Waterfowl mainly medium and large sizes. The appearance of representatives of individual families can be very different, but on the basis of features of the internal structure of these birds are merged into one squad. From the appearance characterized by a plavatelnoy membrane, linking all four fingers. In the fauna of Russia submitted to the family of 4 (Ivanov, Shtegman, 1978).

Family Fregatovye Fregatidae

Temnookrashennye large sea bird with long sharp wings, is well suited for paryaschego flight. The tail is with deep cuttings, pilchaty. Beak with a strong hook at the top. Chin, throat and crop bare. Swimming and diving can not, because the oil gland of the frigates weak and plumage quickly namokaet, in addition to film at the claws of deep cuttings. Food, often volatile fish finds, flying over the sea soaring flight, very often taking prey from other seabirds. Distributed in the tropics and subtropics, nesting colonies on the coast, build nests in the bushes or trees. In all, some kind of family: Frigate Fregata Lacepede, 1799. In Russia's Khabarovsk and Primorsky Krai repeatedly fall Frigate, Ariel (F . Ariel Gray, 1845) (Ivanov, Shtegman, 1978).

Family Pelikanovye Pelecanidae

Some of the largest birds of our fauna. Long beak, with the leatherback bag under the lower jaw. Good swim, holding the PA of the surface water of the great pnevmatichnosti bones of our species of pelicans dive could not. Letayut easy, but not quickly. The ability to long steam. Feeding fish to catch in shallow water. Live large colonies in the thickets of reeds in large lakes or river deltas. In the family of only one race: Pelicans Pelecanus L., 1758 (Ivanov, Shtegman, 1978) with two representatives referred to in the lists of species.

Family Olushevye Sulidae

Quite a large bird the size of a duck or a goose. Beak long, hot, compressed laterally, the edge of jaw bit notch, which helps keep the fish - the main food gannet. Nozdrevye openings available. Good swim and fly like an active , And soaring flight. Production looks on the fly, and then grab it, falling into the water. Nest
large colonies on the coast on rocks or on flat ground. In the family of only one race: Olushi Sula Brisson, 1760 (Ivanov, Shtegman, 1978). On the territory of Russia can be met by 3 types of gannet, zaletnye only as a rare bird:

Northern gannet Sula bassana (L., 1758)
Krasnonogaya gannet Sula sula (L., 1766)
Brown gannet Sula leucogaster (Boddaert, 1783)

Family Baklanovye Phalacrocoracidae

Large and medium-size birds. Beak compressed laterally at the top with a strong hook, helping to keep mining. The legs are attached near the rear of the body that is easier swimming and diving in particular. The wings on the stupid and short, so that the cormorants, unlike other veslonogih can not fly soaring flight, with help nyryanii wings. Feed the fish. Nesting colonies on rocks, trees or cane hall on the shores of seas, rivers and large lakes. In Russia, a family represented by only one genus: Cormorants Phalacrocorax Brisson, 1760 (Ivanov, Shtegman, 1978).

Besides mentioned in the list of cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Linnaeus, 1758 in the fauna of Russia are:

Ussurisky cormorant Phalacrocorax filamentosus Temminck et Schlegel, 1850
Steller cormorant Phalacrocorax perspicillatus Pallas, 1811 (destroyed)
Bering cormorant Phalacrocorax pelagicus Pallas, 1811
Red-faced cormorant Phalacrocorax urile Gmelin, 1789
Cristate cormorant Phalacrocorax aristotelis L., 1761
Small cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmaeus Pallas, 1773

References.