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HIERARCHICAL TAXONOMY OF THE CLASS ARCHOSAUROMORPHA

HIERARCHICAL TAXONOMY OF THE CLASS ARCHOSAUROMORPHA

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CLASS ARCHOSAUROMORPHA LINKS

Description of Class

The following descriptions come from Benton (2005) and the Animal Diversity Web from the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. The structure of the following system is also based, in part, on the phylogenetic treatment by Mikko’s Phylogeny Web (from the Finnish Museum of Natural History). Taxa in red are extinct.
CLASS ARCHOSAUROMORPHA

This is one of the most diverse groups of extant and extinct vertebrates. It includes crocodilians, pterodactyls, dinosaurs, and birds. According to Benton (2005), the archosauromorphs had the following synapomorphic characters: a posterodorsal process on the premaxilla, a saggital crest, slender cervical ribs that taper, a notch on the anterior margin of the interclavicle, and an iliac blade with a small anterior process and larger posterior process. Two different groups, the pterosaurs and the birds, independently evolved the ability of true flight.

The class can be divided into the following major groups:

  • SUBCLASS RHYNCHOSAURIA+
  • SUBCLASS ARCHOSAURIA
    • CROCODILIANS
    • PTEROSAURS
    • DINOSAURS
      • SAURISCHIA
        • THEROPODS
        • SAUROPODS
      • ORNITHISCHIA
        • BASAL ORNITHISCHIANS
        • ARMORED ORNITHISCHIANS
        • HORNED ORNIHISCHIANS
        • ORNITHOPODS
  • SUBCLASS AVES
    • EXTINCT TOOTHED BIRDS
    • NEORNITHES
      • PALEOGNATHAE
      • NEOGNATHAE
        • GALLOANSERAE CLADE
        • NEOAVES
          • COLUMBEA
            • PHOENICOPTERIMORPHAE
            • COLUMBIMORPHAE
          • PASSEREA
            • BASAL PASSEREA
              • OTIDIMORPHAE
              • CAPRIMULGIMORPHAE
              • Opisthocomiformes
              • CURSORIMORPHAE
              • PHAETHONTIMORPHAE
          • AEQUORNITHIA (WATERBIRD CLADE)
            • GAVIIMORPHAE
            • PROCELLARIIMORPHAE
            • PELLICANIMORPHAE
          • TELLURAVES (CORE LAND BIRDS)
          • AFROAVES
            • ACCIPITRIMORPHAE
            • Strigiformes
            • CORACIIMORPHAE
          • AUSTRALAVES
            • Cariamiformes
            • Falconiformes
            • PASSERIMORPHAE
  • SUBCLASS RHYNCHOSAURIA+
  • This is a paraphyletic group of very different basal archosaurs. They appeared in the upper Permian and disappeared by the end of the Triassic.
    • ORDER UNNAMED BASAL ARCHOSAUR FAMILIES
      • FAMILY TRILOPHOSAURIDAE
      • Herbivores. These animals had heavy skulls with broad, flattened cheek teeth and an anterior beak (ensheathed in horn?). These secondarily lost the lower temporal fenestra.
      • Upper Triassic
      • Trilophosaurus
      • FAMILY RHYNCHOSAURIDAE
      • Herbivores. They had specialized shearing teeth in the cheek region (two rows) and a beak with a large overbite. These characters suggest that they must have fed on very tough plants. The hind feet had specialized claws that seem to have functioned in digging. These were very successful herbivores throughout the Triassic. Some animals were up to 2m long.
      • Triassic
      • Hyperodapedon
    • ORDER PROLACERTIFORMES
      • Carnivores, somewhat lizard-like with very long necks. Some likely were aquatic and fed on fish and cephalopods. These were among the first of the archosauromorphs.
      • Upper Permian to upper Triassic
      • Protorosaurus, Tanystropheus, Prolacerta, Gwyneddosaurus, Kadimakara, Pamelaria, Jesairosaurus, Malerisaurus, Macrocnemus, Langobardisaurus, Boreopricea, Cosesaurus, Sharovipteryx, Tanytrachelos, Tanystropheus, Dinocephalosaurus
  • SUBCLASS ARCHOSAURIA
  • These animals all have the following characters:
  • Antorbital fenestra
  • Laterosphenoid
  • Lateral mandibular fenestra
  • Laterally flattened, not rounded, teeth
    • INFRACLASS UNNAMED
      • ORDER UNNAMED
        • FAMILY PROTEROSUCHIDAE
        • These were small (to 1.5m), slender and some-what sprawling carnivores.
        • Lower Triassic
        • Proterosuchus
        • FAMILY ERYTHROSUCHIDAE
        • Very large carnivores (up to 5m). They had evolved a 3-pronged pelvis; a fourth trochanter on the femur, and an elongate metatarsal 3 (longer than metatarsal 4).
        • Middle Triassic
        • Vjushkovia
        • FAMILY EUPARKERIIDAE
        • Members of this family seem to have been quadripedal and bipedal. They had evolved an s-shaped femur and dermal scales (osteoderms) that went down the back.
        • Middle Triassic
        • Euparkeria
    • INFRACLASS CRUROTARSI (the crocodilian line)
    • These animals, mainly carnivores, were characterized by an ankle joint that allowed rotation between the astragulus and the calcaneum.
    • Unassigned Taxa: Doswellia, Tarjadia, Parringtonia.
    • SUPERORDER UNNAMED+
      • ORDER PHYTOSAURIA
        • FAMILY PHYTOSAURIDAE
        • Piscivores, but also took tetrapods and carrion. They had a nostril mound just before the eyes.
        • Upper Triassic
        • Parasuchus, Paleorhinus, Belodon, Ebrachosuchus, Mesorhinosaurus, Rutiodon, Smilosuchus, Leptosuchus, Phytosaurus, Angistorhinopsis, Coburgosuchus, Nicrosaurus, Mysteriosuchus, Redondasaurus, Pseudopalatus.
        • FAMILY ORNITHOSUCHIDAE (INCERTAE SEDIS)
        • Carnivore. These animals superficially resembled early dinosaurs in that they were bipedal and quadripedal; however, they had the crocodilian ankle joint.
        • Upper Triassic
        • Ornithosuchus
        • FAMILY STAGONOLEPIDIDAE (INCERTAE SEDIS)
        • Herbivores. Also called aetosaurs, they had stocky bodies that were covered with bony plates. They had a short skull with a shovel snout that suggests rooting in the soil for tubers, etc.
        • Upper Triassic
        • Stagonolepis
        • FAMILY RAUISUCHIDAE (INCERTAE SEDIS)
        • Carnivores, some quite large (6-7m). This may be a paraphyletic group of up to 4 families. Some of these likely had an erect gait (pillar-like legs) and could move bipedally or quadripedally.
        • Upper Triassic
        • Saurosuchus
        • FAMILY POPOSAURIDAE (INCERTAE SEDIS)
        • Carnivore. Sometimes placed together with the rauchosuchids. These had a high skull with recurved teeth, somewhat like the skulls of theropod dinosaurs.
        • Upper Triassic
        • Postosuchus
    • SUPERORDER CROCODYLOMORPHA
    • Major wrist bones modified as rods; coracoid with a long backward-pointing spine; pelvis with an open acetabulum. Also, specializations of the skull.
    • Unassigned Taxa: Barbarenasuchus+, Clarencea+, Dyoplax+, Hallopus+, Macelognathus+, Parrishia+, Trialestes+.
      • ORDER UNNAMED+
        • FAMILY SALTOPOSUCHIDAE
        • Carnivore. Long skull, and long hind legs, likely bipedal. Animals small (0.5m).
        • Upper Triassic
        • Saltoposuchus
        • FAMILY SPHENOSUCHIDAE
        • Carnivore. This animal had a heavier build and was larger (1.4m). It could run fast, but it was a quadruped. It showed other specializations in the skull that are diagnostic for crocodilians.
        • Upper Triassic to lower Jurassic
        • Sphenosuchus
      • ORDER CROCODYLIA
      • Unassigned Taxa: Eopneumatosuchus+, Microchampsa+, Artzosuchus+.
        • FAMILY PROTOSUCHIDAE+
        • The protosuchids were small quadripedal animals with hind legs longer than the forelegs (a consequence of a bipedal ancestry). Posterior region of the skull is pneumatic.
        • Lower Jurassic
        • Protosuchus, Orthosuchus, Platyognathus, Dianosuchus, Erythrochampsa, Nothochampsa, Stegmosuchus, Tagarosuchus, Hemiprotosuchus, Gobiosuchus.
  • MESOEUCROCODYLIAN CLADE
    • FAMILY TELEOSAURIDAE+
    • Marine crocodilians with narrow snouts were piscivores of shallow coastal seas.
    • Lower to middle Jurassic
    • FAMILY METRIORHYNCHIDAE+
    • These animals were wholly aquatic with a tail fin (the end of the tail was down-turned like the ichthyosaurs), the limbs were modified into paddles, and they had no body armor.
    • Upper Jurassic
    • Geosaurus
    • FAMILY NOTOSUCHIDAE+
    • These were highly modified to a terrestrial existence. They were small (a mater or less) and had modified teeth (sharp front teeth and flattened ‘molars’. Some may even have been herbivorous.
    • Lower Cretaceous
    • Argentinosuchus, Chimerasuchus
    • FAMILY SEBICIDAE+
    • Carnivores with large skulls, high snouts, and laterally flattened teeth.
    • Paleocene to Miocene
    • Sebecus
  • NEOSUCHIAN CLADE
  • These are all heavily armored aquatic reptiles that superficially resemble lizards. They are all somewhat aquatic. The teeth are thecodont. Modern taxa have webbed feet and nostrils on top of the head which can be closed by flaps. The eyes can be covered by a clear membrane. They have a muscular partition (similar to a diaphragm), alveoli in the lungs, and a four-chambered heart.
    • FAMILY GONIOPHOLIDIDAE+
    • Aquatic crocodilians with long snouts. Found in marine and freshwater deposits.
    • Middle Jurassic to upper Cretaceous
    • Coelosuchus, Dakotasuchus, Microsaurus, Pinacosuchus, Pliogonodon, Polydectes, Kansajsuchus, Oweniasuchus, Symptosuchus, Turanosuchus, Vectisuchus, Goniopholis, Sunosuchus, Calsoyasuchus, Eutretauranosuchus.
    • Bernissartia, Gilchristosuchus, Rugosuchus.
    • FAMILY DYROSAURIDAE+
    • Some of these were very large. The skull of one large species was 1.8 m long and the estimated weight was 8 tons.
    • Early Cretaceous through the Eocene
    • Chenanisuchus, Sokotosuchus, Phosphatosaurus, Dyrosaurus, Arambourgisuchus, Congosaurus, Rhabdognathus, Hyposaurus, Sarcosuchus
  • EUSUCHIAN CLADE
  • Unassigned Taxa: Hylaeochampsa+, Allodaposuchus+, Borealosuchus+, Pristichamphus+.
  • GAVIALOIDEA
    • FAMILY GAVIALIDAE
    • Gavials. Freshwater from Pakistan across northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Burma. They are aquatic fish-eating crocodilians with narrow snouts and very weak limbs. They inhabit fast-flowing streams. Oviparous.
    • Eocene to present
    • Gavialis, Eothoracosaurus+, Thoracosaurus+, Argochampsa+, Eosuchus+, Eogavialis+, Gryposuchus+, Ikanogavialis+, Sisquisiquesuchus+, Piscogavialis+, Hesperogavialis+.
  • CROCODYLOIDEA
    • FAMILY CROCODYLIDAE
    • Crocodiles and False Gavials. Freshwater, brackish water and marine environments; Africa , Madagascar , Iran , India through southeastern Asia to Australia . Most can be recognized by the fourth tooth of the lower jaw which sits in a notch on the upper jaw and is visible. Oviparous.
    • Late Cretaceous to present
    • Unassigned Taxa: Prodiplocynodon+, Asiatosuchus+, Aigialosuchus+, Charactosuchus+, Dollosuchus+, Holopsisuchus+, Lianghusuchus+, Megadontosuchus+, Necrosuchus+, Planocrania+.
