鰹鳥目 Suliformes

鰹鳥目 Suliformes，來自古代挪威文 súla (鶶鵝/鯡鳥) 及拉丁文的 -fōrmis (形狀)，說明這些動物是有鶶鵝形狀的及跟鶶鵝有關係。

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

種的俗名 Common names of members

軍艦鳥、鸕鶿、鶶鵝/鯡鳥、鷺鶿、蛇鵜、鰹鳥。

Frigatebirds, cormorants, gannets, shags, darters and boobies.

分佈 Distribution

幾乎每個大陸的所有沿海地區，以及一些內陸水體。

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

體型 Size

體型範圍從45厘米及340克，至100厘米及5公斤。

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

形態 Morphology

大多數物種有深色羽毛，但亦有其他物種擁有黑白羽毛，少數物種更有色彩鮮豔的羽毛。許多物種的臉上有彩色斑塊，可以是亮藍色、橙色、紅色或黃色。這些斑塊通常在繁殖季節變得更鮮豔。喙有鋒利的鉤，又長又窄。蹼接連著腳上的四個腳趾。

While most species have primarily dark plumage, others have black and white plumage, and 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.

生態及棲息地 Ecology & Habitat

有些僅限於海岸，而有些則不同程度地出現在沿海和內陸水域，例如河流、湖泊、沼澤。

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

食性 Diet

主要吃類似大小的海洋無脊椎動物，例如頭足類動物和其他軟體動物，以及中型魚類。

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

繁殖 Reproduction

雄性會選擇一個築巢地點，然後向路過的雌性展示自己的巢穴，雌性從此選擇配偶。建立配對關係後，牠們會一起建造和保護巢穴，而且牠們也會互相打扮。

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.