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List of birds

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This is a list relating to extant species of birds. For a list of birds in history and fiction, see List of historical and fictional birds. For extinct birds, please see Extinct birds, Prehistoric birds and Fossil birds.

This page lists living orders and families of 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.

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 superorders.

Struthioniformes

Africa; 1 species. Ostriches

Rheiformes

South America; 2 species. Rheas

Casuariiformes

Australia and New Guinea; 4 species. Cassowaries and Emus

Apterygiformes

New Zealand; 5 species. Kiwis

Tinamiformes

South America; 45 species. Tinamous

Neognathae

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

Anseriformes

Worldwide; 150 species. Waterfowl

Galliformes

Worldwide; 250 species. Game Birds

Podicipediformes

Worldwide; 19 species; sometimes grouped with Phoenicopteriformes. Grebes

Phoenicopteriformes

Worldwide; 6 species. Flamingos

Pteroclidiformes

Africa, Europe, Asia; 16 species; sometimes grouped with Columbiformes. Sandgrouse

Columbiformes

Worldwide; 300 species. Pigeons and Doves

Caprimulgiformes

Worldwide; 90 species. Nightjars and Frogmouths

Apodiformes

Worldwide; 400 species. Swifts and Hummingbirds

Aegotheliformes

Oceania; 10 species; sometimes grouped with Apodiformes. Owlet-Nightjars

Cuculiformes

Worldwide; 150 species. Cuckoos and Turacos

Gruiformes

Worldwide; 200 species. Cranes and Relatives

Gaviiformes

North America, Eurasia; 5 species. Loons

Sphenisciformes

Antarctic and southern waters; 17 species. Penguins

Procellariiformes

Pan-oceanic; 120 species. Albatrosses and Petrels

Ciconiiformes

Worldwide; 100 species. Storks and Herons

Pelecaniformes

Worldwide; 68 species. Pelicans and Relatives

Charadriiformes

Worldwide; 350 species; sometimes considered part of the Ciconiiformes order under the Sibley-Ahlquist system. Waders, Gulls and Auks

Falconiformes

Worldwide; 260 species; sometimes all families except Falconidae, or all families except Falconidae and Cathartidae, are separated as Accipitriformes. Birds of Prey

Strigiformes

Worldwide; 130 species. Owls

Coliiformes

Sub-Saharan Africa; 6 species. Mousebirds

Trogoniformes

Sub-Saharan Africa, Americas, Asia; 35 species. Trogons

Coraciiformes

Worldwide; 134 species. Kingfishers and Relatives

Bucerotiformes

Africa and Asia; 66 species. Hoopoes and Hornbillss

Piciformes

Worldwide except Australasia; 400 species. Woodpeckers and Toucans

Psittaciformes

Pan-tropical, southern temperate zones; 330 species. Parrots

Passeriformes

Worldwide; 5000 species. Passerines

See also

For regions smaller than continents see:

References

  1. ^ A Phylogenomic Study of Birds Reveals Their Evolutionary History. Shannon J. Hackett, et al. Science 320, 1763 (2008).
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