    • Subfamily Mekosuchinae+: Pallimnarchus, Australosuchus, Kembara, Baru, Trilophosuchus, Quinkana, Volia, Mekosuchus.
    • Subfamily Crocodylinae: Crocodylus, Mecistops, Osteolaemus, Euthecodon+.
    • Subfamily Tomistominae: Tomistoma, Cavialosuchus, Kentisuchus+, Gavialosuchus+, Paratomistoma+, Thecachampsa+, Rhamphosuchus+.
  • ALLIGATOROIDEA
  • Unassigned Taxa: Leidyosuchus+, Deinosuchus+, Strangerochampsa+, Brachychampsa+, Allodaposuchus+, Dinosuchus+, Balanerodus+, Eoalligator+, Hispanochampsa+, Marrocosuchus+.
    • FAMILY DIPLOCYNODONTIDAE+
    • Tadzhikosuchus, Baryphracta, Diplocynodon.
    • FAMILY ALLIGATORIDAE
    • Alligators. Freshwater; Southern US to South America and a disjunct species in the Yangtze River. Oviparous.
    • Late Cretaceous to present
    • Listrognathosuchus+, Brachygnathosuchus+.
    • Subfamily Alligatorinae: Alligator, Akantosuchus+, Albertochampsa+, Chrysochampsa+, Hassiacosuchus+, Navahosuchus+, Ceratosuchus+, Allognathosuchus+, Wannaganosuchus+.
    • Subfamily Caimaninae: Caiman, Melanosuchus, Paleosuchus, Necrosuchus+, Eocaiman+, Paleosuchus+, Parussaurus+.
    • FAMILY NETTOSUCHIDAE+
    • Mourasuchus, Orthogenysuchus, Nettosuchus.
  • INFRACLASS AVEMETATARSALIA+
    • SUPERORDER FOR SCLEROMOCHLUS+
    • This animal was the most basal of the Avemetatarsalia so far known. That is, it is a sister to the Dinosauria+Pterosauria clade. It was small (<0.2m) long and had several avian features. It may have been a climber or a glider. It might even have been able to hop.
    • Upper Triassic
    • Scleromochlus
    • SUPERORDER ORNITHODIRA
    • The ankle joint is simplified to a hinge joint. The animal stands on its toes in a digitigrade posture.
      • ORDER PTEROSAURIA
      • These animals flew almost as a bat with wing membrane stretched by the hand. However, in this case, only the fourth finger is elongated. Their bodies seem to have been covered with hair. They also had five long toes on their feet.
        • SUBORDER RHAMPHORHYNCHOPHORIDA
        • These likely are paraphyletic and include the collection of basal taxa. Mostly fish eaters, they had long tails.
        • Upper Triassic to Lower Cretaceous
        • Eudimorphodon, Ramphorhynchus, Dimorphodon
        • SUBORDER PTERODACTYLOIDEA
        • These animals radiated into many ecological niches and some were as large as a small airplane. In general, they had a reduced tail and reduced, or highly modified dentition. Some like Pteranodon lost its teeth all together.
        • Lower to upper Cretaceous
        • Pteranodon, Dsungaripteris, Ornithocheirus, Pterodaustro, Ctenochasma, Quetzalcoatlus
      • ORDER INCERTAE SEDIS+
      • LAGERPETON, MARASUCHUS
      • These taxa appear to be basal dinosaurids and sisters to the rest of the dinosaurians (including birds). Lagerpeton is known from fragmentary evidence while Marasuchus is more completely known. Marasuchus was a small carnivore with an s-shaped neck, very long hind limbs and features of the pelvis and leg that suggest it was a fully bipedal animal. Its long tail also served as a counter balance.
      • Middle Triassic
      • Lagerpeton, Marasuchus
    • SUPERORDER DINOSAURIA
      • ORDER SAURISCHIA
      • The lizard-hipped dinosaurs
        • SUBORDER UNNAMED
          • FAMILY HERRERASAURIDAE
          • Carnivore. Represented by two genera, both bipeds. They both had a dinosaurian leg, pelvis, ankle, and skull which was relatively narrow and high. There was a reduction of toes in the fore and hind feet.
          • Upper Triassic
          • Herrerasaurus, Eoraptor
        • SUBORDER THEROPODA
        • This includes all of the carnivorous dinosaurs (and technically also the birds)
          • INFRAORDER COELOPHYSOIDEA
          • This group had light bodies, long graceful necks and long tails. It had a skull that was long and narrow. The ischium was 2/3 or less as long as the pubis. Well known. Coelophysis ranges from 0.8-3.1m.
          • Upper Triassic to lower Jurassic
          • Coelophysis
          • INFRAORDER CERATOSAURIA
          • Theropods with crests.
            • FAMILY CERATOSAURIDAE
            • These animals had crests or horn-like protuberances, which likely were for sexual display.
            • Jurassic
            • Dilophosaurus, Ceratosaurus
            • FAMILY ABELISAURIDAE
            • These had very short skulls with expansions of bone to form protuberances.
            • Middle to upper Cretaceous
            • Carnotaurus
          • INFRAORDER TETANURIDAE
          • These have the following features:
          • Large maxillary fenestra; teeth do not extend back of the antorbital fenestra; dorsal vertebrae pleurocoelus
  • CARNOSAURIA
  • These are the basal tetanurids, and they all have a distinctive maxilla, opisthocoelus cervical vertebrae, and a very strong first metatarsal.
    • FAMILY MEGALOSAURIDAE
    • Skull narrow; orbit was high and smaller than the antorbital fenestra.
    • Middle to upper Jurassic
    • Megalosaurus, Magnosaurus
    • FAMILY SPINOSAURIDAE
    • These had spiny sails on their backs, a characteristic large claw on the forefoot, and an elongate alligator-like mouth.
    • Cretaceous
    • Baryonyx, Suchomimus
    • FAMILY ALLOSAURIDAE
    • Larger than Megalosaurus, tall narrow orbit with heavy bony crests over them. 11-12m.
    • Upper Jurassic
    • Allosaurus
    • FAMILY CARCHARODONTOSAURIDAE
    • These were very large with skulls 1.6m long.
    • Cretaceous
    • Carchodontosaurus
  • COELOSAURIA (SISTER TO THE AVES)
  • The coelosaurs share the following characters: enlarged maxillary fenestra, premaxillary teeth without serrations.
    • FAMILY COELURIDAE
    • The basal coelosaurians. These were small (0.7-1.4m) and had feathers.
    • Upper Jurassic
    • Composgnathus, Sinosauropteryx
    • FAMILY TYRRANOSAURIDAE
    • Very large predators (scavengers?). They had an extra joint between dentary and post-dentary elements that increased the gape and perhaps the force of the bite. They had very small forelimbs with two or three digits. The ankle was specialized such that all three metatarsals were locked together (the arctometatarsus). Likely, they could go no faster than 40km/hr.
    • Upper Cretaceous
    • Tyrannosaurus, Albertosaurus
    • FAMILY ORNITHOMIMIDAE
    • These animals had an ostrich-like body with long forelimbs, each terminating in three digits. Early taxa had teeth, but later ones had entirely toothless jaws that were covered with a horny beak. The beak was ridged on the inside like that of a mallard duck (function?).
    • Upper Jurassic to upper Cretaceous.
    • Struthiomimus, Dromiceiomimus
  • THE MANIRAPTORA
    • FAMILY ALVAREZSAURIDAE
    • These animals were slender with oddly reduced forelimbs (Mononykus had only digit one that was modified into a powerful spike). They had certain avian featured that included a keeled sternum. Femur shorter than the tibia and fibula reduced to a spike (as in a chicken leg).
    • Upper Cretaceous
    • Mononykus
    • FAMILY THERIZINOSAURIDAE
    • These animals were large (up to 5m) with a heavy pelvis, stocky legs, short tail and relatively long forelimbs with three long digits. The skull was small and had a few peg-like teeth and a beak at the front. Likely it was a herbivore (foliage-eaters?).
    • Upper Cretaceous
    • Alxasaurus
    • FAMILY DROMAEOSAURIDAE
    • These were relatively small animals (up to 3 m) that were characterized by having a specialized claw 2 that could swivel and slash. Clearly predators, these animals may have hunted in packs.
    • Lower Cretaceous
    • Deinonychus, Velociraptor
    • FAMILY TROODONTIDAE
    • These animals had slender necks and a head with very large orbits that faced forward (binocular vision?). For a dinosaur, its braincase was relatively large. Adapted as a runner, its middle hind toe (toe 3) was the longest one as in birds.
    • Upper Cretaceous
    • Troodon
  • OVORAPTOSAURS (SEE AVES)
    • SUBORDER SAUROPODOMORPHA
      • INFRAORDER UNNAMED
      • These had 4 fused sacral vertebrae, a straight femur, no distal tarsals.
      • BASAL SAUROPOD FAMILY
      • This early animal shows the features common to the sauropod clade: a small head with a down-turned lower jaw, lanceolate teeth with serrated crowns, long neck with more than 10 cervical vertebrae, large thumb claw and no claws on toes 4&5, a short blade on the ilium. This is from a single genus, a relatively small (2.5m) bipedal animal.
      • Upper Jurassic
      • Thecodontosaurus
      • FAMILY PLATEOSAURIDAE
      • The most typical of the prosauropods, the platyosaurids. These animals could be quadrupedal or bipedal.
      • Upper Triassic
      • Plateosaurus, Riojasaurus, Melanosaurus
      • FAMILY MASSOSPONDYLIDAE
      • INFRAORDER SAUROPODA
  • NEOSAUROPODS
  • The fenestra on the lower jaw has been lost and the lower temporal fenestra lies beneath the orbit. The legs are pillar-like. Phalanges are lost
    • FAMILY CETIOSAURIDAE
    • These seem to be the precursors to the diplodocids and brachiosaurids, its hind legs still are longer than the front legs.
    • Middle Jurassic
    • Cetiosaurus
    • FAMILY OMEISAURIDAE
    • These animals had unusually long necks, even for sauropods.
    • Upper Jurassic
    • Mamenchisaurus
    • FAMILY DIPLODOCIDAE
    • Long broad snout with long pencil-shaped teeth at the front of the jaws. Their teeth angled out from the jaw, perhaps serving as a pincer to crop vegetation. Nostrils are near the top of the head between the eyes. There has been much debate about the way in which the diplodocids used their necks. The structure of the neck suggests that it could not flex the neck up into an s-shape, but remained outstretched or raised only slightly.
    • Upper Jurassic
    • Diplodocus
  • MACRONARIA
  • Enlarged nasal ridge. Front legs longer than the hind legs. Contains the most massive terrestrial vertebrates known.
    • FAMILY CAMARASAURIDAE
    • They had hollow chambers in the vertebrae and forked neural spines. The animals had a deep body and relatively long cervical ribs.
    • Camarasaurus, Aragosaurus, Lourinhasaurus.
    • FAMILY BRACHIOSAURIDAE
    • This animal was a dinosaurian giraffe. It could flex its neck upwards.
    • Upper Jurassic
    • Brachiosaurus
    • FAMILY EUHELOPODIDAE
    • The jaws of these animals suggest that they ate tough vegetation.
    • Middle Jurassic
    • Shunosaurus
    • FAMILY TITANOSAURIDAE
    • These were huge animals that reached the theoretical limits of a terrestrial vertebrate. The skull was similar to that of Diplodocus. Some had armor plates embedded in their skin.
    • Lower to upper Cretaceous
    • Argentinosaurus, Nemegtosaurus, Quesitosaurus
  • ORDER ORNITHISCHIA
  • These animals had a pubis that pointed backwards and all were herbivores.
    • SUBORDER UNNAMED The basal Ornithischia
      • FAMILY PISANOSAURIDAE
      • This is known from fragmentary evidence of the dentary and maxilla. The cheek teeth had a deep root and blunt serrations. The teeth are set back from the outer jaw suggesting that they had a cheek for chewing.
      • Upper Triassic
      • Pisanosaurus
      • FAMILY FABROSAURIDAE
      • These were small animals (less than a meter) with the ornithischian pelvis. It had typical ornithiscian characters of the skull including a predentary, the tip of which was toothless, in the lower jaw.
