Ornithology Taxonomy Final

Passeriformes; Tyrranidae

• tyrant flycatchers

• long, pointed wings

• large heads, broad and flattened bills

pipridae

renowned for producing sonation—non-vocal sounds made by specialized feathers—during complex, acrobatic courtship displays

Cotingidae

extreme sexual selection, driving dramatic,, and sometimes bizarre, male plumage, color, and vocalizations to attract mates

Vireonidae

• vireos

• often have spectacles, wing bars, eyebrows

• short, cylindrical, and hooked bills

• robust singers

• gleaners (insects, inverts, berries)

Corvidae

• crows, ravens, jays, magpies, etc

• medium-large passerines

• rounded wings, tails

• strong bills

• omnivores

• harsh voices

Hirundinidae

• swallows

• small-medium passerines

• long, pointed wings

• aerial insectivores

• confused with swifts

paridae

• chickadees and titmice

• small, sociable, energetic

• short, conical bills

sittidae

• nuthatches

• small forest songbirds

• glean from bark, crevices, holes

• built for life in trees

troglodytidae

• wrens

• thin decurved biils

• short, rounded wings

• long tails held at 45 degrees

regulidae

• kinglets

• tiny balls of energy

• small, thin bill

• short tail

turdidae

• thrushes and robins

• upright posture with long legs

• slender strong bill

• notable singers

mimidae

• mockingbirds, catbirds, thrashers

• slender, decurves bill with exposed nostrils

• short, straight bill

• long legs and tail

• short rounded wings

sturnidae

• starlings

• omnivores

• can mimic

passeridae

• old world weaver finches

• found near humans/disturbed areas

• thick bill

• stout, short legs

• dichromatic

Fringillidae

• finches, crossbills

• small, aroboreal birds

• conical, pointed bills

• short, forked tails

• long, complex songs

• colorful plumage

emberizidae

• new world sparrows

• small, brown birds

• rounded wings

• short, conical bills

• long tails

Icteridae

• blackbirds, cowbirds, grackles, orioles

• long, pointed wings

• strong, pointed beaks

• black with color (except meadowlarks)

parulidae

• wood warblers

• small, active songbirds

• fine, slender bills

• variable plumage

cardinalidae

• cardinals, most grossbeaks, buntings, tanagers

• long tails, stout, conical bill

• often dimorphic