Seabird Families
The following are the groups of birds normally classed as seabirds.
Sphenisciformes (Antarctic and southern waters; 16 species)
- Spheniscidae penguins
Procellariiformes (Tubenoses: pan-oceanic and pelagic; 93 species)
- Diomedeidae albatrosses
- Procellariidae fulmars, prions, shearwaters, gadfly and other petrels
- Pelacanoididae diving petrels
- Hydrobatidae storm petrels
Pelecaniformes (Worldwide; 57 species)
- Pelecanidae pelicans
- Sulidae gannets and boobies
- Phalacrocoracidae cormorants
- Fregatidae frigatebirds
- Phaethontidae tropicbirds
Charadriiformes (Worldwide; 305 species, but only the families listed are classed as seabirds.)
- Stercorariidae skuas
- Laridae gulls
- Sternidae terns
- Rhynchopidae skimmers
- Alcidae auks
For an alternative taxonomy of these groups, see also Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy.
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