      • Lower Jurassic
      • Lesothosaurus
    • SUBORDER THYREOPHORA
    • These were the armored ornithiscians.
      • INFRAORDER UNNAMED
        • FAMILY SCELIDOSAURIDAE
        • These were bipedal with rows of keeled scutes on the back and in rows on the sides.
        • Lower to middle Jurassic
        • Scelidosaurus, Scutellosaurus
      • INFRAORDER STEGOSAURIA
      • They were quadripeds with low, tube-like skulls. The back had two rows of alternating triangular plates and a tail that terminated in two rows of spikes.
      • Upper Jurassic
      • Stegosaurus
      • INFRAORDER ANKYLOSAURIA
        • FAMILY NODOSAURIDAE
        • These had rows of spiny plates on the back and bony armor over the pelvis.
        • Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous
        • Polocanthus
        • FAMILY ANKYLOSAURIDAE
        • They became heavily armored with armored skulls and bodies. Their tail terminated in a large bony club.
        • Lower to upper Cretaceous
        • Ankylosaurus, Euoplocephalus
    • SUBORDER CERAPODA
      • INFRAORDER PACHYCEPHALOSAURIA
      • These bipedal animals had unusually thickened skull roofs and likely engaged in head butting like modern sheep. Also, their skeletons seem to have evolved to dissipate the force of a heavy blow to the top of the head.
      • Upper Cretaceous
      • Pachycephalosaurus, Prenocephale, Stegoceras, Homalocephale
      • INFRAORDER CERATOPSIA
      • These animals had a beak-like rostral bone, which was covered with a horny beak, at the tip of the upper jaw.
        • FAMILY PSITTACOSAURIDAE
        • These were bipedal with an ornithopod body, but a clearly ceratopsian head.
        • Lower Cretaceous
        • Psittacosaurus
        • FAMILY PROTOCERATOPSIDAE
        • These were quadripedal and had a characteristic frill and an incipient horn on the nose.
        • Middle Cretaceous
        • Protoceratops
        • FAMILY CERATOPSIDAE
        • These had limbs adapted for running and galloping. They had tall neural spines on the back to which powerful neck muscled were attached. The taxa varied according to the frill and number and placement of horns. The frills and horns likely served multiple purposes, among them, species signaling and display, and defense.
        • Upper Cretaceous
        • Triceratops, Centrosaurus, Torosaurus
    • SUBORDER ORNITHOPODA
      • FAMILY HETERODONTOSAURIDAE
      • These animals had differentiated teeth: incisors, canines, and cheek teeth that were inset suggesting a cheek. The canines seem to have been part of their sexual dimorphism (some specimens, presumably female, lacked them).
      • Lower Jurassic
      • Heterodontosaurus
      • FAMILY HYPSILOPHODONTIDAE
      • These were similar to the heterodontosaurids, but they lacked tusks and their forelimbs were relatively longer. They had stiff tails and the proportions of the hind limbs suggest that they were very fast runners.
      • Upper Jurassic to upper Cretaceous.
      • Hypsilophodon
      • FAMILY IGUANODONTIDAE
      • These animals had a tail stiffened by ossified tendons and forelegs terminating in a “hand” with small hooves and a thumb spike. They could be bipeds or quadipeds.
      • Lower Cretaceous
      • Iguanodon, Ouranosaurus
      • FAMILY HADROSAURIDAE
      • These were the duck-billed dinosaurs. Their jaws were toothless in the front which was sheathed by a horny beak. Their cheek teeth grew in batteries of 5-6 rows with 45-60 teeth each, clear adaptations to chewing tough plant material. Some have a variety of crests, likely for display (visual and sound).
      • Upper Cretaceous
      • Edmontosaurus, Kritosaurus, Anatosaurus, Brachylophosaurus, Saurolophus, Parasauroolophus, Lambeosaurus, Corythosaurus.
  • SUBCLASS AVES
    • INFRACLASS UNNAMED (The Toothed Birds)
    • These animals had long bony tails and teeth.
      • ORDER UNNAMED
      • FAMILY ARCHAEOPTERYGIDAE
      • In most details like a small theropod. In addition, they had at least 3 of the 5 air sacs found in birds. The pubis seems to have been vertical (also seen in some theropods). Its toe 1 is reflexed to lie at the back of the foot (reflexed hallux). No evidence of a beak.
      • Upper Jurassic
      • Archaeopteryx
      • RAHONAVIS
      • This bird appears to be basal in structure but not in time. It was a flyer with an enlarged 2nd toe. Likely a member of the Archaeopterygidae but with some advanced features.
      • Upper Cretaceous
      • Rahonavis
      • JEHOLORNIS
      • This, too appears to be close to Archaeopteryx, but it shows significantly advanced hand.
    • INFRACLASS PYGOSTYLIA
      • Animals with a tail reduced to a pygostyle.
        • SUPERORDER UNNAMED+
          • ORDER UNNAMED
            • FAMILY CONFUCIUSORNITHIDAE
            • They have no teeth, but do have a horny beak. The sacrum is fused to form the synsacrum characteristic of modern birds and the tail has been reduced to 7 fused caudal vertebrae.
            • Lower Cretaceous
            • Confuciusornis, Changchengornis
          • ORDER OVORAPTOROSAURIA
          • These animals are tentatively placed in the birds. They were flightless, had a highly modified toothless skull, and a pygostyle.
          • Upper Cretaceous
          • Ovoraptor
        • SUPERORDER ORNITHOTHORACES+
          • ORDER ENANTIORNITHES
          • Birds with teeth and short backs (<13 thoracic vertebrae) and other features of modern birds. Characterized by the presence of a tarsometatarsus (fused distal tarsals and metatarsals).
          • Lower to upper Cretaceous
          • Gobipteryx, Sinornis, Otogornis, Bolouchia, Liaoxiornis, Longipteryx, Iberomesornis, Concornis, Eoalulavis
          • ORDER INCERTAE SEDIS
          • PATAGONOPTERYX
          • This was a flightless bird with adaptations for running, an ecological equivalent to the ratites (but not directly related to them).
          • Upper Cretaceous
          • Patagonopteryx
          • VORONA
          • Known only from a hind leg. This animal showed more complete fusion of the metatarsals than the eantionithes.
          • Upper Cretaceous
          • Vorona
          • ORDER HESPERORNITHIFORMES
          • These were toothed flightless diving birds whose wings were almost entirely reduced.
          • Upper Cretaceous
          • Hesperornis, Baptornis
          • ORDER ICHTHYORNIFORMES
          • These were diving birds that were good fliers. They had large beaks lined with small sharp teeth. Likely, the fished as terns do today.
          • Upper Cretaceous
          • Ichthyornis
          • Other upper Cretaceous Ornithurine birds of uncertain affinities include: Ambiortus, Gansus , Apsaravis, Limenavis
        • SUPERORDER NEORNITHES
          • PALAEOGNATHAE
          • These birds have a characteristic palate (extensive vomer-pterygoid joint)
          • ORDER LITHORNITHIFORMES+
          • Variable in size (hen to crane-sized). Some could fly, others were flightless.
          • Paleocene to Eocene
          • Lithornis, Palaeotis
          • RATITES
          • These are represented by the tinnamous and ostriches-rheas-cassowaries-emus. They have become complete ground-dwelling animals and have lost the sternal keel.
          • ORDER STRUTHIONIFORMES
          • Typically, they are large to very large flightless birds that are adapted to running. They have a southern continental distribution.
            • FAMILY APTERYGIDAE
            • Kiwis. Flightless birds of forests and open woodlands of New Zealand . Kiwis are medium-sized birds (.35-.65m high). They are unusual for many reasons. Their wings are vestigial, the plumage is hair-like, they are nocturnal, and the nostrils occur at the tips of their beaks. They are not adapted to running; their legs are relatively short and stout.
            • Apteryx.
            • FAMILY CASUARIIDAE
            • Cassowaries. Flightless birds of the rainforests and savannah woodlands of Papua-New Guinea and northern Australia . Cassowaries are very large (1-1.7m high). The wings are highly reduced, almost vestigial. The legs are powerful and terminate in three-toed feet. They can run at speeds of 50km/hr and jump 1.5m high. Their plumage is almost like coarse hair. They have a distinctive crest on the tops of their heads
            • Casuarius.
            • FAMILY DINORNITHIDAE+
            • Moas.
            • Anomalopteryx, Dinornis, Emeus, Euryapteryx, Megalapteryx, Pachyornis.
            • FAMILY DROMAIIDAE
            • Emus. Flightless birds of the savannahs and semi-arid areas of Australia . Emus are very large (1.5-1.9m high). They have reduced wings and long necks. They have powerful legs and feet with three toes that allow them to reach speeds of 48km/hr. Reduced now to a single species.
            • Pleistocene to the present.
            • Dromaius.
            • FAMILY RHEIDAE
            • Rheas. Flightless birds of the pampas and scrub lands of tropical and temperate South America . Rheas are very large (0.9-1.5m). They have reduced wings and long necks. Their legs are powerful and adapted for running (>60km/hr). The feet have three toes.
            • Pterocnemia, Rhea.
            • FAMILY STRUTHIONIDAE
            • Ostriches. Flightless birds of savannas and semi-arid regions of Africa . Ostriches are very large 1.75-3.00m high. Its powerful legs are adapted for high speed running (>50-70km/hr) and feet with only two toes, one of which has a large claw. They have a long neck and reduced wings.
            • Struthio.
          • ORDER TINAMIFORMES
            • FAMILY TINAMIDAE
            • Tinamous. They are weak fliers of forests and savannah of most of South America and southern Central America . The are compact birds with reduced tails and strong legs. They stand 0.15-0.50m high.
            • Miocene to the present
            • Subfamily Rhynchotinae (Steppe Tinamous): Eudromia, Nothoprocta, Nothura, Rhynchotus, Taoniscus, Tinamotis.
            • Subfamily Tinaminae (Forest Tinamous): Crypturellus, Nothocercus, Tinamus.
      • NEOGNATHAE
      • The largest group of extant birds. They also have a characteristic ankle in which the calcaneum, not the astragulus (as in the ratites and theropods) forms the ascending process on the tibia.
        • GALLOANSERAE
        • Ducks and Fowl make up a clade of birds that is the sister group of all other neognaths. They have a fossil record that may go back to the upper Cretaceous. Diatryma was large flightless bird with a large beak (a predator?).
        • ORDER ANSERIFORMES
          • FAMILY ANATIDAE
          • Swans, Geese, and Ducks. Aquatic birds of freshwater, brackish water, and marine environments of all continents, oceanic islands, and continental margins. They are medium to moderatedly large birds (0.30-1.80m) with wingspans of 0.43 to 2m. They have flattened bills that generally are adapted to filter feeding. They have long necks, large bodies, and short tails. Their diets include plants, fish, animal foods like fish eggs and invertebrates. Many are migratory.
          • Subfamily Dendrocyninae (Whistling Ducks): Dendrocygna.
          • Subfamily Anserinae (Swans and Geese): Cyngus, Anser, Branta, Tadorna, Plectopteris.
          • SubfamilyAnatinae (True Ducks): Alopochen, Nettapus, Aix, , Anas, Marmaronetta, Netta, Aythya, Somateria, Polysticta, Histrionicus, Melanitta, Bucephala, Clangula, Mergus, Oxyura.
          • FAMILY ANHIMIDAE
          • Screamers.
          • Anhima, Chauna.
          • FAMILY ANSERANATIDAE
          • Magpie Geese.
          • Anseranas.
        • ORDER GALLIFORMES fowl
          • FAMILY PHASIANIDAE
          • Pheasants, Partridges, Quails. Terrestrial birds of forest and open habitats through Eurasia, Australia, and Africa. They range from small to large birds (0.14-2.5m). Typically, they have stout bodies, short legs, a stout beak, and rounded wings. They can have tails that are short or long and modified for display. Similarly, they can be drab or brightly colored. They feed mainly on the ground where they can take a wide variety of plants, invertebrates, and small vertebrates. Usually not migratory.
          • Lower Eocene to the present.
