Classification of Birds

Order	Family Name	Common Name/ Examples	No. of Species	Distribution of Order	General Characteristics of Order
Struthioniformes	Struthionidae	Ostrich	1	Africa	The ostrich is the world's largest living bird. Swift-running, flightless and gregarious, ground-nesting, feeds on vegetable matter.
Rheiformes	Rheidae	Rheas	2	S America	Swift-running, flightless ground-nesting birds which feed on vegetation and insects. Ostrich-like with short wings and no tail feathers
Casuariiformes	Casuariidae	Cassowaries	3	Australia	Large, flightless, running birds with three toes and rough hair-like feathers.
Casuariiformes	Dromaiidae	Emu	1	Australia
Apterygiformes	Apterygidae	Kiwis	3	New Zealand	Small-eyed, flightless, tailless birds with vestigial wings. They nest in burrows, are mainly small, nocturnal, insectivorous and forest-dwelling.
Tinamiformes	Tinamidae	Tinamous	45	S and C America	Terrestrial, ground-nesting birds that can fly but do so rarely. They have patterned plummage, feed on vegetation, and live in grassland, brush and forest.
Sphenisciformes	Spheniscidae	Penguins	16	Antarctica, Australia, Africa, S America	Black and white, flightless aquatic birds. They nest in burrows or on the ground and are good swimmers, living off fish, squid and crustacea. Walk upright or glide on their stomachs. Specially adapted feet feature a highly efficient heat-exchange mechanism to ensure survival in cold climates.
Gaviformes	Gaviidae	Divers or loons	4	N America, Eurasia	Black and brown diving birds which breed on inland lakes and next on the ground. They eat fish, insects, etc. and winter on sea coasts. Clumsy on land, their legs are adapted for swimming and diving.
Podicipediformes	Podicipedidae	Grebes	20	Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, N and S America	Large grey and brown short-winged diving birds with partly webbed feet. They eat fish and nest on the water. They inhabit freshwater lakes in the summer and sea coasts in the winter. Some are migratory.
Procellariiformes	Diomedeidae	Albatrosses	14	Africa, Asia, Australia, N and S America, Antarctica	Generally long-winged, partly webbed-toed sea birds which feed on fish and nest on isolated islands and cliffs. Secrete oil in self-defence.
	Procellariidae	Petrels, fulmars, shearwaters	55
	Hydrobatidae	Storm petrels	20
	Pelacanoididae	Diving petrels	4
Pelecaniformes	Pelecanidae	Pelicans	7	All continents	Diverse order of diving birds, found in marine and freshwater coastal habitats worldwide. They nest on cliffs or in trees, have a diet of mostly fish and are generally web-toed.
	Sulidae	Gannets, boobies	9
	Phaethontidae	Tropicbirds	3
	Phalacrocoracidae	Cormorants	29
	Fregatidae	Frigatebirds	5
	Anhingidae	Darters	4
Ciconiiformes	Ardeidae	Herons, bitterns	60	Worldwide except N America and Eurasia	Upright, wading birds with specialized bills. Their toes are sometimes webbed and the middle claw is often serrated, or pectinate, for preening.
	Scopidae	Hammerhead	1
	Balaenicipitidae	Whale-headed stork	1
	Ciconiidae	Storks	17
	Threskiornithidae	Spoonbills, ibises	31
	Phoenicopteridae	Flamingos	5
Anseriformes	Anatidae	Ducks, geese, swans	147	Worldwide except Antarctica	Marsh-dwelling waders which eat vegetation and nest on the ground.
Anseriformes	Anhimidae	Screamers	3	Worldwide except Antarctica
Falconiformes	Cathartidae	Vultures (New World)	7	Worldwide except Antarctica	Birds of prey, or raptors. Expert flyers, they have hooked beaks and and talons, and are generally large
	Sagitariidae	Secretary-bird	1
	Pandionidae	Osprey	1
	Falconidae	Falcons, caracaras	60
	Accipitridae	Kites, Old World vultures, harriers, hawks, eagles	217
Galliformes	Megapodidae	Megapodes	9	Worldwide except N Eurasia	The Galliformes, or game birds, have short rounded wings ill-adapted for sustained flight. They have large feet and claws, and are usually omnivorous in diet. The male plumage is usually brilliant. Many are endangered owing to habitat destruction and over-hunting.
	Cracidae	Guans, curassows, chachalacas	42
	Tetraonidae	Grouse	16
	Phasianidae	Pheasants, quail, partridge	180
	Numididae	Guineafowl	7
	Meleagrididae	Turkeys	2
Gruiformes	Mesitornithidae	Mesites	3	All continents	Diverse order of ground-feeding birds generally with brown or grey plumage and long, rounded wings.
