List of birds

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This article lists living orders and families of birds. In total there are about 11,000 species of birds described as of 2024,<ref name="IOC World Bird List Version 14.2">Template:Cite web</ref> though one estimate of the real number places it at almost 20,000.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The order passerines (perching birds) alone accounts for well over 5,000 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.

Phylogeny

Cladogram of modern bird relationships based on Stiller et al (2024).,<ref>Stiller, J., Feng, S., Chowdhury, AA. et al. Complexity of avian evolution revealed by family-level genomes. Nature (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07323-1</ref> showing the 44 orders recognised by the IOC.<ref>Template:Cite taxon</ref>

Template:Clade transclude

Subclass Palaeognathae

The Palaeognathae or "old jaws" is one of the two superorders recognized within the taxonomic class Aves and consist of the ratites and tinamous. The ratites are mostly large and long-legged, flightless birds, lacking a keeled sternum. Traditionally, all the ratites were place in the order Struthioniformes. However, recent genetic analysis has found that the group is not monophyletic, as it is paraphyletic with respect to the tinamous, so the ostriches are classified as the only members of the order Struthioniformes and other ratites placed in other orders.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Order Struthioniformes

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Eudromia elegans

File:Casuarius casuarius -upper body -captive-8a-2c.jpg

Casuarius casuarius

Africa; 2 species

Family Struthionidae: ostrich

Infraclass Notopalaeognathae

Order Rheiformes

South America; 2 species

Family †Opisthodactylidae
Family Rheidae: rheas

Order Casuariiformes

Australasia; 4 species

Family Casuariidae: cassowaries and emu

Order Apterygiformes

Australasia; 5 species

Family Apterygidae: kiwis

Order †Aepyornithiformes

Madagascar

Family Aepyornithidae: elephant birds

Order †Dinornithiformes

New Zealand

Family Megalapteryidae: upland moas
Family Dinornithidae: great moas
Family Emeidae: lesser moas

Order Tinamiformes

South America; 45 species

Family Tinamidae: tinamous

Subclass Neognathae

Nearly all living birds belong to the subclass Neognathae or "new jaws". With their keeled sternum (breastbone), unlike the ratites, they are known as carinatae.

Infraclass Galloanserae

Order Galliformes

File:Australian Brush turkey2.jpeg

Australian brush turkey

Worldwide; 250 species

Family †Sylviornithidae
Suborder Megapodii
- Family Megapodidae: megapodes
Suborder Craci
- Family Cracidae: chachalacas, curassows, and guans
Suborder Phasiani
- Superfamily Numidioidea
  - Family Numididae: guineafowl
- Superfamily Phasianoidea: pheasants and allies
  - Family Odontophoridae: New World quail
  - Family Phasianidae: pheasants and relatives

Order †Gastornithiformes

Family Gastornithidae (see Gastornis)
Family Dromornithidae: mihirungs

Order Anseriformes

Worldwide; 150 species

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

Infraclass Neoaves

Superorder Mirandornithes

Order Podicipediformes

Worldwide; 19 species

Family Podicipedidae: grebes

Order Phoenicopteriformes

Worldwide; 6 species

Family †Palaelodidae: swimming flamingos
Family Phoenicopteridae: flamingos

Superorder Columbimorphae

Order Columbiformes

Worldwide; 300 species

Family Columbidae: pigeons and doves

Order Pterocliformes

Africa, Europe, Asia; 16 species

Family Pteroclidae: sandgrouse

Order Mesitornithiformes

Madagascar; 3 species

Family Mesitornithidae: mesites

Grandorder Strisores

Order Caprimulgiformes

Worldwide; 97 species

Family Caprimulgidae: nightjars

Order Steatornithiformes

South America; 1 species

Family Steatornithidae: oilbird

Order Nyctibiiformes

Americas; 7 species

Family Nyctibiidae: potoos

Order Podargiformes

File:Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) 2.jpg

Tawny frogmouth

Asia and Australasia; 14 species

Family Podargidae: frogmouths

Order Aegotheliformes

Australasia; 10 species

Family Aegothelidae: owlet-nightjars

Order Apodiformes

Worldwide; 478 species

Family Hemiprocnidae: treeswifts
Family Apodidae: swifts
Family Trochilidae: hummingbirds

Grandorder Otidimorphae

Order Cuculiformes

Worldwide; 150 species

Family Cuculidae: cuckoos and relatives

Order Musophagiformes

Africa; 23 species

Family Musophagidae: turacos and relatives

Order Otidiformes

Africa and Eurasia; 27 species

Family Otididae: bustards

Superorder Gruae

Order Opisthocomiformes

South America; 1 species

Family Opisthocomidae: hoatzin

Order Gruiformes

Worldwide; 164 species

Suborder Grui: cranes and allies
- Family Gruidae: cranes
- Family Aramidae: limpkin
- Family Psophiidae: trumpeters
Suborder Ralli: rails and allies
- Family †Aptornithidae: adzebills
- Family Heliornithidae: finfoots
- Family Sarothruridae: flufftails
- Family Rallidae: rails and relatives

