Pelicans, Herons, Ibises, and Allies

This group includes a wide range of large to very large water birds that share a life spent mostly in or near water and have special ways of feeding. The group includes pelicans, known for their huge throat pouches, long-necked herons and egrets, curved-billed ibises and spoonbills, and the unusual shoebill. They all have feet that are partly webbed or have long toes, helping them to wade or swim, and most have bills shaped in ways that suit how they catch their food. Their feathers can be anything from pure white to dark grey, often with decorative feathers during the breeding season. These birds live in wetlands, along coasts, and near rivers and lakes all over the world, except in Antarctica. The most variety is found in tropical and subtropical areas. Some species are found in Britain, either living there year-round, passing through during migration, or appearing occasionally. Most of these birds nest in groups, making nests from sticks in trees, reedbeds, or on the ground close to water. They mostly eat fish, frogs, and water insects, using different methods to catch their prey, from quietly waiting to catch food to diving suddenly into the water.