          • Subfamily Perdicinae (Partridges): Alectoris, Ammoperdix, Aneurophasis, Arborophilia, Bambusicola, Caloperdix, Coturnix, Francolinus, Galloperdix, Haematortyx, Lerwa, Margaroperdix, Melanoperdix, Ophrysia, Perdicula, Perdix, Ptilopachus, Rhizothera, Rollulus, Tetraogallus Tetraophasis, Xenoperdix
          • Subfamily Phasianinae (Pheasants): Afropavo, Argusianus, Catreus, Chrysolophus, Crossoptilon, Gallus, Ithiginis, Lophophorus, Lophura, Phasianus, Pavo, Polyplectron, Pucrasia, Rheinardia, Syrmaticus, Tragopan.
          • FAMILY MEAGRIDIDAE (SOME SYSTEMS PLACE THESE INTO THE PHASIANIDAE)
          • Turkeys. These birds occur in open woodland habitats from northern Mexico to southern Canada. Turkeys are moderately large birds (0.71-1.10m). Their heads and necks are naked. They have strong legs and usually prefer to run, but they can fly for short distances, followed by a long glide. Turkeys are omnivores. The males are quite distinctive with their large fan-like tail, waddle, and beard. Not migratory.
          • Miocene to the present.
          • Meleagris.
          • FAMILY TETRAONIDAE (SOME SYSTEMS PLACE THESE INTO THE PHASIANIDAE)
          • Grouse. Terrestrial birds of forests in the cold temperate and subarctic habitats of the Northern Hemisphere. Grouse have compact bodies and medium-sized to moderately large birds (0.30-0.90m) with short legs. They generally are terrestrial but can burst into a short flight. Not migratory.
          • Bonasa, Centrocercus, Dendragapus, Falcipennis, Lagopus, Tetrao, Tympanuchus.
          • FAMILY ODONTOPHORIDAE
          • New World Quails. Terrestrial birds of forests and open habitats from the northern US to northern and central South America. Quails are small to medium-sized birds (0.17-0.37m). They have compact bodies and short, strong legs and short wings. They are generally herbovores.
          • Lower Oligocene to the present.
          • Callipepla, Colinus, Cyrtonyx, Dactylortyx, Dendrortyx, Odontophorus, Oreortyx, Philortyx, Rhynchortyx.
          • FAMILY NUMIDIDAE
          • Guinea Fowls. Birds of raiforest to semi-arid habitats in Africa . Guinea Fowl are medium-sized birds (0.40-0.72m). They are characterized by having a rounded body, long neck and small head. Many have a crest on the head and have large naked patches on the head and neck. They are omnivores.
          • Acryllium, Agelastes, Guttera, Numida.
          • FAMILY CRACIDAE
          • Chachalacas, Curassows, and Guans. Arboreal birds of tropical America (South America north to southern Texas ). They are medium-sized to moderately large birds (0.43-090m). They are adapted to perching, and thus have an elongate hind toe. They are generally herbivores and territorial.
          • Middle Eocene to the present.
          • Subfamily Cracinae (Curassows): Crax, Mitu, Nothocrax, Pauxi.
          • Subfamily Penelopinae: Aburria, Chamaepetes, Oreophasis, Ortalis, Penelope, Penelopina, Pipile.
          • FAMILY MEGAPODIIDAE
          • Megapodes. Birds of tropical forests and semi-arid woodlands in Australia , Papua New Guinea , Philippines , and other islands east of the Wallace Line. One occurs in the Orient. Megapodes are medium-sized birds (0.28-0.70m) with naked heads and necks. They have powerful legs and sharp claws with which they construct remarkable incubation mounds in which the eggs are incubated by the heat from rotting vegetation.
          • Aepypodius, Alectura, Eulipoa, Leipoa, Macrocephalon, Megapodius, Talegalla.
          • FAMILY TURNICIDAE
          • Button Quails
          • Turnix
      • NEOAVES
        • COLUMBEA
          • SUPERORDER PHOENICOPTERIMORPHAE
            • ORDER PHOENICOPTERIFORMES
              • FAMILY PHOENICOPTERIDAE
              • Flamingos. Wading birds of hypersaline, alkaline, and coastal lagoons of Central and South America, Africa, southern Eurasia, and southern US. They are moderately large birds (0.80 to 1.45m) with wingspans of 1.5m. They have long legs with a distinctive upside down beak adapted to filter feeding. They inhabit wetlands that are marginal or not possible for most wading birds (too hot, too alkaline, or too saline). They feed on what they can filter out of the bottom mud (e.g. algae and invertebrates).
              • Phoenoconaias, Phoenicoparrus, Phoenocopterus.
            • ORDER PODICEPIDIFORMES
            • Grebes.
              • FAMILY PODICIPEDIDAE
              • Grebes. Waterbirds of temperate inland and coastal marine waters world-wide Similar to loons but with lobed toes. They are medium-sized birds (0.23-0.74m long). They have a pointed bill and reduced tail. The sexes are alike. Diet depends on size of the bird. Larger ones eat fish mainly; smaller species eat a variety of invertebrates and small fish.
              • Aechmophorus, Podiceps, Podilymbus, Poliocephalus, Pollandia, Tachybaptus
          • SUPERORDER COLUMBIMORPHAE
            • ORDER COLUMBIFORMES
              • FAMILY COLUMBIDAE
              • Pigeons and Doves. Terrestrial and arboreal birds with a global distribution, except in the Arctic and Antarctic. Pigeons are small to medium large birds (0.15-0.83m). They have stout beaks with a prominent cere at the base. They eat seeds, fruit, and insects. Some are migratory.
              • Upper Eocene to present
              • Columba, Oena, Streptopelia, Streptopelia, Zenaida.
              • FAMILY RAPHIDAE+
              • Dodo and Solitaires.
              • Pezophaps, Raphus.
            • ORDER MESITORNITHIFORMES
              • FAMILY MESITORNITHIDAE
              • Mesites. A small family of of largely terrestrial birds from Madagascar.
              • Mesitornis, Monias
            • ORDER PTEROCLIDIFORMES
              • FAMILY PTEROCLIDIDAE
              • Sandgrouse. A small family of quail-like birds from Asia and Africa. Typically they are ground-dwelling in open country and occur in large flocks.
              • Pterocles, Syrrhaptes
        • PASSERIA
          • SUPERORDER OTIDIMORPHAE
            • ORDER CUCULIFORMES
              • FAMILY CUCULIDAE
              • Cuckoos. Arboreal and terrestrial birds of all continents except Antarctica. Cuckoos are small to medium-sized birds (0.16-0.70m) that have zygodactyl feet and long tails. Most have sturdy curved beaks with which the eat caterpillars. Some of the ground-dwelling cuckoos (e.g. Roadrunners) eat small snakes and lizards. Temperate species tend to be migratory. Many of the Old World Cuckoos are nest parasites.
              • Lower Eocene
              • Subfamily Centropodinae (Coucals): Centropus.
              • Subfamily Crotophaginae (Anis): Crotophaga, Guira.
              • Subfamily Cuculinae ( Old World Cuckoos): Cacomantis, Caliechthrus, Cercococcyx, Chrysococcyx, Clamator, Cuculus, Eudynamis, Microdynamis, Pachycoccyx, Phamphomantis, Scythrops, Surniculus, Urodynamis.
              • Subfamily Neomorphinae (New World Ground Cuckoos): Dromococcyx, Geococcyx, Neomorphus, Tapera.
              • Subfamily Phaenicophaeinae (New World Cuckoos, Malkohas, and Malagasy Cuckoos): Carpococcyx, Ceuthmochares, Coccyzus, Coua, Dasylophus, Hyetornis, Lepidogrammus, Phaenicophaeus, Piaya, Rhinortha, Rhopodytes, Saurothera, Taccocua, Zanclostomus.
            • ORDER MUSOPHAGIFORMES
            • Paleocene to present
              • FAMILY MUSOPHAGIDAE
              • Turacos.
              • Corythaeola, Corythaixoides, Crinifer, Musophaga, Tauraco.
            • ORDER OTIDIFORMES
              • FAMILY OTIDAE
              • Bustards.
              • Afrotis, Eupodotus, Otis, Lissotis, Lophotis, Neotis, Sypheotides, Tetrax, Ardeotis, Chlamydotis
          • SUPERORDER CAPRIMULGIMORPHAE
            • ORDER CAPRIMULGIFORMES
            • Goatsuckers or Nightbirds.
              • FAMILY CAPRIMULGIDAE
              • Goatsuckers or Nightjars. Nocturnal insectivores that have a global distribution and occur on all continents except Antarctica . They are small to medium-sized birds (0.15-0.40m). They are common in forests, savannas, deserts, and cities. However, they are quite cryptic and usually detected only by their calls (the aerial stunts of Nighthawks are quite obvious, though). They have short legs and short, wide beaks. The toes are slightly webbed and poorly adapted for walking. Most taxa in the temperate zone are migratory.
              • Eocene to present
              • Caprimulgus, Chordeiles, Eleothreptus, Hydropsalis, Lurocalis, Macrodipterix, Macropsalis, Nyctiphrynus, Nyctiprogne, Phalaenoptilus, Podager, Siphonorhis, Uropsalis.
              • FAMILY NYCTIBIIDAE
              • Potoos.
              • Nyctibius.
              • FAMILY PODARGIDAE
              • Frogmouths.
              • Botrachostomus, Podargus.
              • FAMILY STEATORNITHIDAE
              • Oilbirds.
              • Steatornis.
            • ORDER APODIFORMES
            • Eocene to present
              • FAMILY APODIDAE
              • Swifts. Aerial insectivores that occur from deserts to forests on all continental areas south of the northern coniferous forest and north of Antarctica. They are small birds (0.09-0.23m) with relatively long, narrow pointed wings. Their legs are very short as are their beaks (short and wide). Often migratory.
              • Aerodramus, Aeronautes, Apus, Chaetura, Collocalia, Cypseloides, Cypsiurus, Hirundapsis, Hydrochous, Mearnsia, Neafrapus, Panyptila, Rhaphidura, Schoutedenapus, Streptoprocne, Tachornis, Tachymarptis, Telecanthura, Zoonavena.
              • FAMILY HEMIPROCNIDAE
              • Crested Swifts.
              • Hemiprocne.
              • FAMILY TROCHILIDAE.
              • Hummingbirds. Nectar-feeding birds from deserts to forests through most of the Americas. They are very small birds (0.05-0.20m). They have long narrow beaks together with long tongues adapted to lapping nectar from flowers. They can hover and usually have iridescent feathers (at least the males do). Temperate species are migratory.
              • Abeillia, Adelomyia, Agleactis, Aglaiocercus, Amazilia, Anopetia, Anthocephala, Anthracothorax, Aphantochroa, Archilochus, Atthis, Augastes, Basilinna, Calliphlox, Calothorax, Calypte, Campylopterus, Chaetocercus, Chalcostigma, Chalybura, Chlorostilbon, Chrysolampis, Chrysuronia, Clytolaema, Coeligena, Colibri, Cyanophaia, Cynanthus, Damophila, Discosura, Doricha, Doryfera, Elvira, Ensifera, Eriocnemis, Eugenes, Eulampis, Eulidia, Eupetomena, Eupherusa, Eutoxeres, Florisuga, Glaucis, Goethalsia, Goldmania, Haplophaedia, Heliactin, Heliangelus, Heliodoxa, Heliomaster, Heliothryx, Hylocharis, Hylonympha, Klais, Lafresnaya, Lampornis, Lamprolaima, Lepidopyga, Lesbia, Leucippus, Leucochloris, Loddigesia, Lophornis, Mellisuga, Metallura, Microchera, Microstilbon, Myrmia, Myrtis, Ocreatus, Opisthoprora, Oreonympha, Oreotrochilus, Orthorhyncus, Oxypogon, Panterpe, Patagona, Phaethornis, Phlogophilus, Polyonymus, Polytmus, Pterophanes, Ramphodon, Ramphomicron, Rhodopis, Sappho, Schistes, Selasphorus, Sephanoides, Stellula, Stephanoxis, Sternoclyta, Taphrolesbia, Taphrospilus, Thalurania, Thaumastura, Threnetes, Tilmatura, Topaza, Trochilus, Urochroa, Urosticte.
