Order Ciconiiformes Bonaparte 1854 (bird)
Parent taxon: Pelecanimorphae according to G. Sangster and G. Mayr 2021
See also Carroll 1988, del Hoyo et al. 2014, Gadow 1898, Guthrie 1992, Hay 1930, Jaekel 1911, Livezey and Zusi 2007, Louchart et al. 2008, Martin et al. 2000, Mayr 2005, Slack et al. 2006, Smith et al. 2013, Thurmond and Jones 1981, Wang et al. 2012, Wetmore 1940, Wetmore 1956, Wetmore 1960 and Zittel 1890
Sister taxa: Balaenicipitiformes, Pelecaniformes, Suliformes
Subtaxa: Ardeoidae Ciconiae Ciconiidae Ciconiopsis Eocathartes Ibididoidae Lophiornis Phoenicopteri Phoenicopteroidea Plataleoidae Sanshuiornis Scopi Scopidae Xenerodiopidae
Ecology: ground dwelling carnivore