Swimming & wading

The Birbs encyclopedia features 280 swimming & wading birds. They range from the lightest in our records, the Least Auklet, to the heaviest, the Emperor Penguin. Browse them all below — every one has photos, range and, where we have them, calls.

Notable swimming & wading birds

• Pink-backed Pelican
• Spot-billed Pelican
• Dalmatian Pelican
• Australian Pelican
• American White Pelican
• Great White Pelican
• Double-crested Cormorant
• Rock Shag

Frequently asked

How many swimming & wading birds are there?

The Birbs encyclopedia currently profiles 280 swimming & wading birds, each with photos, range and conservation status.

What is the largest of the swimming & wading birds?

By body weight, the heaviest of the swimming & wading birds in our records is the Emperor Penguin.

Are swimming & wading birds endangered?

At least 73 of the swimming & wading birds we profile are on the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable or worse. See each bird’s page for its current status.