      • INCERTAE SEDIS
        • ORDER OPISTHOCOMIFORMES
        • FAMILY OPISTHOCOMIDAE
        • Hoatzin. This is a medium-sized bird of the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Their young retain claws on their wings. They are herbivores and ferment their food in their crops. The relationships with other bird orders has been contentious. Jarvis et al. (2014) show an equivocal relationship between Caprimulgimorphae and Cursorimorphae.
        • Eocene or Paleocene to the present
        • Opisthocomus
      • SUPERORDER CURSORIMORPHAE
      • The Shorebird Assemblage
        • ORDER GRUIFORMES
          • FAMILY HELIORNITHIDAE
          • Finfoot.
          • Heliopais, Heliornis, Podica.
          • FAMILY ARAMIDAE
          • Limpkin. Wading bird found in freshwater wetlands of temperate South America to Georgia. Limpkins are medium-sized birds (0.56-0.70m) that resemble ibises with straight bills. They have a wingspan of about 1m. They are secretive birds with long legs, long neck, and long drooping beak. They feed mainly on aquatic mollusks, but will eat other invertebrates and small vertebrates. They do not migrate.
          • Aramus.
          • FAMILY GRUIDAE
          • Cranes. Wading birds of all continents except South America and Antarctica. They are moderately large to large (0.90-1.76m) and have wingspans of 1.8-2.2m. They have long legs and long necks. Most of them have elaborate displays. Cranes are opportunistic omnivores. Some species are migratory.
          • Subfamily Balearicinae: Balearica.
          • Subfamily Gruinae: Anthropoides, Bugeranu, Grus.
          • FAMILY PSOPHIIDAE
          • Trumpeters.
          • Psophia.
        • ORDER RALLIFORMES (?)
          • FAMILY RALLIDAE
          • Rails, Crakes, and Coots. Birds of wetlands, but aquatic environments, or terrestrial habitats and with global distribution; absent only from the Arctic and the Antarctic. Small to medium-sized birds (0.13-0.63m). Rails are shy birds with short tails, short wings, and laterally-compressed bodies. Coots have more rounded bodies and tend to be more aquatic. They tend to be omnivores. Many are territorial. Most not migratory.
          • Aenigmatolimnas, Amaurolimnas, Amaurolimnas, Aramides, Aramidopsis, Atlantisia, Canirallus, Coturnicops, Crex, Cynolimnas, Dryolimnas, Eulabeornis, Fulica, Gallinula, Porphyrio, Porphyrula, Porzana, Rallus.
        • ORDER CHARADRIIFORMES shorebirds, gulls, and auks
        • Upper Cretaceous to present
          • FAMILY ROSTRATULIDAE
          • Painted Snipes
          • Nycticryphes, Rostratula.
          • FAMILY HAEMATOPODIDAE
          • Oystercatchers. Shorebirds that are cosmopolitan in coastal areas of the tropics and temperate zones. Oystercatchers are medium-sized birds (0.41-0.51m) that eat mainly pelecypods (bivalve mollusks). They are bulky with long, laterally-compressed reddish beaks that they often use to pry apart clams. The birds are typically black and white. Those in northern temperate areas migrate south.
          • Haematopus.
          • FAMILY RETROCURVIROSTRIDAE
          • Avocets and Stilts. Shorebirds that occur in most tropical and temperate open wetland habitats worldwide. Avocets and stilts are small to medium-sized birds (0.35-0.51m) with relatively long legs. They are wading birds with long thin beaks used to probe and sweep the water in search of invertebrates and small vertebrates.
          • Cladorhynchus, Himantopus, Retrocurvirostra.
          • FAMILY JACANIDAE
          • Jacanas. Shorebirds of wetlands of tropical and subtropical regions globally. Jacanas are small (0.15-0.31m) and have long legs with very long toes with which they can walk on floating vegetation. Their main food items are small invertebrates that they pick from aquatic vegetation. They superficially resemble coots.
          • Actophilornis, Hydrophasianus, Jacana, Metopidius, Microparra.
          • FAMILY DROMADIDAE
          • Crab Plover
          • Dromas.
          • FAMILY BURHINIDAE
          • Stone Curlews or Thick Knees. Birds of arid, open areas mainly in tropical areas of Africa, Eurasia, the Americas and Australia. Thick Knees are small to medium-sized birds (0.33-0.60m). They have a stout bill and long legs with enlarged “knees”, thus the name. Mainly nocturnal, they eat insects but will take a variety of other animals. Most do not migrate.
          • Burhinus, Esacus.
          • FAMILY GLAREOLIDAE
          • Pratincoles and Coursers. Shorebirds of Africa , Australia , and Eurasia . They are small birds (0.13-0.30m) with short necks, relatively short legs, short hooked beaks, and narrow pointed wings. They eat mainly insects, which Pratincoles catch on the wing and Coursers catch while foraging on the ground. Most are long-distance migrators.
          • Cursorius, Glariola, Pulviamus, Rhinoptilus, Stiltia.
          • FAMILY CHARADRIIDAE
          • Plovers and Lapwings. They are shorebirds that are cosmopolitan in distribution. Plovers are small birds (0.12-0.38m). They have rounded heads, thick beaks, and legs that are more medium length than stilt-like. They occur in many open habitats besides coastal or shore areas. They eat a wide variety of invertebrates, on occasion, seeds and berries. Most are migratory.
          • Subfamily Vanellinae (Lapwings):
          • Subfamily Charadriinae (Plovers):
          • Anarhynchus, Chettusia, Chraradrius, Elseyornis, Erythrogonys, Hoplopteris, Oreopholis, Peltohyas, Pluvialis, Thinornis, Vanellus.
          • FAMILY CHIONIDAE
          • Sheathbills and Magellanic Plovers.
          • Chionis, Pluvianellus.
          • FAMILY SCOLOPACIDAE
          • Waders, Sandpipers, and Phalaropes. Shorebirds that occur worldwide in open habitats (arid to wetland), coastal and open ocean. Scolopacids are small to medium-sized birds (0.13-0.66m). Unlike the ploverswith which they bear many similarities, sandpipers, etc. have a hind toe and long slender beaks. Also, there is little or no sexual dimorphism. Most are migratory.
          • Actitis, Aechmorhynchus, Aphriza, Arenaria, Bartramia, Calidris, Catoptrophorus, Coenocorypha, Gallinago, Heteroscelus, Limicola, Lymnocryptes, Limnodromus, Limosa, Numenius, Phalaropus, Philomachus, Prosobonia, Scolopax, Tringa, Tyngites, Xenus.
          • FAMILY LARIDAE
          • Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers. Waterbirds that occur worldwide. They can occur in open sites like fields and garbage dumps. They are small to moderately-large (0.20-0.78m) birds with wingspans that range from0.50 to 1.65m, and they have webbed feet. Gulls, Skuas, and Jaegers are omnivores while terns and skimmers typically catch small fish. Most are migratory.
          • Oligocene to the present.
          • The following subfamilies are elevated to familes in some systems.
          • Subfamily Stercorariinae (Skuas and Jaegers): Catharacta, Stercorarius.
          • Subfamily Larinae (Gulls): Creagus, Larus, Leucophaeus, Pagophila, Rhodostethia, Rissa, Xema.
          • Subfamily Sterninae (Terns): Anous, Childonias, Gelochelidon, Gygis, Larosterna, Phaetusa, Procelsterna, Sterna, Thalasseus.
          • Subfamily Rhynchpinae (Skimmers): Rynchops.
          • FAMILY ALCIDAE
          • Auks. Seabirdsof the temperate and Arctic oceans and seas of the Northern Hemisphere. Auks are small to medium-sized birds (0.15-0.45m) with short necks, tails, and wings. They have webbed feet that are far back on the body. They vary in the forms of their beaks. The murres have long thin beaks while the puffins have a deep beak, both of which are adapted to catching fish. Auklets have short beaks with which they feed on plankton. All of them catch prey by diving and “flying” underwater. They show seasonal movements from breeding grounds to open sea, but no real migration.
          • Aethia, Alca, Alle, Brachyramphus, Cepphus, Cerorhinca, Cyclorhynchus, Fratercula, Pinguinus, Ptychoramphus, Synthiboramphus, Uria.
      • SUPERORDER PHAETHONTIMORPHAE
        • ORDER PHAETHONTIFORMES
          • FAMILY PHAETONTIDAE
          • Tropicbirds. Oceanic birds, often pelagic, in tropical and subtropical oceans. They are medium-sized (0.38-0.50m) seabirds with wingspans of 0.88 – 1.12m. They have a pair of long slender tail feathers (up to 0.55m). Sexes are similar. They feed mainly on squid and flying fish.
          • Eocene to the present.
          • Phaethon.
        • ORDER EURYPIGIFORMES
          • FAMILY EURYPYGIDAE
          • Sunbittern. A bird that resembles a bittern and other shorebirds .in the neotropics
          • Eurypyga.
          • FAMILY RHYNOCHETIDAE
          • Kagu.
          • Rhynochetos.
      • AEQUORNITHIA (THE WATERBIRD ASSEMBLAGE)
      • SUPERORDER GAVIIMORPHAE
        • ORDER GAVIIFORMES
          • FAMILY GAVIIDAE
          • Loons or Divers: Waterbirds of inland and coastal marine waters of the northern holarctic region. They have narrow wings and a body streamlined for swimming underwater. Legs are placed far back on body, which makes them clumsy on land. Sexes are alike. Diet mainly fish.
          • Upper Cretaceous to present
          • Gavia.
      • SUPERORDER PROCELLARIIMORPHAE
        • ORDER PROCELLARIIFORMES
        • Albatrosses and Petrels. The nostrils occur at the ends of tubes on either side of the beak.
        • Eocene to present
          • FAMILY DIOMEDEIDAE
          • Albatrosses. Seabirds that are circumpolar in the Southern Hemisphere and also in the northern Pacific. Very large sea birds (0.71-1.35m) with large wingspans (up to 3.5m) and long sustained gliding flights. Diet mainly squid, but they do take fish and crustaceans. Prey caught at the surface or in shallow dives.
          • Diomedea, Phoebetria, Phoebastria, Thalassarche.
          • FAMILY PROCELLARIIDAE
          • Petrels and Shearwaters. Oceanic birds over all of the oceans. These medium-sized oceanic birds (0.25-1.0m) and with relatively long wingspans (0.7-1.12m). Most live exclusively at sea and come to land only to nest. They eat mainly fish.
          • Oligocene to the present.
          • Bulweria, Calonectris, Daption, Fulmaris, Halobaena, Macronectes, Pachyptila, Pagodroma, Petrodroma, Procellaria, Puffinus, Thalassioca.
          • FAMILY PELECANOIDIDAE
          • Diving Petrels.
          • FAMILY HYDROBATIDAE
          • Storm petrels. These oceanic birds are found over all oceans. They are relatively small (0.12-0.25m). They feed mainly on the wing and eat mainly crustaceans. They dig burrow nests.
          • Hydrobates, Oceanodroma, Oceanites, Pelagodroma
        • ORDER SPHENISCIFORMES
        • Penguins.
        • Eocene to present
          • FAMILY SPHENISCIDAE
          • Penguins. Flightless seabirds adapted to swimming. They occur in waters of the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic with some occurring as far north as the Galapagos. The body is stout and hydrodynamic. The are good swimmers and can move up to 14km/hr in the water. They range in size from 0.40 to 1.15m high. The wings have been modified into flippers that allow them to “fly” through the water. Most are sexually dimorphic. They have a uniform covering of feathers. The feet are webbed and the hind toe is vestigial.
          • Late Eocene to the present.
          • Aptenodytes, Eudyptes, Eudyptula, Megadyptes, Pygoscelis, Spheniscus.
      • SUPERORDER PELICANIMORPHAE
        • ORDER PELICANIFORMES
        • Eocene
          • FAMILY PELICANIDAE
          • Pelicans. Birds of marine, brachish, and freshwater environments. They are large birds (1.05-1.83m) with wingspans of 2-2.7m. Their most distinctive feature is the gular pouch, an expandable pouch on the lower jaw. They eat fish caught in their pouch while swimming or plunge diving.
          • Pelicanus.
