Ciconiiformes are characteristically birds that wade, commonly referred to as ‘wading birds’. This means that they are often found in shallow waters or swampy habitations. These birds have elongated legs and long beaks. These beaks enable the Ciconiiformes to explore for food in the swampy environment. An example of Ciconiiformes is the Flamingoes. Others are storks. While some Ciconiiformes are totally dependent on water, others have adapted to life that is not entirely dependent on water. An example of such a Coconiiforme is the Ibis, which is well adapted to the dry land lifestyle.

Most of Ciconiiformes breed in groups. Their shelters are often constructed in trees, except for some species such as the flamingoes. It is not unusual to find a group of species like the Ibises, Storks, Egrets and Herons all living together in the same nest or grouped together in a single habitat. Most Ciconiiformes exhibit some recurrent changes in the colour of their legs and beaks during the season of breeding. Usually, the mates form a long term bond, and this couple maintains the bond in the breeding season.

Ciconiiformes represent a wide variety of extremely beautiful and gorgeous birds, which are at the same time huge. These birds have often been used symbolically, to represent pride, beauty and health. Sadly though, a very large number of Ciconiiformes are threatened by extinction, and none of them has been spared the pain of wanton destruction and population depletion. In fact, some species of Ciconiiformes have note been sighted in decades. All these have been blamed on unchecked destruction of their habitats, since the swampy and wet areas which they are associated with have been dried up so as to make way for human economic activities, including construction of buildings and settlements for a growing human population. On the other hand, this destruction might also be accidental, whereby the marshlands and wet habitats of these birds become uninhabitable for them after they dry up as a result of the vagaries of weather, particularly now that the effects of global warming, interrupted weather patterns and such calamities take root.

Due to their huge size, Ciconiiformes often end up being the target of hunters. In this modern era especially, the weaponry used by hunters is more destructive, effective and deadly than the case was in the yester years. Subsequently, Ciconiiformes have been literally wiped off in other regions that they used to inhabit not so long ago. These large birds have further been victims of disadvantage since as human activities continue to deprive them of their existence; the human population on the other hand is seemingly undeterred by the rapid wastage and disappearance of the wild and natural world. As long as man (and woman) can satisfy his needs of food and economic gain from Ciconiiformes, these birds continue to be at risk of extinction, due to increased hunting, destruction and careless attitude of man in his quest for his personal gain at the expense of other living creatures.