AEWA covers 254 species of birds ecologically dependent on wetlands for at least part of their annual cycle, including many species of divers, grebes, pelicans, cormorants, herons, storks, rails, ibises, spoonbills, flamingos, ducks, swans, geese, cranes, waders, gulls, terns, tropic birds, auks, frigate birds and even the south African penguin.
All AEWA species cross international boundaries during their migrations and require good quality habitat for breeding as well as a network of suitable sites to support their annual journeys. International cooperation across their entire migratory range, as provided by AEWA, is therefore essential for the conservation and management of migratory waterbird populations and the habitats on which they depend.
Scientific name | Common name | Class | Order | Family | CMS Instruments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spheniscus demersus | African Penguin | Aves | Sphenisciformes | Spheniscidae | AEWA , CMS |
Gavia stellata | Red-throated Loon | Aves | Gaviiformes | Gaviidae | AEWA , CMS |
Gavia immer | Common Loon | Aves | Gaviiformes | Gaviidae | AEWA , CMS |
Gavia adamsii | Yellow-billed Loon | Aves | Gaviiformes | Gaviidae | AEWA , CMS |
Pelecanus onocrotalus | Great White Pelican | Aves | Pelecaniformes | Pelecanidae | AEWA , CMS |
Pelecanus rufescens | Pink-backed Pelican | Aves | Pelecaniformes | Pelecanidae | AEWA |
Pelecanus crispus | Dalmatian Pelican | Aves | Pelecaniformes | Pelecanidae | AEWA , CMS |
Morus bassanus | Northern Gannet | Aves | Pelecaniformes | Sulidae | AEWA |
Morus capensis | Cape Gannet | Aves | Pelecaniformes | Sulidae | AEWA |
Sula dactylatra | Masked Booby | Aves | Pelecaniformes | Sulidae | AEWA |
Microcarbo coronatus | Crowned Cormorant | Aves | Pelecaniformes | Phalacrocoracidae | AEWA |
Microcarbo pygmaeus | Pygmy Cormorant | Aves | Pelecaniformes | Phalacrocoracidae | AEWA , CMS |
Phalacrocorax neglectus | Bank Cormorant | Aves | Pelecaniformes | Phalacrocoracidae | AEWA |
Phalacrocorax nigrogularis | Socotra Cormorant | Aves | Pelecaniformes | Phalacrocoracidae | AEWA , CMS |
Phalacrocorax capensis | Cape Cormorant | Aves | Pelecaniformes | Phalacrocoracidae | AEWA |
Fregata minor | Great Frigatebird | Aves | Pelecaniformes | Fregatidae | AEWA |
Fregata ariel | Lesser Frigatebird | Aves | Pelecaniformes | Fregatidae | AEWA |
Egretta ardesiaca | Black Heron | Aves | Ciconiiformes | Ardeidae | AEWA |
Egretta vinaceigula | Slaty Egret | Aves | Ciconiiformes | Ardeidae | AEWA , CMS |
Ardea melanocephala | Black-headed Heron | Aves | Ciconiiformes | Ardeidae | AEWA |
Ardeola idae | Madagascar Pond-heron | Aves | Ciconiiformes | Ardeidae | AEWA , CMS |
Ardeola rufiventris | Rufous-bellied Heron | Aves | Ciconiiformes | Ardeidae | AEWA , CMS |
Ixobrychus sturmii | Dwarf Bittern | Aves | Ciconiiformes | Ardeidae | AEWA , CMS |
Mycteria ibis | Yellow-billed Stork | Aves | Ciconiiformes | Ciconiidae | AEWA , CMS |
Ciconia nigra | Black Stork | Aves | Ciconiiformes | Ciconiidae | AEWA , CMS |