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This page lists living orders and families of birds, class Aves (for extinct birds, please see Extinct birds and Prehistoric birds). 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.

This article and the descendant family articles follow the taxonomy of the Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds (HANZAB) for families largely endemic to that region, and otherwise the Handbook of Birds of the World (HBW).

Paleognathae

The flightless and mostly giant 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: rheas
Tinamiformes: South America; 45 species
- Tinamidae: tinamous

Neognathae

Nearly all living birds belong to the super order of Neognathae— or 'new jaws'. With their keels, unlike the ratites, they are known as carinates. The passerines alone account for well over 5000 species.

Anseriformes: worldwide; 150 species
- Anhimidae: screamers
  Anseranatidae: Magpie-goose
  Anatidae: swans, geese and ducks
Galliformes: worldwide except northern Eurasia; 256 species.
- Megapodidae: mound-builders
  Cracidae: chachalacas, guans and curassows
  Tetraonidae: grouse
  Phasianidae: partridges, pheasants, quail and allies
  Odontophoridae: New World quails
  Numididae: guineafowl
  Meleagrididae: turkeys
  Mesitornithidae: mesites
Sphenisciformes: Antarctic and southern waters; 16 species
- Spheniscidae: penguins
Gaviiformes: North America, Eurasia; 5 species
- Gaviidae loons or divers
Podicipediformes: worldwide; 20 species
- Podicipedidae: 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.
- Ardeidae: herons and bitterns
  Cochlearidae: Boatbill
  Balaenicipitidae: Shoebill
  Scopidae: Hammerkop
  Ciconiidae: storks
  Threskiornithidae: ibises and spoonbills
  Phoenicopteridae flamingos
Accipitriformes: 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
Turniciformes: Old World, 15 species
- Turnicidae: buttonquail
Gruiformes: worldwide; 196 species
- Gruidae: cranes
  Aramidae: Limpkin
  Psophiidae: trumpeters
  Rallidae: rails, crakes, coots and allies
  Heliornithidae: finfoots and Sungrebe
  Rhynochetidae: Kagu
  Eurypigidae: Sunbittern
  Cariamidae: seriemas
  Otidae: bustards
Charadriiformes: worldwide; 305 species
- Jacanidae: jacanas
  Rostratulidae: painted snipe
  Haematopodidae: oystercatchers
  Charadriidae: plovers
  Pluvianellidae: Magellanic Plover
  Ibidorhynchidae: Ibisbill
  Recurvirostridae: avocets and stilts
  Scolopacidae: typical waders or shorebirds
  Dromadidae: Crab Plover
  Burhinidae: thick-knees
  Glareolidae: coursers and pratincoles
  Thinocoridae: seedsnipe
  Pedionomidae: Plains Wanderer
  Chionididae: sheathbill
  Stercorariidae: 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: pan-tropical, southern temperate zones; 330 species
- Cacatuidae: cockatoos
  Psittacidae: parrots
Cuculiformes: worldwide; 151 species
- Musophagidae: turacos and allies
  Cuculidae: cuckoos
  Opisthocomidae: Hoatzin
Strigiformes: worldwide; 134 species
- Tytonidae: barn owls
  Strigidae: typical owls
Caprimulgiformes: worldwide; 96 species
- Steatornithidae: Oilbird
  Podargidae: frogmouths
  Nyctibiidae: potoos
  Aegothelidae: owlet-nightjars
  Caprimulgidae: nightjars
Apodiformes: worldwide; 403 species
- Apodidae: swifts
  Hemiprocnidae: tree swifts
Trochiliformes
- Trochilidae: hummingbirds