	Turnicidae	Buttonquails, hemipodes	16
	Perdionomidae	Plains wanderer	1
	Gruidae	Cranes	15
	Aramidae	Limpkin	1
	Psophiidae	Trumpeters	3
	Rallidae	Rails	129
	Heliornithidae	Finfoots	3
	Rhynochetidae	Kagu	1
	Eurypygidae	Sunbittern	1
	Cariamidae	Seriemas	2
	Otidae	Bustards	22
Charadriiformes	Jacanidae	Jacanas	7	All continents	Diverse order of mostly small to medium-sized shorebirds and seabirds. They generally have long narrow wings which can act as aquatic paddles.
Sub-order Charadrii	Rostratulidae	Painted snipe	2
	Charadriidae	Plovers, lapwings	62
	Scolopacidae	Sandpipers	81
	Recurvirostridae	Avocets, stilts	7
	Phalaropodidae	Phalaropes	3
	Dromadidae	Crab plover	1
	Burhinidae	Stonecurlews	9
	Glareolidae	Pratincoles, thick-knees	9
	Thinocoridae	Seed snipe	4
	Chionididae	Sheathbills	2
	Sub-order Lari	Stercorariidae	6
Laridae		Gulls	45
Sternidae		Terns, noddies	42
Rynchopidae		Skimmers	3
Sub-order Alcae	Alcidae	Auks	22
Columbiformes	Pteroclididae	Sandgrouse	16	Worldwide except Antarctica	Small to medium-sized arboreal and terrestrial birds with thick, heavy plumage.
Columbiformes	Columbidae	Pigeons, doves	300	Worldwide except Antarctica
Psittaciformes	Psitttacidae	Parrots, lories, cockatoos, lovebirds, macaws, budgerigars	330	All continents except Antarctica	The parrots have zygodactyl toes: two pointing forward, and two pointing backward, enabling them to climb and hold objects. They have strong, hooked bills - used for cracking nuts, holding things and climbing - as a 'third foot'. Often colorful, they nest in trees and on ledges and have a largely vegetarian diet.
Cuculiformes	Musophagidae	Turacos	22	Worldwide	Diverse order of arboreal and terrestrial birds. The cuckoos are brood parasites, relying on other species to raise their young.
	Cuculidae	Cuckoos, anis, roadrunner, coucals	128
	Opisthocomidae	Hoatzin	1
Strigiformes	Strigidae	(typical) owls	124	Worldwide except Antarctica	The owls are nocturnal raptors found in grassland and woodland habitats, usually nesting in cavities. Their large, forward-facing eyes peer out of a facial disk and give them binocular vision. Owls can turn their heads in either direction more than 180°, and also have acute hearing.
Strigiformes	Tytonidae	Barn owls	10	Worldwide except Antarctica
Caprimulgiformes	Caprimulgidae	Nightjars or goatsuckers	70	SE Asia, Australia, S America, tropical regions	These are generally insectivorous. Some hibernate and many are migratory. They have wide, gaping mouths with hooked beaks, large eyes and short legs with weak feet. Many species are two-colored, featuring grey and red phases.
	Podargidae	Frogmouths	12
	Aegothelidae	Owlet-nightjars	8
	Nyctibiidae	Potoos	5
	Steatornithidae	Oilbird	1
Apodiformes	Apodidae	Swifts	80	Worldwide	Aerial birds that depend on their flying skills for food. Swifts are insectivorous and migratory. While on the wing they feed, mate, collect nest materials, drink and even, in some species, pass the night at high altitudes. Hummingbirds feed on nectar, suplemented with insects.
	Hemiprocnidae	Crested swifts	3
	Trochilidae	Hummingbirds	320
Coliiformes	Coliidae	Mousebirds or colis	6	Sub-Saharan Africa	These acrobatic, highly social birds live in scrub and bushes, feeding on fruit and vegetation - often becoming agricultural pests.
Trogoniformes	Trogonidae	Trogons	35	Americas, Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa	Colourful, sedentary, arboreal birds that feed on fruit and insects. They nest in tree cavities and termite mounds.
Coraciiformes	Alcedinidae	Kingfishers	87	Worldwide	The three anterior toes on these birds are united, an adaptation for perching and tree-climbing. Many are brightly coloured, some are social. All nest in cavities, digging holes in, for example, earth banks or rotten trees.
	Todidae	Todies	5
	Momotidae	Motmots	8
	Meropidae	Bee-eaters	24
	Leptosomatidae	Cuckoo-roller	1
	Coraciidae	Rollers	16
	Upupidae	Hoopoe	1
	Phoeniculidae	Woodhoopoes	6
	Bucerotidae	Hornbills	45
Piciformes	Galbulidae	Jacamars	15	Worlwide	These burds are zygodactylous. Colourful and arboreal, they feed on vegetation and insects, and nest in holes.
