taxonomy
History of Classification- Aristotle
· Genos (Genus): Ornithes
o Eidos (species):
§ Gamsonyches (clawed feet): birds of prey
§ Steganopodes (covered feet): swimming birds
§ Peristeroides: pidgeons/doves
§ Apodes: swifts, swallows, martins
History of Classification- Linnaeus
· 6 Orders
o Accipiters: birds of prey, owls
o Picae: woodpeckers, hornbills, crows
o Anseres: swimming birds
o Scolopaces: wading birds
o Gallinae: ratites, pheasants, coots
o Passers: songbirds, pigeons, hummingbirds
Current Bird Taxonomy
Class: Aves
· Subclass: Archaeornithes
o Extinct birds (archaeopteryx)
o Mostly Jurassic/cretaceous birds
· Superorder: Palaeognathae
o Order Struthioniformes
§ Ostriches
o Order Rheiformes
§ Rheas
o Order Apterygiformes
§ Kiwis
o Order Casuariiformes
§ Emus, cassowaries
· Superorder: Neognathae
o Order Anseriformes (anser = goose)
§ Ducks, geese, swans
§ “floating”, aquatic, webbed feet, spatula bills
o Order Galliformes (galli = chicken
§ Chickens, turkeys, grouse, quail, pheasant
§ Ground dwelling/nesting
o Order Gaviiformes (gavi = loon)
§ Loons
§ Aquatic, diving, fish eaters
o Order Podicipediformes (podic = rear, ped = foot)
§ Grebes
§ Aquatic, diving, fish eaters
o Order Ciconiiformes
§ Storks
§ Long legged waders, predators
o Order Suliformes
§ Cormerants, anhingas, frigatebirds
§ Heavily webbed feet, predatory
o Order Gruiformes (grui = crane-like)
§ Rails, limpkins, gallinules, moorhens, coots, cranes
§ Long legs and long rounded wings
o Order Pelecaniformes
§ Pelicans, egrets, herons, ibises
§ Predatory, aquatic, long bills
o Order Accipitriformes
§ Hawks, eagles, vultures, osprey, kites
§ Birds of prey, sharp talons, hooked bills
o Order Falconiformes
§ Falcons, caracaras
o Order Charadriiformes (charadri = curlew)
§ Sandpipers, plovers, gulls, terns
§ Shorelines, eat inverts
o Order Columbiformes (columb = pigeon)
§ Pigeons, doves
§ Round heads, ground feeders
o Order Strigiformes (strigi = owl, strix = devil birds)
§ Owls
§ Predatory, asymmetrical ears, front facing eyes, flat face
o Order Caprimulgiformes
§ Nightjars/goatsuckers
§ High speed wings, aerial feeding
o Order Apodiformes
§ Swifts, hummingbirds
§ High speed wings, short legs
o Order Piciformes (pici = woodpecker)
§ Woodpeckers
§ Chisel beaks, zygodactyl feet
o Order Passeriformes (passeri = sparrow)
§ Songbirds
· Finches, sparrows, cardinals, warblers, corvids, flycatchers, chickadees/titmice, wrens, swallows, mockingbirds/thrashers
· Perching, complex songs and brains