拉丁文的 -fōrmis (形狀)，說明這些動物是有鵜鶘形狀的及跟鵜鶘有關係。

Pelecaniformes, from Latin pelecānus (“pelican”) and Latin -fōrmis (“-shaped”), in reference to the fact these animals are pelican-shaped or just pelican-related.

種的俗名 Common names of members

鵜鶘、蒼鷺、白鷺、鸕鶿、朱鷺、白琵鷺、鯨頭鸛、錘頭鸛。

Pelicans, herons, egrets, bitterns, ibises, spoonbills, shoebills, hamerkops.

分佈 Distribution

世界各地，除了極地地區和一些大洋島嶼。

Worldwide, except polar regions and some oceanic islands.

體型 Size

身長範圍從25–30厘米到110–140厘米高。

They range from 25–30 cm in height up to 110–140 cm.

形態 Morphology

某些物種的喙是非常長和巨大，其特徵是下顎骨上有一個龐大的後囊，上顎末端有一個向下彎曲的鉤子。牠們的腿短而粗壯，巨大的完全有蹼的腳，還有很長的脖子。牠也有一條短而方形的尾巴。翅膀具有高數量的發翔羽，有30–35根，且又長又寬，有適合的滑翔和翱翔飛行的形狀。有些物種有長脖子和腿，體型從中型到巨型。由於頸椎的形狀是有變化的 (總共有20–21節)，頸部可以彎成S形，而且可以伸展和縮回，在飛行時會縮回。一般來說，牠們的喙很長，呈魚叉狀。

Certain species have incredibly long, massive bills that are distinguished by a gigantic gular pouch attached to the lower mandible and a downcurved hook at the end of the upper jaw. Their legs are short and robust, with huge, completely webbed feet, and they have a long neck. It has a short, square tail. The wings feature an extraordinarily high number of 30 to 35 secondary flying feathers and are long and broad, with the proper shape for both gliding and soaring flight. Some species have long necks and legs and range in size from medium to giant. Because of the altered form of the cervical vertebrae, of which they have 20–21, the necks can bend in an S-shape. The neck may stretch and retract, and it retracts when flying. Generally speaking, the bill is long and harpoon-like.

生態及棲息地 Ecology & Habitat

內陸和沿海水域、湖泊、河流、沼澤、池塘和海洋。

Inland and coastal waters, margins of lakes, rivers, swamps, ponds, and the sea.

食性 Diet

作為肉食性動物，牠們主要以魚和魷魚為食。有時會捕食軟體動物、甲殼動物、兩棲類、爬蟲類和無脊椎動物。

As carnivorous, they feed mainly on fish and squid. Sometimes mollusks, crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates.

繁殖 Reproduction

雖然很多物種展示了一系列的繁殖策略，但總的來說，大多數物種都是一夫一妻制，而且大多是群體的。父母雙方孵化卵並照顧幼鳥。

While the order exhibits a range of breeding strategies, overall, most species are monogamous and mostly colonial. Both parents incubate the eggs and care for the young.