List of birds

This page lists orders and families of birds, class Aves. The links below should then lead to family accounts and hence to individual species.

Taxonomy is very fluid in the age of DNA analysis, so comments are made where appropriate, and all numbers are approximate. In particular see Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy for a very different classification.

Paleognathae:

The giant flightless Struthioniformes lack a keeled sternum and are collectively known as ratites. Together with the Tinamiformes, they form the Paleognathae (or 'old jaws'), one of the two evolutionary "super orders".

Struthioniformes (mainly Southern hemisphere; 12 species, 2 extinct.)

• Struthionidae Ostrich
• Casuariidae Emus and Cassowaries
• Apterygidae Kiwis
• Rheidae Rhea

Tinamiformes (South America; 45 species.)

• Tinamidae tinamous

Neognathae:

Nearly all living birds belong to the super order of Neognathaes— or 'new jaws'. The passerines alone account for well over 5000 species.

Sphenisciformes (Antarctic and southern waters; 16 species.)

• Spheniscidae penguins

Gaviiformes (North America, Eurasia; 4 species.)

• Gaviidae loons or divers

Podicepiformes (Worldwide; 20 species.)

• Podicepidae grebes

Procellariiformes (Pan-oceanic; 93 species.)

• Diomedeidae albatrosses
• Procellariidae fulmars, prions, shearwaters, gadfly and other petrels
• Pelecanoididae diving petrels
• Hydrobatidae storm petrels

Pelecaniformes (Worldwide; 57 species.)

• Pelecanidae pelicans
• Sulidae gannets and boobies
• Phalacrocoracidae cormorants
• Fregatidae frigatebirds
• Anhingidae Anhinga and darters
• Phaethontidae tropicbirds

Ciconiiformes (All continents; 115 species. American taxonomists often include all the raptors and seabirds in this family.)

• Ardeidae herons and bitterns
• Cochlearidae: Boatbill
• Balaenicipitidae Shoebill
• Scopidae Hammerkop
• Ciconiidae: storks
• Threskiomithidae ibises and spoonbills
• Phoenicopteridae flamingos

Anseriformes (Worldwide; 150 species.)

• Anhimidae screamers
• Anseranatidae Magpie Goose[?]
• Anatidae swans, geese and ducks

Accipitriformes Birds of prey (Worldwide; about 226 species. Some classifications also include the Falconidae.)

• Cathartidae New World vultures and Condors
• Pandionidae Osprey
• Accipitridae hawks, eagles, buzzards and Old World vultures, harriers, kites and allies
• Sagittaridae Secretary Bird

Falconiformes (Worldwide; 60 species. Sometimes included in the Accipitriformes.)

• Falconidae falcons

Galliformes (Worldwide except northern Eurasia; 256 species.)

• Megapodidae megapodes
• Cracidae chachalacas, guans and curassows[?]
• Tetraonidae grouse
• Phasianidae partridges, pheasants, quails etc.
• Odontophoridae New World quails
• Numididae guineafowl
• Meleagrididae turkeys
• Opisthocomidae Hoatzin[?]
• Mesitornithidae mesites[?]
• Turnicidae buttonquails

Gruiformes (Worldwide; 196 species.)

• Gruidae cranes
• Aramidae Limpkin
• Psophiidae trumpeters
• Rallidae rails and crakes
• Heliornithidae finfoots and sungrebes
• Rhynochetidae Kagu
• Eurypigidae Sunbittern
• Cariamidae seriemas
• Otidae bustards

Charadriiformes (Worldwide; 305 species.)

• Jacanidae jacanas
• Rostratulidae painted snipe
• Haematopodidae oystercatchers
• Charadriidae plovers
• Ibidorhynchidae Ibisbill
• Recurvirostridae avocets and stilts
• Scolopacidae typical waders or shorebirds
• Dromadidae Crab Plover
• Burhinidae thick-knees
• Glareolidae coursers and pratincoles
• Thinocoridae seedsnipe
• Chionididae sheathbill
• Stercoraracidae skuas
• Laridae gulls
• Sternidae terns
• Rhynchopidae skimmers
• Alcidae auks

Pterocliformes (Africa, Europe, Asia; 16 species.)

• Pteroclidae sandgrouse

Columbiformes (Worldwide; 300 species.)

• Raphidae dodos
• Columbidae pigeons and doves

Psittaciformes (Worldwide in tropics, southern temperate zones; 330 species.)

• Cacatuidae cockatoos
• Psittacidae parrots

Cuculiformes (Worldwide; 151 species.)

• Musophagidae turacos etc
• Cuculidae cuckoos

Strigiformes (Worldwide; 134 species.)

