Pelecaniformes

Pelecaniformes (Tropicbirds, Pelicans, Gannets, Cormorants, Anhingas, and Frigatebirds)

• pelecanus (L): a pelican
• forma (L): form or shape but can mean sort or kind

Phaethontidae – 3 species

• phaethon (Gr): shining or radiant; the Greek sun god was Phaethon
• phaethontis (Gr): a poetical form with a similar meaning, referring to the pure white plumage which reflects fluorescent greens and blues of the water when the bird hovers near the surface
• Phaethon lepturus (White-tailed Tropicbird)
  • leptos (Gr): slender
  • oura (Gr): the tail, referring to the tail which consists of two long white and slender tail feathers which stream out behind to a length greater than that of the body
• Phaethon rubricauda (Red-tailed Tropicbird)
  • ruber (L): red
  • cauda (L): the tail of an animal

Pelecanidae – 7 species

• pelecanus (L): a pelican
• Pelecanus erythrorhynchos (American White Pelican)
  • eruthros (Gr): red
  • rhunkhos (Gr): the beak, referring to the large beak with its enormous red pouch. It is one of the largest pelicans with a wingspan of about 3 metres (10 feet)
• Pelecanus occidentalis (Brown Pelican)
  • occidentalis (L): western
• Pelecanus onocrotalus (European White Pelican)
  • the name European is too restrictive as it is with the Brown Pelican
  • sometimes known as the Old World White Pelican
  • onocrotalus (L): the pelican

Sulidae – 7 species

• Sula is an Icelandic name for the gannet or booby and means ‘a foolish person’, likely referring to its ungainly gait on land as well as because they are so indifferent to the approach of people that it is possible to walk up to one and seize it.
• Some authors had given Morus as the genus name but this is incorrect. When it was discovered that the earlier name of Sula had been given, international rules dictated that the earliest name continue to be used. Since Moros is the Greek word for ‘foolish’ or ‘stupid’, the name agreed with the general idea that the birds looked and behaved in a foolish manner.
• Sula bassana (Common Gannet)
  • -anus (L): suffix meaning ‘belonging to’
  • bassana is a coined name meaning ‘belonging to the Bass Rock’, located in the Firth of Forth, Scotland
  • sometimes known as the Solan Goose, since gannets are about the size of a goose
• Sula leucogaster (Brown Booby)
  • leukos (Gr): white
  • gaster (Gr): the belly, likely referring to the white breast and belly while the rest of the plumage is dark brown
• Sula sula (Red-footed Booby)
  • has red feet and the bare skin on the face is sometimes red
  • the only booby that perches and builds its nests in trees

Phalacrocoracidae – 30 species

• ‘Cormorant’ is derived from a combination of two Latin words – corvus marinus – a ‘sea-crow’
• phalakros (Gr): bald-headed
• korax = korakis (Gr): a raven or crow or anything hooked like a raven’s beak, referring to the sharply hooked bill
• Nannopterum harrisi (Galapagos Flightless Cormorant)
  • named after Charles M. Harris (fl 1890-1899), Chief Naturalist in the Galapagos Islands in 1897 and 1898. He collected for the Tring Museum in England.
  • nannos = nanos (Gr): a dwarf or one whose limbs are too small for his body
  • pteron (Gr): wings, both refering to the small rounded wings that are useless for flight
• Phalacrocorax africanus (Long-tailed Cormorant)
  • phalacrocorax (see above under Family)
  • africanus (L): of Africa, referring to its range
  • has a longer tail than other cormorants
• Phalacrocorax atriceps (Blue-eyed Shag)
  • ater (L): black
  • ceps (NewL): from caput (L): the head referring to the head and upperparts which are black and the fact that the eyes are not blue, but brown; the name is an allusion to the eyelids which are blue and the bare patch on the face a very bright blue.
  • There is no difference between a Shag and a Cormorant except that the shag is slightly smaller and it depends on the country which name is used
• Phalacrocorax bougainvillii (Peruvian Cormorant)
  • named after Admiral H.Y.P. Baron de Bougainville (c.1781-1846), a French naturalist and author.
  • found only along the coasts of Peru and Chile and sometimes in Colombia
• Phalacrocorax carbo (Great Cormorant)
  • carbo (L): coal or charcoal referring to the glossy blue-black plumage
  • the largest cormorant with a very wide distribution
• Phalacrocorax colensoi (Auckland Island Shag)
  • named after the Reverend W. Colenso FRS (1811-1899), a New Zealand missionary and naturalist
  • Phalacrocorax melanoleucos (Little Pied Cormorant)
  • melas (Gr): from melanos, meaning black
  • leukos (Gr): white
• Phalacrocorax punctatus (Spotted Shag)
  • punctum (L): a hole or prick
  • punctillium (L): a dot or spot
  • punctatus (L): spotted referring to the upper parts and wings which are marked with little dark spots

Anhingidae (Darters) – 4 species

• Anhinga anhinga (Anhinga)
  • Anhinga is a Tupi-Guarani word of Amazon tribes and means ‘water-turkey’, a name sometimes used in America.
  • It has been suggested that the word is derived from the Latin anguinus, which means ‘snaky’, referring to the long, snake-like neck.
• Anhinga melanogaster (Asian Darter)
  • melas - melanos (Gr): black
  • gaster (Gr): the belly
• Anhinga novaehollandiae (Australian Darter)
  • New Holland was once the name for part of Australia.
• Anhinga rua (African Darter)
  • rufus (L): red or ruddy, referring to the chestnut-colored neck

Fregatidae – 5 species

• fregata (New L): a frigate, referring to a pirate behavior and a pirate’s use of frigates; the birds frighten other birds into dropping their prey which they catch in midair
• Fregata andrewsi (Christmas Island Frigatebird)
  • named after Dr. C.W. Andrews FRS (1866-1924), zoologist who worked for the British Museum (Natural History) in 1892 and visited the Christmas Island in 1892 and 1897
  • This bird breeds only on this island or some small neighboring ones
• Fregata aquila (Ascension Island Frigatebird)
  • aquila (L): an eagle, referring to its hooked beak and ferocious attacks to obtain food
• Fregata magnificens (Magnificent Frigatebird)
  • magnificus (L): eminent or magnificent, in reference to its great size; the largest frigatebird, measuring over 1 metre (45 inches)
• Fregata minor (Greater Frigatebird)
  • minor (L): lesser or smaller; smaller than the Magnificent at about 1 metre (40 inches)
  • The English name ‘greater’ means that it is not the ‘greatest’.

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