          • FAMILY FREGATIDAE
          • Frigate birds or Man o’ War Birds. Birds of the opean oceans over the earth’s tropical oceans. Birds moderately large (0.70-1.14m) and a wingspan of 1.7-2.4m. Their bill is slightly hooked at the tip, the wings are crooked, and long tail is forked. Females have a white breast, and males are all dark. They feed over the open ocean on flying fish, squid, jellyfish, and crustaceans. They nest in colonies.
          • Eocene to the present.
          • Fregata.
          • FAMILY SULIDAE
          • Gannets and Boobies. Oceanic birds that occur from tropical to sub arctic seas. They are moderately large (0.68-1.00m) with wingspans of 1.4 to 1.8m. They can remaim at sea for months while feeding on schooling fish and squid. They have a heavy pointed bill.
          • Morus, Papasula, Sula.
          • FAMILY PHALACROCORACIDAE
          • Cormorants. Marine, brackish, and freshwater birds that occur in coastal waters and in open waters on all continents. They are moderate to large waterbirds (0.45-1.00m) with wingspans of 1.00-1.60m. They look like long dark geese and often are seen holding wing open at their sides to allow them to dry. They eat mainly fish that they catch while diving under water.
          • Nannopterum, Microcarbo (Halietor), Phalacrocorax.
          • FAMILY ANHINGIDAE
          • Darters (Anhingas or Snake Birds). Mainly freshwater birds of the tropics and subtropics. They are medium-sized water birds (0.80-1.00m) with wingspans of 1.1m. They usually sit with the body underwater and only the neck out. They can retract the neck into an s-shape that allows for spear-type fishing while underwater. They eat mainly fish.
          • Pleistocene to the present.
          • Anhinga.
        • ORDER CICONIIFORMES
          • FAMILY CICONIIDAE
          • Storks. Wading birds of shallow aquatic environments on all continents except Antatctica. The birds are moderately large (0.75-1.52m) with wingspans of anut 1.5m. They fly with their legs and necks extended. Their legs are long and their beaks are stout with a curve near the tip. The head and neck is naked. Most are colonial nesters and are migratory.
          • Eocene to present
          • Anastomus, Ciconia, Ephippiorhynchus, Jabaru, Leptoptilos, Mycteria.
          • FAMILY THRESKIORNITHIDAE
          • Ibises and Spoonbills. Wading birds of freshwater, brackish, and coastal marine wetland environments on all continents except Antarctica . They are moderately large (0.45-1.12m) and have a wingspan of 0.91-1.27m. They are adapted to wading with long stilt-like legs and distinctive beaks. Ibises have long curved beaks while spoonbills have flattened bills that function to catch prey as the sweep side to side. Most are migratory.
          • Subfamily Plataleinae (Spoonbills): Ajaia, Platalea.
          • Subfamily Threshkiornithinae (Ibises): Bostrychia, Cercibis, Eudocimus, Geronticus, Lophotibis, Mesembrinibis, Nipponia, Phimosus, Plegadis, Pseudibis, Theristicus, Threskiornis.
          • FAMILY ARDEIDAE
          • Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns. Wading birdsof all continents but Antarctica . They are small to large birds (0.28-1.37m) with long legs and long necks. The wingspan ranges from 43 to 1.82m. Their beaks are long and terminate a relatively small head. Down feathers break down into a powder. They eat primarily fish and invertebrates (some feed mainly on land). Some are migratory.
          • Subfamily Ardeinae (Herons and Egrets): Ardea, Ardeola, Bubulcus, Butroides, Egretta, Gorsachius, Nyctanassa, Nycticorax, Pilherodius, Syrigma.
          • Subfamily Botaurinae (Bitterns): Botaurus, Dupetor, Ixobrychus, Zebrilus.
          • Subfamily Cochlearinae (Boat-Billed Herons): Cochlearius.
          • Subfamily Tigrisomatinae (Tiger Herons): Agamia, Tigrornis, Tigrisoma, Zonerodius.
    • TELLURAVES (THE CORE LAND BIRDS)
      • AFROAVES
        • SUPERORDER ACCIPITRIMORPHAE
          • ORDER ACCIPITRIFORMES
            • FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE
            • Hawks, Eagles, Old World Vultures. Diurnal raptors that occur on all continents except Antarctica. These are small to large birds (0.20-1.50m) with wingspans of 0.58 to 2m. They have hooked, meat-tearing beaks, and they capture prey with their talons in flight, usually after diving on the animal. Prey items include all types of vertebrates and some invertebrates. They will also take carrion. They are territorial and usually solitary. Many are migratory.
            • Eocene to present.
            • Accipiter, Aegypius, Aquila, Asturina, Aviceda, Busarellus, Butaster, Buteo, Buteogallus, Chelictinia, Chondrohierax, Circaetus, Circus, Dryotriorchis, Elanoides, Elanus, Eleaneus, Erythrotriorchis, Eutriorchis, Gampsonyx, Geranospiza, Gypaetus, Gypohierax, Gyps, Haliaeetus, Haliastur, Hamirostra, Harpagus, Harpia, Harpyhaliaetus, Harpyopsis, Henicopernis, Hieraeetus, Ichthyophaga, Ictinaeus, Ictinia, Kaupifalco, Leptodon, Leucopternis, Lophaetus, Lophoictinia, Macheiramphus, Megatriorchis, Melierax, Micronisus, Milvus, Morphnus, Necrosyrtes, Neophron, Oroaetus, Parabuteo, Pernis, Pithecophaga, Polemaetus, Polyboroides, Rostramus, Sarcogyps, Spilornis, Spizaetus, Spizastur, Stephanoaetus, Torgos, Teratopius, Trigonoceps, Urotriorchis.
            • FAMILY PANDIONIDAE (SOME SYSTEMS PLACE THIS AS A SUBFAMILY OF THE ACCIPITRIDAE)
            • Ospreys. Fish-eating birds of shallow waters, freshwater and marine environments of all continents except Antarctica. Ospreys are medium-sized diurnal raptors (0.55-0.58m) that specialize in eating fish. They have a reversible outer toe and spiny foot pads to help grasp fish, which they usually take in an aerial dive.
            • Miocene to the present.
            • Pandion.
            • FAMILY SAGITTARIIDAE (SOME SYSTEMS PLACE THIS AS A SUBFAMILY OF THE ACCIPITRIDAE)
            • Secretarybird. Diurnal raptors of open woodland and savannah in Africa . Secretarybirds are 1.25-1.50m long. They are distinguished by an unmistakable spray of long feather on their heads. They have long stork-like legs and long tails. They seem to hunt in pairs through their territories. They feed on many different kinds of small animals, vertebrates and invertebrates.
            • Middle Oligocene to the present.
            • Sagittarius.
            • FAMILY CATHARTIDAE (SOME SYSTEMS PLACE THIS FAMILY IN THE CICONIIFORMES AND OTHERS PLACE THEM INTO THEIR OWN ORDER, CATHARTIFORMES)
            • New World Vultures and Condors. Scavengers of temperate and tropical North and South America. Moderately large soaring birds (0.55-1.35m) with wingspans of 1.5-2.8m. They have naked heads and necks. Their beaks are adapted for tearing rotten meat. They locate carrion primarily by sense of smell.
            • Paleocene to present
            • Cathartes, Coragyps, Gymnogyps, Sarcoramphus, Vultur.
        • INCERTAE SEDIS
          • ORDER STRIGIFORMES
          • Nocturnal raptors with dish-shaped faces and forward-facing eyes.
          • Paleocene to present
            • FAMILY STRIGIDAE
            • Owls. Nocturnal raptors that occur worldwide except Antarctica. They are small to medium-sized birds with wingspans that range from 0.30 to 1.32m. Many have distinctive ear tufts, flattened faces, and zygodactyl feet. They feed on many different animals that range from invertebrates to vertebrates. Some are migratory.
            • Aegolius, Asio, Athene, Bubo, Ciccaba, Glaucidium, Gymnoglaux, Heteroglaux, Jubula, Ketupa, Lophostrix, Micrathene, Mimizuku, Nesasio, Ninox, Nyctea, Otus, Pseudoscops, Ptilopsis, Pulsatrix, Pyrroglaux, Scleoglaux, Scotopelia, Strix, Surnia, Uroglaux, Xenoglaux.
            • FAMILY TYTONIDAE
            • Barn Owls. Nocturnal raptors that have a global distribution in tropical to cold temperate areas. Barn Owls are small to medium-sized birds (0.23-0.57m) and a wingspan of more than a meter. The face is heart-shaped and flattened such that sound is gathered and aids in directional hearing (the ears are not symmetrical). They have long, sparsely feathered legs. They eat small mammals.
            • Tyto.
        • SUPERORDER CORACIIMORPHAE
          • ORDER PICIFORMES
            • FAMILY PICIDAE
            • Woodpeckers. Arboreal birds of the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa. They are small to medium-sized birds (0.13-0.55m) with zygodactylous feet, a chisel-like beak, a long tongue, and a stiff tail that serves as a brace. They are best known for their ability to drill into wood for insects and to excavate for nest holes. Some are migratory.
            • Miocene to present
            • Subfamily Jynginae (Wrynecks): Jynx.
            • Subfamily Picumninae (Piculets): Neoctites, Picumnus.
            • Subfamily Picinae (Woodpeckers): Campephilus, Celeus, Colaptes, Dendrocopus, Dryocopus, Leuconerpes, Melanerpes, Picoides, Piculus, Picus, Saphyrapicus, Veniliornis, Xiphidiopicus.
            • FAMILY INDICATORIDAE
            • Honeyguides.
            • Indicator, Melichneutes, Melignomon, Prodotiscus.
            • FAMILY RAMPHASTIDAE
            • Barbets and Toucans.
            • Andigena, Aulacorhynchus, Baillonius, Pteroglossus, Ramphastos, Selenidera.
          • ORDER COLIIFORMES mousebirds
          • Eocene to present
            • FAMILY COLIIDAE
            • Colius, Urocolius.
          • ORDER TROGONIFORMES trogons
          • Upper Eocene
            • FAMILY TROGONIDAE
            • Trogons. Arboreal birds that are found in almost all tropical areas except Australasia. They are small to medium-sized birds (0.20-0.41m) short beaks and long squared tails. Their feet are zygodactyl but unlike other such birds in that the inside toe has rotated backwards. They eat insects and fruit.
            • Apaloderma, Euptilotis, Harpactes, Pharomachrus, Priotelus, Trogon.
          • ORDER BUCEROTIFORMES
            • FAMILY BUCEROTIDAE
            • Hornbills. Birds of tropical Asia (to the Philippines and Solomons) and sub-Saharan Africa. These are large birds with a beak that looks like a cow horn. They have long legs and often have a crest on the head. They live in forest and open savannah. Omnivores.
            • Upper Eocene to the present.
            • Subfamily Bucerotinae: (Hornbills): Aceros, Anorrhinus, Anthracoceros, Buceros, Bucorvus, Ceratogymna, Ocyceros, Penelopides, Tockus.
            • Subfamily Bucorvinae (Ground Hornbills): Bucorvus.
          • ORDER LEPTOSOMIFORMES cuckoo roller
            • FAMILY LEPTOSOMIDAE
            • Cuckoo rollers are moderately large forest-dwelling birds (up to 0.5M) and are sexually dimorphic, as least in coloration. They are native to Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. It is a monospecific order.
            • Leptosomus
          • ORDER CORACIIFORMES bee-eaters, rollers, and kingfishers
          • Lower Eocene
            • FAMILY MERMOPIDAE
            • Bee-eaters
            • Meropogon, Merops, Nyctiornis.
            • FAMILY CORACIIDAE
            • Rollers
            • Coracias, Eurystomus.
            • FAMILY ALCEDINIDAE
            • Kingfishers. Distinctive birds with a global distribution, absent only from the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Kingfishers are small to medium-sized birds (0.10-0.45m) with a suite of distinctive characters. They have a syndactylous foot (the outer and middle toes are fused at the base), a large head with a long, stout beak. Most have distinctive color patterns that include a white band on the neck. They inhabit aquatic and forest habitats, but all hunt by diving from a perch to catch fish or other vertebrates.
