List of Gruiformes by population
This is a list of Gruiformes species by global population. While numbers are estimates, they have been made by the experts in their fields. For more information on how these estimates were ascertained, see Wikipedia's articles on population biology and population ecology.
Not all Gruiformes have had their numbers quantified, but species without population estimates are included in a secondary table below.
The IOC World Bird List recognizes 190 species of Gruiformes, 21 of which are extinct. Species status within Gruiformes is particularly unresolved compared to other orders. As of December 2025, IOC lists six species which are considered subspecies by IUCN/BirdLife International. Similarly, IUCN/BirdLife International list four species which still have subspecies status in IOC taxonomies. See 'Notes' column of included tables for more information on these taxonomic disputes.
This list follows IUCN classifications for species names and taxonomy. Where IUCN classifications differ from other ornithological authorities, alternative names and taxonomies are noted.
Several species included as members of Gruiformes are extinct:
- Réunion rail - last observed circa 1670.
- Hawkin's rail - went extinct in the latter half of 19th century.
- Chatham Islands rail - last observed between 1895-1900.
- Bar-winged rail - last observed in 1890.
- Dieffenbach's rail - last observed in 1840.
- Tahiti rail - went extinct some time during the 1930s.
- Wake Island rail - last observed in 1945.
- Tristan moorhen - last observed in 1861.
- Mascarene coot - extinct since early 1700s.
- White swamphen - extinct by 1834.
- Marquesan swamphen - extinct by 1937.
- North island takahē - last observed in 1894.
- Ascension crake - only record comes from 1656. Extinct by 1700.
- St. Helena rail - extinct by end of 16th century.
- St. Helena crake - extinct soon after discovery of St. Helena, ca. 1502.
- Kosrae crake - last observed in 1828; extinct by end of 19th century.
- Miller's rail or Tahiti crake - last observed in 1784.
- Hawaiian rail - extinct by end of 1860s.
- Laysan rail - extinct in 1944.
- Red rail - extinct by end of 17th century.
- Rodrigues rail - last recorded in 1726, extinct by 1761.