This is a list of Ciconiiformes species by global population. While numbers are estimates, they have been made by the experts in their fields. For more information on how these estimates were ascertained, see Wikipedia's articles on population biology and population ecology.
This list is incomprehensive, as not all Ciconiiformes have had their numbers quantified. The classification of this order of birds is currently in flux; the classification for this list is aligned with the IUCN's current position, but may change in the future.
Furthermore, some species currently listed below are no longer considered Ciconiformes; they have been reclassified under Pelecaniformes (e.g. the Black-crowned night heron, listed below). Click the species page for a more definitive classification.
Common name | Binomial name | Population | Status | Trend | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
São Tomé ibis | Bostrychia bocagei | 70 – 400[1] | CR[1] | ![]() | ![]() | |
White-bellied heron | Ardea insignis | 70 – 400[2] | CR[2] | ![]() | ||
Giant ibis | Thaumatibis gigantea | 345[3] | CR[3] | ![]() | Minimum estimate.[3] | ![]() |
White-eared night heron | Gorsachius magnificus | 350 – 1500[4] | EN[4] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Storm's stork | Ciconia stormi | 400 – 500[5] | EN[5] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Crested ibis | Nipponia nippon | 500[6] | EN[6] | ![]() | ![]() | |
White-shouldered ibis | Pseudibis davisoni | 970[7] | CR[7] | ![]() | Minimum estimate.[7] | |
Japanese night heron | Gorsachius goisagi | 1000 – 2499[8] | EN[8] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Fasciated tiger heron | Tigrisoma fasciatum | 1000 – 10 000[9] | LC[9] | Unknown[9] | ![]() | |
Greater adjutant | Leptoptilos dubius | 1200 – 1800[10] | EN[10] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Humblot's heron | Ardea humbloti | 1500[11] | EN[11] | ![]() | Maximum estimate.[11] | ![]() |
Australasian bittern | Botaurus poiciloptilus | 1500 – 4000[12] | EN[12] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Malagasy pond heron | Ardeola idae | 2000 – 6000[13] | EN[13] | ![]() | ||
Malayan night heron | Gorsachius melanolophus | 2000 – 20 000[14] | LC[14] | Unknown[14] | ![]() | |
Malagasy sacred ibis | Threskiornis bernieri | 2300 – 3250[15] | EN[15] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Forest bittern | Zonerodius heliosylus | 2500 – 9999[16] | NT[16] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Black-faced spoonbill | Platalea minor | 2693[17] | EN[17] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Oriental stork | Ciconia boyciana | 3000[18] | EN[18] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Slaty egret | Egretta vinaceigula | 3000 – 5000[19] | VU[19] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Chinese egret | Egretta eulophotes | 3600 – 6400[20] | VU[20] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Milky stork | Mycteria cinerea | 5000[21] | VU[21] | ![]() | Maximum estimate.[21] | ![]() |
Lesser adjutant | Leptoptilos javanicus | 6500 – 8000[22] | VU[22] | ![]() | Numbers could be underestimated.[22] | ![]() |
Southern bald ibis | Geronticus calvus | 8000 – 10 000[23] | VU[23] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Madagascar ibis | Lophotibis cristata | 10 000[24] | NT[24] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Puna ibis | Plegadis ridgwayi | 10 000 – 15 000[25] | LC[25] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Jabiru | Jabiru mycteria | 10 000 – 25 000[26] | LC[26] | Unknown[26] | ![]() | |
Sharp-tailed ibis | Cercibis oxycerca | 10 000 – 25 000[27] | LC[27] | ![]() | ||
Painted stork | Mycteria leucocephala | 15 000 – 25 000[28] | NT[28] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Black-headed ibis | Threskiornis melanocephalus | 15 000 – 30 000[29] | NT[29] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Reddish egret | Egretta rufescens | 15 000 – 30 000[30] | NT[30] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Black-necked stork | Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus | 15 000 – 35 000[31] | NT[31] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Black stork | Ciconia nigra | 24 000 – 44 000[32] | LC[32] | Unknown[32] | ![]() | |
Black-faced ibis | Theristicus melanopis | 25 000 – 100 000[33] | LC[33] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Agami heron | Agamia agami | 50 000 – 499 999[34] | VU[34] | Unknown[34] | ![]() | |
Bare-throated tiger heron | Tigrisoma mexicanum | 50 000 – 499 999[35] | LC[35] | Unknown[35] | ![]() | |
Pinnated bittern | Botaurus pinnatus | 50 000 – 499 999[36] | LC[36] | Unknown[36] | ![]() | |
Black bittern | Ixobrychus flavicollis | 63 000 – 320 000[37] | LC[37] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Eurasian spoonbill | Platalea leucorodia | 66 000 – 140 000[38] | LC[38] | Unknown[38] | ![]() | |
Pacific reef heron | Egretta sacra | 100 000 – 1 000 000[39] | LC[39] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Yellow bittern | Ixobrychus sinensis | 100 000 – 1 000 000[40] | LC[40] | Unknown[40] | ![]() | |
Eurasian bittern | Botaurus stellaris | 110 000 – 340 000[41] | LC[41] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Striated heron | Butorides striata | 150 000 – 1 200 000[42] | LC[42] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Intermediate egret | Mesophoyx intermedia | 180 000 – 1 300 000[43] | LC[43] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Spot-breasted ibis | Bostrychia rara | 200 000 – 510 000[44] | LC[44] | ![]() | ||
Purple heron | Ardea purpurea | 270 000 – 570 000[45] | LC[45] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Grey heron | Ardea cinerea | 290 000 – 3 700 000[46] | LC[46] | Unknown[46] | ![]() | |
Boat-billed heron | Cochlearius cochlearius | 500 000 – 4 999 999[47] | LC[47] | Unknown[47] | ![]() | |
Black-crowned night heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | 510 000 – 3 600 000[48] | LC[48] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Little egret | Egretta garzetta | 640 000 – 3 100 000[49] | LC[49] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Straw-necked ibis | Threskiornis spinicollis | 1 000 000[50] | NT[50] | ![]() | ![]() | |
White-faced ibis | Plegadis chihi | 1 200 000[51] | LC[51] | ![]() | ![]() | |
Cattle egret | Bubulcus ibis | 3 800 000 – 7 600 000[52] | LC[52] | ![]() | ![]() | |