''Scopus'' is a genus of wading birds containing the

hamerkop The hamerkop (''Scopus umbretta'') is a medium-sized wading bird. It is the only living species in the genus ''Scopus'' and the family Scopidae. The species and family was long thought to sit with the Ciconiiformes but is now placed with th ...

''(Scopus umbretta)'' and its extinct

Pliocene The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.333 million to 2.58Scopus xenopus ''Scopus xenopus'' is an extinct species of hamerkop that lived during the Pliocene of South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of co ...

''. This genus is the sole representative of the family Scopidae.

Taxonomy

Hamerkops were traditionally included in the

Ciconiiformes Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long, stout bills. They belong to the family called Ciconiidae, and make up the order Ciconiiformes . Ciconiiformes previously included a number of other families, such as herons an ...

, but are now thought to be closer to the

Pelecaniformes The Pelecaniformes are an order of medium-sized and large waterbirds found worldwide. As traditionally—but erroneously—defined, they encompass all birds that have feet with all four toes webbed. Hence, they were formerly also known by such n ...

. Recent studies have found that its closest relatives are the

pelican Pelicans (genus ''Pelecanus'') are a genus of large water birds that make up the family Pelecanidae. They are characterized by a long beak and a large throat pouch used for catching prey and draining water from the scooped-up contents before ...

s and shoebill.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15222474 Bird genera Bird genera with one living species Taxa named by Mathurin Jacques Brisson Pelecaniformes