            • Subfamily Daceloninae (Halcyonidae; Forest Kingfishers): Dacelo, Halcyon, Pelargopsis, Tanysiptera.
            • Subfamily Alcedininae (Old World Fishing Kingfisher): Alcedo, Ceryle, Ceyx, Chloroceryle, Ispidina, Mega
            • Subfamily Cerylinae (New World Kingfishers):
            • Alcedo, Halcyon, Ceryle
            • FAMILY UPUPIDAE
            • Hoopoes. They are terrestrial birds of arid areas of Eurasia and Africa. Hoopoes are small to medium-sized birds with a very distinctive crest and black and white stripes on the wings. They use their long bill to forage for insects. They are migratory.
            • Upupa.
    • AUSTRALAVES
      • INCERTAE SEDIS
        • ORDER CARIAMIFORMES
          • FAMILY CARIAMIDAE
          • Seriemas.
          • Cariama, Chunga.
      • INCERTAE SEDIS
        • ORDER FALCONIFORMES
          • FAMILY FALCONIDAE
          • Falcons. Dirurnal raptors of open habitats (e.g. grasslands, tundra, deserts, tidal flats) on every continent except Antarctica. They are small to medium-sized birds (0.22-0.63m) with wingspans in the range of 0.55 to 1.19m. All have hooked, meat-tearing beaks. Falcons prey on other birds that they often catch in flight. Caracaras are carrion eaters.
          • Subfamily Polyborinae (Caracaras and Forest Falcons): Caracara, Daptrius, Herpetotheres Milvago Phalcoboenus, Polyborus Micrastur.
          • Subfamily Falconinae (Falcons and Falconets): Falco, Ibycter, Microhierax, Polihierax, Spiziapteryx.
      • SUPERORDER PASSERIMORPHAE
        • ORDER PSITTACIFORMES
          • FAMILY PSITTACIDAE
          • Parrots. Arboreal of all tropical regions and southern temperate continents, especially South America. Psittacids are small to moderately large birds (0.10-1.00m). They have a relatively large head with a large hooked beak which has a large cere and a muscular tongue. They have powder down and zygodactyl feet. They eat mainly fruit and seeds. Not usually migratory.
          • Eocene to present
          • Agapornis, Alisteris, Amazona, Anodorhynchus, Aprosmictus, Ara, Aratinga, Barnardius, Bolbopsittacus, Bolborhynchus, Brotogeris, Cacatula, Callocephalon, Calyptorhynchus, Chalcopsitta, Charmosyna,Cornuropsis, Coracopsis, Cyanoliseus, Cyanopsitta, Cyanorhamphus, Cyclopsitta, Deroptyus, Diopsittaca, Eclectus, Enicognathus, Eolophus, Eos, Eunymphicus, Forpus, Geoffroyus, Glossopsitta, Graydidascalus, Guarouba, Hapalopsittaca, Lathamus, Leptosittaca, Loriculus, Lorius, Mascarinus, Melopsitticus, Microspitta, Myiopsitta, Nandayus, Nannopsittaca, Neophema, Neopsephonotus, Noepsittacus, Nestor, Northiella, Nymphicus, Ognorhynchus, Oreopsittacus, Orthopsittaca, Pezoporus, Phygis, Pionites, Pionopsitta, Pionus, Platycercus, Poicephalus, Polytelis, Primolius, Prioniturus, Probosciger, Prosopeia, Psephotus, Pseudeos, Psilopsiagon, Psittacella, Psittacula, Psittaculorostris, Psittacus,Psitteuteles, Psittinus, Psittrichas, Purpureicephalus, Pyrrhura, Rhynchopsitta, Strigops, Tanygnathus, Touit, Trichoglossus, Triclaria, Vini.
        • ORDER PASSERIFORMES thrushes, sparrows, crows, flycatchers, antbirds, etc. (>60% of all living bird species)
        • Upper Oligocene to present
        • THE SUBOSCINES
          • FUNARI
          • FAMILY CONOPOPHAGIDAE
          • Gnateaters.
          • Conophaga.
          • FAMILY DENDROCOLPATIDAE
          • Woodcreepers.
          • Campylorhamphus, Deconychura, Dendrexetastes, Dendrocincla, Dendrocolaptes, Drymornis, Glyphorhynchus, Hylexetastes, Lepidocolaptes, Nasica, Sittasomus, Xiphocolaptes, Xiphorhynchus.
          • FAMILY FORMICARIIDAE
          • Ant Thrushes and Antpittas.
          • Chamaeza, Formicarius, Grallaria, Grallaricula, Hylopezus, Myrmothera, Pittasoma.
          • FAMILY FUNARIIDAE
          • Ovenbirds.
          • Acrobatornis, Anabacerthia, Anabazenops, Ancistrops, Anumbius, Aphrastura, Asthenes, Automolus, Berlepschia, Certhiaxis, Chilia, Cichlocolaptes, Cinclodes, Clibanornis, Coryphistera Cranioleuca, Eremobius, Furnarius, Geositta, Gyalophylax, Heliobletus, Hellmayrea, Hylocryptus, Hyloctistes, Leptasthenura, Limnornis, Lochmias, Margarornis, Megaxenops, Metopothrix, Oreophylax, Phacellodomus, Philydor, Phleocryptes, Premnoplex, Premnornis, Pseudocolaptes, Pseudoseisura, Pygarrhichas, Roraimia, Schizoeaca, Schoeniophylax, Sclerurus, Simoxenops, Siptornis, Siptornopsis, Spartonoica, Sylviorthorhynchus, Synallaxis, Syndactyla, Thripadectes, Thripophaga, Upucerthia, Xenerpestes, Xenops.
          • FAMILY RHINOCRYPTIDAE
          • Tapaculos.
          • Acropternis, Eugralla, Liosceles, Melanopareia, Merulaxis, Myornis, Psilorhamphus, Pteroptochos, Rhinocrypta, Scelorchilus, Scytalopus, Teledromas.
          • FAMILY THAMNOPHILIDAE
          • Antbirds.
          • Batara, Biatas, Cercomacra, Clytoctantes, Cymbilaimus, Dichrozona, Drymophila, Dysithamnus, Formicivora, Frederickena, Gymnocichla, Gymnopithys, Herpsilochmus, Hylophylax, Hypocnemis, Hypocnemoides, Hypoedaleus, Mackenziaena, Megastictus, Microrhopias, Myrmeciza, Myrmoborus, Myrmochanes, Myrmorchilus, Myrmornis, Myrmotherula, Neoctantes, Percnostola, Phaenostictus, Phlegopsis, Pithys, Pygiptila, Pyriglena, Rhegmatorhina, Rhopornis, Sakesphorus, Schistocichla, Sclateria, Skutchia, Stymphalornis, Taraba, Terenura, Thamnistes, Thamnomanes, Thamnophilus, Xenornis.
        • TYRANNI
        • FAMILY COTINGIDAE
        • Cotingas and Becards.
        • Ampelioides, Ampelion, Calyptura, Carpodectes, Carpornis, Cephalopterus, Conioptilon, Cotinga, Doliornis, Gymnoderus, Haematoderus, Iodopleura, Laniisoma, Laniocera, Lipaugus, Oxyruncus, Pachyramphus, Perissocephalus, Phibalura, Phoenicircus, Phytotoma, Pipreola, Piprites, Porphyrolaema, Procnias, Pyroderus, Querula, Rupicola, Schiffornis, Snowornis, Tijuca, Tityra, Xenopsaris, Xipholena, Zaratornis.
        • FAMILY PIPRIDAE
        • Manakins.
        • Antilophia, Chiroxiphia, Corapipo, Heterocercus, Ilicura, Lepidothrix, Machaeropterus, Manacus, Masius, Neopelma, Pipra, Tyranneutes, Xenopipo.
        • FAMILY TYRANNIDAE
        • Tyrant or New World Flycatchers. Birds of grasslands, marshes, savannas, open woodlands, often at the edges of habitats. They occur throughout the world and common in North America. They are small birds (9-28cm), many of which are cryptic species. They eat insects which they often catch on the wing, in addition to fruit. Those of temperate zones are migratory.
        • Agriornis, Alectrurus, Anairetes, Aphanotriccus, Arundinicola, Atalotriccus, Attila, Camptostoma, Capsiempis, Casiornis, Cnemarchus, Cnemotriccus, Cnipodectes, Colonia, Colorhampfus, Conopias, Contopus, Corythopis, Culicivora, Elaenia, Empidonax, Empidonomus, Euscarthmus, Fluvicola, Griseotyrannus, Gubernetes, Hemitriccus, Hirundinea, Hymenops, Inezia, Knipolegus, Laniocera, Lathrotriccus, Legatus, Leptopogon, Lophotriccus, Machetornis, Mecocerculus, Megarynchus, Mionectes, Mitrephanes, Muscigralla, Muscipipra, Muscisaxicola, Myiarchus, Myiobius, Myiodynastes, Myiopagis, Myiophobus, Myiornis, Myiotheretes, Myiotriccus, Myiozetetes, Neopipo, Neoxolmis, Ochthoeca, Ochthornis, Oncostoma, Onchorhynchus, Ornithion, Pachyramphus, Phaeomyias, Phelpsia, Philohydor, Phyllomyias, Phylloscartes, Pitangus, Platyrinchus, Poecilotriccus, Polioxolmis, Polystictus, Pseudelaenia, Pseudocolopteryx, Pseudotriccus, Pyrocephalus, Pyrrhomyias, Ramphotrigon, Rhynchocyclus, Rhytipterna, Satrapa, Sayornis, Serpophaga, Sirystes, Stigmatura, Sublegatus, Suiriri, Tachuris, Taeniotriccus, Terenotriccus, Tityra, Todirostrum, Tolmomyias, Tumbezia, Tyrannopsis, Tyrannulus, Tyrannus, Xenopsaris, Xolmis, Zimmerius.
        • EURYLAIMI
        • FAMILY EURYLAIMIDAE
        • Broadbills.
        • Calyptomena, Corydon, Cymbirhynchus, Eurylaimus, Psarisomus, Pseudocalyptomena, Sarcophanops, Serilophus, Smithornis.
        • FAMILY PHILEPITTIDAE
        • Asities.
        • Neodrepanis, Philepitta.
        • FAMILY PITTIDAE
        • Pittas.
        • Pitta.
        • FAMILY SAPAYOAIDAE
        • Sapayao
        • Sapayoa.
        • FAMILY ACANTHIZIDAE
        • Australian Warblers
        • Acanthiza, Acanthornis, Aphelocephala, Calamanthus, Crateroscelis, Finschia, Gerygone, Mohoua, Oreoscopus, Origma, Pycnoptilus, Pyrrholaemus, Sericornis, Smicrornis.
        • FAMILY CALLAEATIDAE
        • Wattle Birds and Wattle Crows.
        • Callaeas, Heteralocha, Philesturnus.
        • FAMILY CLIMACTERIDAE
        • Australian Treecreepers.
        • Climacteris, Cormobates.
        • FAMILY CNEMOPHILIDAE
        • Satin Birds.
        • Cnemophilus, Loboparadisea.
        • THE OSCINES
        • COROVOIDEA
        • FAMILY AEGITHINIDAE
        • Ioras.
        • Aegithina.
        • FAMILY ARTAMIDAE
        • Wood Swallows.
        • Artamus.
        • FAMILY CAMPEPHAGIDAE
        • Cuckoo Shrikes.
        • Campephaga, Campochaera, Coracina, Hemipus, Lalage, Lobotos, Pericrocotus.
        • FAMILY CINCLOSOMATIDAE
        • Quail Thrushes, Whipbirds, and Rail Babblers.
        • Cinclosoma.
        • FAMILY COLLURICINCLIDAE
        • Shrike Thrushes.
        • Colluricincula, Oreoica, Pitohui.
        • FAMILY CORCORACIDAE
        • Australian Mudnesters
        • Corcorax, Struthidea.
        • FAMILY CORVIDAE
        • Crows, Jays, Magpies, Coughs, Jackdaws, and Ravens. They occur in almost all terrestrial habitats and fount the world over except Antarctica. Crows are small to moderately large birds (19-70cm) and have wingspans that range from90-135cm. They have bristle-like feathers that cover their nostrils. Corvids generally are gregarious and feed on a wide range of foods: mast, insects, carrion, fruit, seeds. Most are not migratory.
