Taxonomy

traits of Order Anseriformes

• mainly aquatic birds w/webbed anisodactyl feet

  • hind toe not webbed

• bill flattened + blunt-tipped

• distinctive hook in maxilla

• serrations along margins of both maxilla + mandible

Order Anseriformes

• swans

• ducks

• geese

Family Anatidae

• in Order Anseriformes

• swans

• ducks

• geese

Subfamily Anserinae

• in Order Anseriformes

• in Family Anatidae

• swans

• geese

Subfamily Anatinae

• in Order Anseriformes

• in Family Anatidae

• ducks

Order Galliformes traits + birds

• chicken-like birds

• medium to large birds w/short round wings + large keel

• legs adapted to walking

• all have large muscular gizzard + large intestinal ceca

• most lay large number of eggs per clutch

Family Phasianidae

• in order Galliformes

• grouse

• turkeys

Family Odontophoridae

• in order Galliformes

• quail

Order Gavliformes traits + birds

• loons

• foot-propelled diving aquatic birds w/webbed feet + spear-like bill

• legs far back on body as an adaptation for diving

Order Podicipediformes traits + birds

• grebes

• medium-sized, foot-propelled diving aquatic birds

• feet located far back on body

• toes lobed (not fully webbed)

• most build floating nests

traits of Order Procellariformes

• tubular nostril + distinctly hooked bill

• roof of orbit is large blood desalination gland

• squirt foul stomach oil at intruders/predators

Order Procellariformes

• tube-nosed swimmers

  • albatross, petrels, etc

Order Pellicaniformes traits

• aquatic to semi-aquatic

• typically fish-eaters

• taxonomic group recently revised, taxonomy still being resolved

Family Pelecanidae

• in Order Pellicaniformes

• pelicans

Family Ardeidae

• in Order Pellicaniformes

• bitterns

• herons

• egrets

Family Threskiornithidae

• in Order Pellicaniformes

• ibises

Order Ciconifornes traits + birds

• storks

• before fall 2019, included Ardeidae + Threskiornithidae

Order Falconiformes traits + birds

• true falcons + caracaras

• fast, agile predators

• more closely related to parrots than they are to other birds of prey

Order Cathartiformes traits + birds

• new world vultures + condors

• diurnal raptors specializing in scavenging + consuming carcasses

Order Accipitriformes

diurnal birds of prey

Family Pandionidae

• in Order Accipitriformes

• osprey

Family Accipitridae

• in Order Accipitriformes

• kites

• eagles

• hawks (also includes old world vultures)

traits of Order Strigiformes

• mainly nocturnal raptors w/large roynd heads housing fixed, forward-looking eyes

• bills + claws (talons) strong + hooked

• some owls have asymmetrical placement of ears as adaptation for locating prey by sound

Order Strigiformes

owls

Family Tytonidae

• in Order Strigiformes

• barn owls

Family Strigidae

• in Order Strigiformes

• typical owls

traits of Order Gruiformes

• odd group, few unifying characteristics (group not likely monophyletic)

• non have a crop

• most share certain skeletal features

Order Gruiformes

cranes, rails, + allies

Family Rallidae

• in Order Gruiformes

• rails

• gallinules

• coots

Family Gruidae

• in Order Gruiformes

• cranes

traits of Order Charadriiformes

• small to medium sized water birds united by various skeletal features

• but, 3 sub-orders (plovers/sandpipers, gulls/terns, + alcids) outwardly + ecologically quite distinct

Order Charadriiformes

• shorebirds

• gulls

• auks

• allies

Family Charadriidae

• in Order Charadriiformes

• plovers

• lapwings

Family Scolopacidae

• Order Charadriiformes

• sandpipers

• phalaropes

Family Laridae

• in Order Charadriiformes

• gulls

• terns

• skimmers

Family Alcidae

• in Order Charadriiformes

• auks

• murres

• puffins

traits Order Suliformes

• largely open-water/seafaring birds

• some have very specialized diets + behaviors

Order Suliformes

• frigatebirds

• boobies

• cormorants

• allies

Family Fregatidae

• in Order Suliformes

• frigatebirds

Family Sulidae

• in Order Suliformes

• boobies

Family Phalacrocoracidae

• in Order Suliformes

• cormorants

traits of Order Columbiformes

• plump birds w/short legs + small heads

• all have large crop which produces “pigeon’s milk” as food for nestlings

• invariable lay only 2 eggs

Order Columbiformes

• pigeons

• doves

Family Columbidae

• in Order Columbiformes

• pigeons

• doves

Order Cuculiformes traits + birds

• cuckoos + allies

• diverse group of small to medium-sized birds w/zygodactyl feet

• some are brood parasites

Family Cuculidae

• in Order Cuculiformes

• cuckoos

• roadrunners

• anis

Order Caprimulgiformes traits + birds

• nightjars + allies

• nocturnal

• mostly aerial-hunting birds

• large gapes

• bristles around mouth increases effective gape

Family Caprimulgidae

• in Order Caprimulgiformes

• nighthawks

• whip-poor-wills

traits of Order Apodiformes

• small birds w/tiny feet

• wing composed mainly of long, stiff primaries

• secondaries short + relatively few in number (reflecting small humerus)

• adults lack crop

Order Apodiformes

• swifts

• hummingbirds

Family Apodidae

• in Order Apodiformes

• swifts

Family Trochilidae

• in Order Apodiformes

• hummingbirds

Order Coraciiformes

• kingfishers

• motmots

• allies

traits of Order Coraciiformes

• diverse group

• united by unique structure of palate, leg muscles, + toe fusion (syndactyl feet)

Family Alcedinidae

• in Order Coraciiformes

• kingfishers

traits of Order Piciformes

• diverse group of unified zygodactyl feet + unique structure of tendons in toes

• all species nest in holes

Order Piciformes

• woodpeckers

• toucans

• puffbirds

• allies

Family Picidae

• in Order Piciformes

• woodpeckers

traits of Order Passeriformes

• diverse group unified by distinctive:

  • palate structure

  • unique oil gland

  • spermatozoa

  • limb musculature

  • flexible hind toe (for perching)

• most are capable of singing complex songs (aka Songbirds)

• this order contains over half of the world’s bird species

Family Tyrannidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• tyrant flycatchers

Family Vireonidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• vireos + allies

Family Corvidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• crows

• jays

• allies

Family Alaudidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• larks

Family Hirundinidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• swallows

Family Paridae

• in Order Passeriformes

• chickadees

• titmice

Family Sittidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• nuthatches

Family Certhiidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• brown creepers

Family Troglodytidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• wrens

Family Regulidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• kinglets

Family Polioptilidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• gnatcactchers

Family Turdidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• thrushes

• bluebirds

Family Mimidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• mockingbirds

• thrashers

• catbirds

• allies

Family Sturnidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• starlings

Family Bombycillidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• waxwings

Family Parulidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• New World (typical) warblers

Family Passerellidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• New World sparrows + juncos

Family Cardinalidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• cardinals

• some grosbeaks (blue + rose-breasted)

• some buntings

• some tanagers

Family Icteridae

• in Order Passeriformes

• blackbirds

• orioles

• cowbirds

• grackles

• allies

Family Icteriidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• yellow-breasted chat

Family Fringillidae

• in Order Passeriformes

• finches

• some grosbeaks (evening)

• crossbills

• siskins

• allies

Family Passeridae

• in Order Passeriformes

• Old World sparrows (house sparrows)