Bird families

Animals · Animal ethology · Comparative psychology · Animal models · Outline · Index

This page lists living orders and families of birds. The links below should then lead to family accounts of bird behavior etc and hence to individual species.

There are two main orders and about 180 bird families, some containing thousands of 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.

From a behavioral point of view the families show patterns of adaptation to environments and associated repertoires of behavior.

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 and Australasia; 2 species.

Struthionidae: Ostrich

Rheiformes[]

South America; 2 species.

Rheidae: Rheas

Tinamiformes[]

South America; 45 species.

Tinamidae: Tinamous

Casuariiformes[]

Australasia; 4 species.

Casuariidae: Cassowaries
Dromaiidae: Emu

Apterygiformes[]

Australasia; 5 species.

Apterygidae: Kiwis

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.

Anhimidae: screamers
Anseranatidae: Magpie-goose
Anatidae: ducks, geese, and swans

Galliformes[]

Worldwide; 250 species.

Megapodidae: megapodes
Cracidae: chachalacas, curassows, and guans
Phasianoidea: pheasants and allies
- Odontophoridae: New World quail
- Numididae: guineafowl
- Phasianidae: pheasants and relatives

Podicipediformes[]

Worldwide; 19 species; sometimes grouped with Phoenicopteriformes.

Podicipedidae: grebes

Phoenicopteriformes[]

Worldwide; 6 species.

Phoenicopteridae: flamingos

Mesitornithiformes[]

Madagascar, Neotropics, New Caledonia; 5 species.

Mesitornithidae: mesites
Rhynochetidae: Kagu
Eurypygidae: Sunbittern

Pteroclidiformes[]

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

Pteroclididae: sandgrouse

Columbiformes[]

Worldwide; 300 species.

Columbidae: pigeons and doves

Phaethontiformes[]

Oceanic; 3 species.

Phaethontidae: tropicbirds

Caprimulgiformes[]

Worldwide; 90 species.

Steatornithidae: Oilbird
Podargidae: frogmouths
Nyctibiidae: potoos
Caprimulgidae: nighthawks and nightjars
Eurostopodidae: eared-nightjars

Apodiformes[]

Worldwide; 400 species.

Trochilidae: hummingbirds
Apodidae: swifts
Hemiprocnidae: treeswifts

Aegotheliformes[]

Oceania; 10 species; sometimes grouped with Apodiformes.

Aegothelidae: owlet-nightjars

Cuculiformes[]

Worldwide; 126 species.

Cuculidae: cuckoos and relatives

Opisthocomiformes[]

South America; 1 species.

Opisthocomidae: Hoatzin

Musophagiformes[]

Africa; 23 species.

Musophagidae: turacos and relatives

Gruiformes[]

Worldwide; 191 species.

Otididae: bustards
Grui: cranes and allies
- Gruidae: cranes
- Aramidae: Limpkin
- Psophiidae: trumpeters
Ralli: rails and allies
- Rallidae: rails and relatives
- Heliornithidae: finfoots

Gaviiformes[]

North America, Eurasia; 5 species.

Gaviidae: loons

Sphenisciformes[]

Antarctic and southern waters; 17 species.

Spheniscidae: penguins

Procellariiformes[]

Pan-oceanic; 120 species.

Diomedeidae: albatrosses
Procellariidae: petrels and relatives
Pelecanoididae: diving petrels
Hydrobatidae: storm petrels

Ciconiiformes[]

Worldwide; 19 species.

Ciconiidae: storks

Pelecaniformes[]

Worldwide; 108 species.

Balaenicipitidae: Shoebill
Scopidae: Hamerkop
Pelecanidae: pelicans
Ardeidae: herons and relatives
Threskiornithidae: ibises and spoonbills

Suliformes[]

Worldwide; 59 species.

Phalacrocoracidae: cormorants and shags
Fregatidae: frigatebirds
Sulidae: boobies and gannets
Anhingidae: darters

Charadriiformes[]

Worldwide; 350 species

Scolopaci
- Scolopacidae: sandpipers and relatives
Thinocori: jacana-like waders
- Rostratulidae: painted snipes
- Jacanidae: jacanas
- Thinocoridae: Seedsnipes
- Pedionomidae: Plains-wanderer
Turnici
- Turnicidae: buttonquail
Lari: gulls and allies
- Laridae: gulls
- Rhynchopidae: skimmers
- Sternidae: terns
- Alcidae: auks
- Stercorariidae: skuas and jaegers
- Glareolidae: coursers and pratincoles
- Dromadidae: Crab-Plover
Chionidi: thick-knees and allies
- Burhinidae: thick-knees and relatives
- Chionididae: sheathbills
- Pluvianellidae: Magellanic Plover
Charadrii: plover-like waders
- Ibidorhynchidae: Ibisbill
- Recurvirostridae: avocets and stilts
- Haematopodidae: oystercatchers
- Charadriidae: plovers and lapwings

Accipitriformes[]

Worldwide; 200 species.

Cathartidae: New World vultures
Pandionidae: Osprey
Accipitridae: hawks and relatives
Sagittaridae: Secretarybird

Strigiformes[]

Worldwide; 130 species.

Tytonidae: barn owls
Strigidae: true owls

Coliiformes[]

Sub-Saharan Africa; 6 species.

Coliidae: mousebirds

Trogoniformes[]

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

Trogonidae: trogons and quetzals

Coraciiformes[]

Worldwide; 144 species.

Meropidae: bee-eaters
Coraciidae: rollers
Brachypteraciidae: ground rollers
Todidae: todies
Momotidae: motmots
Alcedines: kingfishers
- Alcedinidae: river kingfishers
- Halcyonidae: tree kingfishers
- Cerylidae: water kingfishers

Bucerotiformes[]

Old World, New Guinea; 64 species.

Bucerotidae: hornbills
Upupidae: Hoopoe
Phoeniculidae: woodhoopoes

Leptosomatiformes[]

Madagascar; 1 species.

Leptosomatidae: Cuckoo-roller

Piciformes[]

Worldwide except Australasia; 400 species.

Galbulidae: jacamars
Bucconidae: puffbirds
Lybiidae: African barbets
Megalaimidae: Asian barbets
Ramphastidae: toucans
Semnornithidae: Toucan barbets
Capitonidae: American barbets
Picidae: woodpeckers
Indicatoridae: honeyguides

Falconiformes[]

Worldwide; 60 species.

Falconidae: falcons and relatives

Cariamiformes[]