Order Charadriiformes

Worldwide; 350 species

Suborder Charadrii
- Infraorder Chionida: thick-knees and allies
  - Family Burhinidae: thick-knees and relatives
  - Family Chionididae: sheathbills
  - Family Pluvianellidae: Magellanic plover
- Infraorder Charadriida: plover-like waders
  - Family Pluvialidae: golden plovers
  - Family Ibidorhynchidae: ibisbill
  - Family Haematopodidae: oystercatchers
  - Family Recurvirostridae: avocets and stilts
  - Family Charadriidae: plovers and lapwings
Suborder Scolopaci
- Infraorder Jacanida: jacana-like waders
  - File:Greater Painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis - female (12366707985).jpg
    Greater painted-snipe
    Family Rostratulidae: painted snipes
  - File:Flickr - Rainbirder - Egyptian Plover (Pluvianus aegyptius).jpg
    Egyptian plover
    Family Pluvianidae: Egyptian plover
  - Family Jacanidae: jacanas
  - Family Thinocoridae: seedsnipes
  - File:Pedionomus torquatus, South Australia 2.jpg
    Plains-wanderer
    Family Pedionomidae: plains-wanderer
- Infraorder Scolopacida
  - Family Scolopacidae: sandpipers and relatives
Suborder Lari
- Infraorder Turnicida
  - Family Turnicidae: buttonquail
- Infraorder Larida: gulls and allies
  - Family Glareolidae: coursers and pratincoles
  - Family Dromadidae: crab-plover
  - Family Stercorariidae: skuas and jaegers
  - Family Alcidae: auks and puffins
  - Family Laridae: gulls, skimmers and terns

Grandorder Eurypygimorphae

Order Eurypygiformes

Neotropics and New Caledonia; 2 species

Family Rhynochetidae: kagu
File:Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias).JPG
Sunbittern
Family Eurypygidae: sunbittern

Order Phaethontiformes

Oceanic; 3 species

Family Phaethontidae: tropicbirds

Grandorder Aequornithes

Order Gaviiformes

North America, Eurasia; 5 species

Family Gaviidae: loons

Order Sphenisciformes

Antarctic and southern waters; 17 species

Family Spheniscidae: penguins

Order Procellariiformes

Pan-oceanic; 120 species

Family Diomedeidae: albatrosses
Family Oceanitidae: austral storm petrels
Family Hydrobatidae: northern storm petrels
Family Procellariidae: petrels and relatives

Order Ciconiiformes

Worldwide; 19 species

File:White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) (5).jpg

White stork

Family Ciconiidae: storks

Order Suliformes

Worldwide; 59 species

Suborder Fregatae
- Family Fregatidae: frigatebirds
Suborder Sulae
- Family Sulidae: boobies and gannets
- Family Anhingidae: darters
- Family Phalacrocoracidae: cormorants and shags

Order Pelecaniformes

File:A hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) about to eat a fish.jpg

Hamerkop

Worldwide; 108 species

Suborder Threskiornithes
- Family Threskiornithidae: ibises and spoonbills
Suborder Pelecani
- Family Scopidae: hamerkop
- Family Balaenicipitidae: shoebill
- Family Pelecanidae: pelicans
Suborder Ardeae
- Family Ardeidae: herons and relatives

Grandorder Afroaves

Order Accipitriformes

File:Osprey at North Beach.jpg

Osprey

Worldwide; 260 species

Suborder Cathartae
- Family Cathartidae: New World vultures
Suborder Accipitres
- Family Sagittariidae: secretarybird
- Family Pandionidae: osprey
- Family Accipitridae: hawks, eagles, buzzards, harriers, kites and Old World vultures

Order Strigiformes

Worldwide; 250 species

Family Tytonidae: barn owls
Family Strigidae: true owls

Order Coliiformes

File:Urocolius macrourus-20090110B.jpg

Blue-naped mousebird

Sub-Saharan Africa; 6 species

Family Coliidae: mousebirds

Order Leptosomiformes

Madagascar; 1 species

Family Leptosomidae: cuckoo-roller

Order Trogoniformes

Sub-Saharan Africa, Americas, Asia; 35 species

Family Trogonidae: trogons and quetzals

Order Bucerotiformes

Old World, New Guinea; 64 species

Superfamily Buceroidea
- Family Bucerotidae: hornbills
Superfamily Upupoidea
- Family Upupidae: hoopoe
- Family Phoeniculidae: woodhoopoes

Order Coraciiformes

Worldwide; 144 species

Suborder Meropi
- Family Meropidae: bee-eaters
Suborder Coracii
- Family Coraciidae: rollers
- Family Brachypteraciidae: ground rollers
Suborder Alcedines
- Family Todidae: todies
- Family Momotidae: motmots
- Family Alcedinidae: kingfishers

File:Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) in Hyderabad W IMG 8523.jpg

Kingfisher

Order Piciformes

Worldwide except Australasia; 400 species

Suborder Galbuli
- Family Galbulidae: jacamars
- Family Bucconidae: puffbirds
Suborder Pici
- Family Lybiidae: African barbets
- Family Megalaimidae: Asian barbets
- Family Ramphastidae: toucans
- Family Semnornithidae: toucan barbets
- Family Capitonidae: American barbets
- Family Indicatoridae: honeyguides
- Family Picidae: woodpeckers

Grandorder Australaves

Order Cariamiformes