Coliiformes: Sub-Saharan Africa; 6 species
- Coliidae: 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: worldwide; about 5200 species
- Suborder Tyranni ("suboscines")
- Tyrannidae: tyrant flycatchers
  Acanthisittidae: New Zealand wrens
  Pittidae: pittas
  Eurylaimidae: broadbills
  Dendrocolaptidae: woodcreepers
  Furnariidae: ovenbirds
  Thamnophilidae: antbirds
  Formicariidae: antpittas and antthrushes
  Conopophagidae: gnateaters
  Rhinocryptidae: tapaculos
  Cotingidae: cotingas
  Pipridae: manakins
  Philepittidae: asities
- Suborder Passeri ("oscines")
- Atrichornithidae: scrub-birds
  Menuridae: lyrebirds
  Turnagridae: Piopio
  Alaudidae: larks
  Hirundinidae: swallows
  Motacillidae: wagtails and pipits
  Campephagidae: cuckoo-shrikes
  Pycnonotidae: bulbuls
  Regulidae: kinglets
  Chloropseidae: leafbirds
  Aegithinidae: ioras
  Ptilogonatidae: silky-flycatchers
  Bombycillidae: waxwings
  Hypocoliidae: hypocolius
  Dulidae: Palmchat
  Cinclidae: dippers
  Troglodytidae: wrens
  Mimidae: mockingbirds, thrashers and Gray Catbird
  Prunellidae: accentors
  Turdidae: thrushes and allies
  Cisticolidae: cisticolas and allies
  Sylviidae: Old World warblers
  Polioptilidae: gnatcatchers
  Muscicapidae: Old World flycatchers
  Platysteiridae: wattle-eyes
  Petroicidae: Australasian robins
  Pachycephalidae: whistlers and allies
  Picathartidae: rockfowl
  Timaliidae: babblers
  Pomatostomidae: pseudo-babblers
  Paradoxornithidae: parrotbills
  Orthonychidae: logrunner and chowchilla
  Cinclosomatidae: whipbirds and quail-thrushes
  Aegithalidae: long-tailed tits
  Maluridae: fairy-wrens, emu-wrens and grasswrens
  Neosittidae: sitellas
  Climacteridae: Australasian treecreepers
  Paridae: chickadees and tits
  Sittidae: nuthatches
  Tichodromidae: Wallcreeper
  Certhiidae: treecreepers
  Rhabdornithidae: Philippine creepers
  Remizidae: penduline tits
  Nectariniidae: sunbirds and spiderhunters
  Melanocharitidae: berrypeckers and longbills
  Paramythiidae: tit berrypecker and crested berrypeckers
  Dicaeidae: flowerpeckers
  Pardalotidae: pardalotes, thornbills and alies
  Zosteropidae: white-eyes
  Promeropidae: sugarbirds
  Meliphagidae: honeyeaters and chats
  Oriolidae: Old World orioles
  Irenidae: fairy-bluebirds
  Laniidae: shrikes
  Malaconotidae: bushshrikes and allies
  Prionopidae: helmetshrikes
  Vangidae: vangas
  Dicruridae: drongos
  Callaeidae: wattlebirds
  Corcoracidae: White-winged Chough and Apostlebird
  Artamidae: currawongs, woodswallows, butcherbirds & allies
  Pityriaseidae: bristlehead
  Paradisaeidae: birds-of-paradise
  Ptilonorhynchidae: bowerbirds
  Corvidae: crows, jays and magpies
  Sturnidae: starlings
  Passeridae: Old World sparrows
  Ploceidae: weavers and allies
  Estrildidae: waxbills and allies
  Viduidae: indigobirds
  Vireonidae: vireos and allies
  Fringillidae: finches, crossbills and allies
  Drepanididae: Hawaiian honeycreepers
  Peucedramidae: Olive Warbler
  Parulidae: New World warblers
  Coerebidae: Bananaquit
  Thraupidae: tanagers and allies
  Emberizidae: buntings, seedeaters and allies
  Cardinalidae: saltators, cardinals and allies
  Icteridae: troupials and allies

Birds Guide

Birds by classification

Paleognathae

Neognathae

See also


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