	Bucconidae	Puffbirds	30
	Capitonidae	Barbets	76
	Indicatoridae	Honeyguides	15
	Ramphastidae	Toucans	40
	Picidae	Woodpeckers, piculets, wrynecks	200
Passeriformes	Eurylaimidae	Broadbills	14	Wordlwide	Around 5200 species, well over half of all birds, belong to the order Passeriformes, the perching birds or passerines. The order includes the most familiar garden birds - tits, chickadees, robins and sparrows - as well as other species found in virtually all land habitats. No passerine is a true water bird, though the dippers come close. Most are small or medium-sized birds (the largest species are the raven and the Australian lyrebird). The perching feet have four well-developed, separate toes. They are very vocal, singing birds. The male is often more brightly coloured than the female. Most are opportunistic feeders, being dependent on high-energy foods such as seeds and insects. Monogamy is the norm.
Sub-order Menurae	Menuridae	Lyrebirds	2
Sub-order Menurae	Atrichornithidae	Scrub-birds	2
Sub-order Tyranni	Furnariidae	Ovenbirds	220
	Dendrocolaptidae	Woodcreepers	48
	Formicariidae	Antbirds	230
	Tyrannidae	Tyrant flycatchers	375
	Pittidae	Pittas	29
	Pipridae	Manakins	53
	Cotingidae	Cotingas	65
	Conopophagidae	Gnateaters	9
	Rhinocryptidae	Tapaculos	29
	Oxyruncidae	Sharpbill	1
	Phytotomidae	Plantcutters	3
	Xenicidae	New Zealand wrens	4
	Philepittidae	Sunbird astites	4
Sub-order Oscines	Hirundinidae	Swallows, martins	74
	Alaudidae	Larks	75
	Motacillidae	Wagtails, pipits	54
	Pycnonotidae	Bulbuls	120
	Laniidae	Shrikes	69
	Campephagidae	Cuckoo-shrikes	72
	Irenidae	Leafbirds	14
	Prionopidae	Helmet shrikes	9
	Vangidae	Vanga shrikes	13
	Bombycillidae	Waxwings, silky flycatchers	8
	Dulidae	Palmchat	1
	Cinclidae	Dippers	5
	Troglodytidae	Wrens	60
	Mimidae	Mockingbirds	30
	Subfamilies of the family Muscicapidae
	Prunellidae	Accentors	13
	Turdinae	Thrushes	305
	Timaliinae	Babblers	252
	Sylviinae	Warblers (Old World)	350
	Muscicapinae	Flycatcher (Old World)	155
	Malurinae	Fairy-wrens	26
	Paradoxornithinae	Parrotbills	19
	Monarchinae	Monarch flycatchers	133
	Orthonychinae	Logrunners	20
	Acanthizinae	Australian warblers	65
	Rhipidurinae	Fantail flycatchers	39
	Pachycephalinae	Thickheads	46
	End sub-families
	Paridae	Tits	46
	Aegithalidae	Long-tailed tits	7
	Remizidae	Penduline tits	10
	Sittidae	Nuthatches	21
	Climacteridae	Australasian treecreepers	8
	Certhiidae	Holarctic treecreepers	5
	Rhabdornithidae	Philippine treecreepers	2
	Zosteropidae	White-eyes	85
	Dicaeidae	Flowerpeckers	50
	Pardalotidae	Pardalotes or diamond eyes	5
	Nectariniidae	Sunbirds, spiderhunters	116
	Meliphagidae	Honeyeaters	169
	Ephthianuridae	Australian chats	5
	Subfamilies of the family Emberizidae
	Emberizinae	Old World buntings, New World sparrows	281
	Catamblyrhynchinae	Plush-capped finch	1
	Thraupinae	Tanagers, honeycreepers	233
	Cardinalinae	Cardinal grosbeaks	37
	Tersininae	Swallow tanager	1
	Parulidae	Wood warblers	119
	Vireonidae	Vireos, pepper shrikes	43
	Icteridae	American blackbirds	94
	Subfamilies of the family Fringillidae
	Fringillinae	Fringilline finches	3
	Carduelinae	Cardueline finches	122
	Drepanidinae	Hawaiian honeycreepers	23
	Estrildidae	Waxbills	124
	Subfamilies of the family Ploceidae
	Ploceinae	True weavers	95
	Viduinae	Widow birds	10
	Bubalornithinae	Buffalo weavers	3
	Passerinae	Sparrow weavers, sparrows	37
	End sub-families
	Sturnidae	Starlings	106
	Oriolidae	Orioles, figbirds	28
	Dicruridae	Drongos	20
Callaeidae	New Zealand wattlebirds	3
Grallinidae	Magpie larks	2
Corcoracidae	Australian mudnesters	2
Artamidae	Wood swallows	10
Cracticidae	Bell magpies	9
Ptilonorhynchidae	Bowerbirds	18
Paradisaeidae	Birds of paradise	43
Corvidae	Crows, magpies, jays	113

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Last updated: 2005-01-17