• Tytonidae barn owls
• Strigidae owls

Caprimulgiformes (Worldwide; 96 species.)

• Steatornithidae Oilbird
• Podargidae frogmouths
• Nyctibiidae potoos
• Aegothelidae owlet-nightjars
• Caprimulgidae nightjars

Apodiformes (Worldwide; 403 species.)

• Apodidae swifts
• Herniprocnidae tree swifts
• Trochilidae hummingbirds

Coliformes (Sub-Saharan Africa; 6 species.)

• Colidae mousebirds

Trogoniformes (Sub-Saharan Africa, Americas, Asia; 35 species.)

• Trogonidae trogons and quetzals

Coraciiformes (Worldwide; 192 species.)

• Alcedinidae (river kingfishers)
• Halcyonidae (tree kingfishers)
• Cerylidae (water or belted kingfishers)
• Todidae todies
• Momotidae motmots
• Meropidae bee-eaters
• Leptosomatidae Cuckoo Roller
• Brachypteraciidae ground rollers
• Coraciidae rollers
• Upupidae Hoopoe
• Phoeniculidae woodhoopoes
• Bucerotidae hornbills

Piciformes (Worldwide except Australasia; 376 species.)

• Galbulidae jacamars[?]
• Bucconidae puffbirds[?]
• Capitonidae barbets
• Indicatoridae honeyguides
• Ramphastidae toucans
• Picidae woodpeckers

Passeriformes perching birds (Worldwide; about 5200 species.)

Suborder Tyranni ("suboscines[?]")

• Tyrnnidae tyrant flycatchers[?]
• Oxyruncidae Sharpbill[?]
• Phytotomidae plantcutters[?]
• Acanthisittidae New Zealand wrens
• Pittidae pittas

• Dendrocolaptidae woodcreepers[?]
• Furnariidae ovenbirds[?]
• Formcariidae antbirds[?]
• Conopophagidae gnateaters[?]
• Rhinocryptidae tapaculos[?]
• Cotingidae cotingas[?]
• Pipridae manakins[?]
• Philepittidae asittes[?]
• Menuridae lyrebirds
• Atrichomithidae scrub birds[?]
• Alaudidae larks
• Hirundinidae swallows and martins
• Motacillidae wagtails, longclaws and pipits
• Campephagidae cuckoo shrikes[?]
• Pycrionotidae bulbuls
• Irenidae leafbirds[?]
• Bombycillidae waxwings
• Cinclidae dippers
• Troglodytidae the true wrens
• Mimidae mockingbirds
• Dulidae Palm Chat[?]
• Prunellidae accentors
• Turdidae thrushes and chats
• Timaliidae babblers
• Chamaeidae Wrentit[?]
• Paradoxornithidae parrotbills
• Picathartidae picathartes[?]
• Polioptilidae gnatcatchers[?]
• Sylviidae Old World warblers
• Regulidae kinglets
• Climacteridae Australian treecreepers[?]
• Maluridae: fairy-wrens[?], emu-wrens[?] and grasswrens[?]
• Meliphagidae: honeyeaters and chats
• Pardalotidae: pardalotes, scrubwrens[?], thornbills[?], and gerygones[?]
• Petroicidae: Australian robins
• Muscicapidae Old World flycatchers
• Aegithalidae long-tailed tits
• Remizidae penduline tits
• Paridae titmice
• Daphoenosittidae treerunners[?]
• Tichodromadidae Wallcreeper
• Sittidae nuthatches
• Certhiidae treecreepers
• Salpornithidae Spotted Creeper
• Rhabdornithidae Philippine creepers
• Laniidae shrikes
• Vangidae vangas
• Corvidae crows, magpies and jays
• Dicaeidae flowerpeckers[?]
• Zosteropidae white-eyes[?]
• Nectarinfidae sunbirds[?]
• Promeropidae sugarbirds[?]
• Emberizidae buntings and American sparrows
• Cardinalidae cardinals and allies
• Thraupidae tanagers
• Vireonidae vireos
• Parulidae New World warblers
• Drepanididae Hawaiian honeycreepers[?]
• Icteridae icterids
• Fringillidae finches
• Estrildidae waxbills[?] etc
• Ploceidae weavers[?] and sparrows
• Sturnidae starlings, mynas and oxpeckers
• Oriolidae orioles
• Dicruridae monarch flycatchers[?], flycatchers[?], fantails[?]. the Magpie-lark and the drongos[?].
• Callaeidae wattlebirds[?]
• Artamidae wood swallows[?]
• Cracticidae butcherbirds[?]
• Ptilonorhynchidae bowerbirds[?]
• Paradisaeidae birds of paradise

See also Australasian birds, European birds

See also, local bird lists

• List of birds of Santa Cruz County, California