        • Aphelocoma, Calocitta, Cissa, Corvus, Crypsirina, Cyanocitta, Cyanocorax, Cyanolyca, Cyanopica, Dendrocitta, Garrulus, Gymnorhinus, Nucifraga, Perisoreus, Pica, Platylophus, Platysmurus, Podoces, Pseudopodoces, Ptilostomus, Pyrrhocorax, Temnurus, Urocissa, Zavattariornis.
        • FAMILY CRACTICIDAE
        • Australian Butcherbirds.
        • Cracticus, Gymnorhina, Peltops, Strepera.
        • FAMILY DICTURIDAE
        • Drongos.
        • Chaetorhynchus, Dicrurus.
        • FAMILY EUPETIDAE
        • Whipbirds, Wedgebills, and Jewelbabblers.
        • Androphobus, Eupetes, Psophodes, Ptilorrhoa.
        • FAMILY LANIIDAE
        • Shrikes. They are predators in open countryside and open woodlands in Eurasia, Africa, and North America. Shrilkes are small to medium-sized birds (15-31cm) that have characteristic hooked beaks. Their signature is to leave small animals (insects, mammals, reptiles, etc) impaled on thorns or barbed wire. Species of temperate and subarctic zones are migratory.
        • Corvinella, Eurocephalus, Lanius, Urolestes.
        • FAMILY MACHAERIRHYNCHIDAE
        • Boatbills.
        • Machaerirhynchus.
        • FAMILY MALACONOTIDAE
        • Bush Shrikes.
        • Bocagia, Chlorophoneus, Dryoscopus, Laniarius, Malaconotus, Nilaus, Prionops, Rhodophoneus, Tchagra, Telophorus.
        • FAMILY MELANOCHARITIDAE
        • Berrypeckers.
        • Melanocharis, Oedistoma, Oreocharis, Paramythia, Rhamphocharis, Toxorhamphus.
        • FAMILY MONARCHIDAE
        • Monarch Flycatchers.
        • Arses, Chasiempis, Clytorhynchus, Eutrichomyias, Grallina, Hypothymis, Lamprolia, Mayrornis, Metabolus, Monarcha, Myiagra, Neolalage, Pomarea, Terpsiphone, Trochocercus.
        • FAMILY NEOSITTIDAE
        • Sitellas.
        • Daphoenositta.
        • FAMILY ORIOLIDAE
        • Old World Orioles.
        • Oriolus, Sphecotheres.
        • FAMILY PACHYCEPHALIDAE
        • Thickheads.
        • Aleadryas, Coracornis, Hylocitrea, Pachycare, Pachycephala, Rhagologus, Turnagra.
        • FAMILY PARADISAEIDAE
        • Birds-of-Paradise.
        • Astrapia, Cincinnurus, Diphyllodes, Drepanornis, Epimachus, Lophorina, Lycocorax, Manucordia, Paradigalla, Paradisaea, Parotia, Phonygammus, Pteridophora, Ptiloris, Seleucidis, Semioptera.
        • FAMILY PITRIASIDAE
        • Bristlehead.
        • Pitriasis.
        • FAMILY PLATYSTEIRIDAE
        • Batis, Shrike Flycatchers, and Wattle-eyes.
        • Batis, Bias, Dyphorophyia, Lanioturdus, Megabyas, Platysteira.
        • FAMILY RHIPIDURIDAE
        • Fantails.
        • Rhipidura.
        • FAMILY VANGIDAE
        • Vangas.
        • Artamella, Calicalicus, Cyanolanius, Euryceros, Falculea, Hypositta, Leptopterus, Mystacornis, Newtonia, Oriolia, Pseudobias, Schetba, Tylas, Vanga, Xenopirostris.
        • FAMILY VIREONIDAE
        • Vireos. They occur in forests and thickets, particularly those of deciduous plants intropical North and South America, some as far north as Canada. Vireos are small birds (10-18cm) with slightly hooked beaks. They eat insects, fruit, and seeds. Some, especially the temperate species, are migratory.
        • Cyclarhis, Hylophilus, Vireo, Vireolanius.
        • FAMILY DASYORNITHIDAE
        • Bristlebirds.
        • Dasyornis.
        • MELIPHAGOIDEA
        • FAMILY MALURIDAE
        • Australian Fairy Wrens.
        • Amytornis, Clytomyias, Malurus, Sipodotus, Stipiturus.
        • FAMILY MELIPHAGIDAE
        • Honeyeaters.
        • Acanthagenys, Acanthorhynchus, Anthochaera, Anthornis, Ashbyia, Certhionyx, Chaetoptila, Conopophila, Entomyzon, Epthianura, Foulehaio, Glycifohia, Glyciphila, Grantiella, Guadalcanaria, Gymnomyza, Lichenostomus, Lichmera, Macgregoria, Manorina, Meliarchus, Melidectes, Melilestes, Meliphaga, Melipotes, Melithreptus, Melitograis, Moho, Myza, Myzomela, Notiomystis, Oreornis, Philemon, Phylidonyris, Plectorhyncha, Prosthemadera, Ptiloprora, Pycnopygius, Ramsayornis, Stresemannia, Timeliopsis, Trichodere, Xanthomyza, Xanthotis.
        • FAMILY PARDALOTIDAE
        • Australian Warblers.
        • Pardalotus.
        • MENURAE
        • FAMILY ATRICHORNITHIDAE
        • Scrub-Birds.
        • Atrichornis.
        • FAMILY MENURIDAE
        • Lyrebirds.
        • Menura.
        • FAMILY ORTHONYCHIDAE
        • Logrunners and Chowchillas.
        • Orthonyx.
        • PASSERIDA
        • FAMILY DULIDAE
        • Palmchats.
        • Dulus.
        • MUSCICAPOIDEA
        • FAMILY BOMBYCILLIDAE
        • Waxwings. They occur in woodlands of the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. They are small birds (15-21cm) with stout, wide beaks and crests. They are distinctive upright gregarious birds that feed primarily on berries. They are migratory.
        • Bombycilla.
        • FAMILY PTILOGONATIDAE
        • Silky Flycatchers. They occur in open woodlands of tropical and subtropical North and Central America. They are small birds (16-24cm) that feed on insects (caught in flight) and berries. They tend to be crested like the waxwings with which they are often united. They are not migratory but move in flocks according to the availability of food.
        • Hypocolius, Phainopepla, Ptilogonys. Pycnonotus.
        • FAMILY CERTHIIDAE
        • Wallcreepers, Penduline Tits. They occur in mature forests that contain conifers in the Northern Hemisphere. They are small birds (12-18cm) and are often seen climbing up tree trunks and limbs. They have characteristic curved beaks that they use to pick insects from bark. They also eat nuts, seeds and other invertebrates. Northern-most are partly migratory.
        • Certhia, Salpornis.
        • FAMILY CINCLIDAE
        • Dippers. They are semi-aquatic birds of Eurasia, northern Africa, North America, and South America. They are moderately small birds (14-20cm) that can walk and feed underwater. They eat mainly aquatic insects and other small animals. They are generally not migratory.
        • Cinclus.
        • FAMILY MIMIDAE
        • Thrashers and Mockingbirds. They occur in open habitats from desert to shrublands of the Americas. They are medium-sized birds (19-30cm). They feed on the ground where they pick insects and other arthropods as well as fruit. They usually have an erect stance and long tails. Many have down-curved beaks. Many are migratory.
        • Allenia, Cinclothera, Dumetella, Margarops, Melanoptila, Melanotis, Mimodes, Mimus, Nesosomimus, Oreoscoptes, Ramphocinclus, Toxostoma.
        • FAMILY MUSCICAPIDAE
        • Old World Flycatchers. They occur in woodland habitats of Eurasia to Indonesia and Africa. They are small birds (11-15cm) that usually catch insects on the wing. They also eat berries and other fruit. Temperate species are migratory.
        • Campicoloides, Cercomela, Cercotrichas, Chaimarrornis, Cichladusa, Cinclidium, Copsychus, Cossypha, Cossyphicula, Culicicapa, Cyanoptila, Cyornis, Empidornis, Enicurus, Erithacus, Eumyias, Ficedula, Fraseria, Grandala, Hodgsonius, Humblotia, Irania, Luscinia, Melaenornis, Monticola, Muscicapa, Muscicapella, Myiomela, Myioparus, Myrmecocichla, Namibornis, Niltava, Oenanthe, Phoenicurus, Pinarornis, Pogonocichla, Pseudocossyphus, Rhinomyias, Rhyacornis, Saxicola, Saxicoloides, Sheppardia, Stenostira, Stiphrornis, Swynnertonia, Thamnolaea, Trichixos, Xenocopsychus.
        • FAMILY POLIOPTILIDAE
        • Gnatcatchers.
        • Microbates, Polioptila, Ramphocaenus.
        • FAMILY REGULIDAE
        • Kinglets. They occur in the boreal coniferous forest of the Northern Hemisphere, but can be found in other habitats in winter quarters and during migrations (southern Eurasia, and Central America). They are small birds (8-11cm). They glean arthropods from the bark of trees, but will eat sap and fruit. Northern populations migratory.
        • Regulus.
        • FAMILY RHABDORNITHIDAE
        • Philippine Creepers.
        • Rhabdornis.
        • FAMILY SITTIDAE
        • Nuthatches. They occur in woodlands of the Northern Hemisphere. Nuthatches are small birds (10-19cm) and have a characteristic behavior of climbing down tree trunks head-first. They eat insects and other invertebrates as well as nuts and seeds, which they cashe in the Fall. They are hole nesters and most are not migratory.
        • Sitta, Tichodroma.
        • FAMILY STURNIDAE
        • Starlings, Old World Grackles, and Mynas. They usually occur in open areas and are very successful in association with human-generated landscapes. Their natural range is Eurasia to Africa, but they have been introduced to much of the rest of the world, including North America. They are small to medium-sized birds (15-43cm) and usually have an iridescent sheen to their feathers. They feed on the ground and are omnivores (invertebrates, fruit, seeds, etc.). Many are hole nesters and usually not migratory.
        • Acridotheres, Ampeliceps, Aplonis, Basilornis, Buphagus, Cinnyricinclus, Creatophora, Enodes, Fregilupus, Gracula, Grafisia, Lamprotornis, Leucospar, Mino, Neocicla, Onychognathus, Pholia, Poeoptera, Sarcops, Saroglossa, Scissirostrum, Speculipastor, Spreo, Streptocitta, Sturnus.
        • FAMILY TROGLODYTIDAE
        • Wrens. They occur in shrubby and undergrowth habitats from forests to desterts of the Western Hemisphere, Eurasia, northern Africa. They are smallbirds (9-22cm) and very active. They feed on insects almost exclusively. Northern species are migratory.
        • Campylorhynchus, Catherpes, Cinnycerthia, Cistothorus, Cyphorhinus, Ferminia, Henicorhina, Hylochilus, Microcerculus, Odontorchilus, Salpinctes, Thryomanes, Thryomanes, Thryochilus, Thryothorus, Troglodytes, Uropsila.
        • PASSEROIDEA
        • Unassigned Taxa
        • Tanagers, Euphonias, Chlorophonias.
        • Calyptophilus, Catamblyrhynchus, Chlorophonia, Chlorospingus, Chlorothraupis, Euphonia, Habia, Nesospingus, Phaenicophilus, Piarnga, Rhodinocichla, Spindalis.
        • White-Winged Warblers and Chats
        • Philentoma, Tephrodornis.
        • FAMILY CARDINALIDAE
        • Cardinals and Grosbeaks. They occur in open habitats of the Americas. They are small to medium-sized birds (11-28cm) with short, very stout beaks. They exhibit strong sexual dimorphism. They feed primarily on seeds, but will eat insects, buds, and flowers, which they pick from the plants or the ground. Temperate zone inhabitants are migratory.
        • Cardinalis, Caryothraustes, Cyanocompsa, Cyanoloxia, Parkerthraustes, Passerina, Periporphyrus, Pheucticus, Rhodothraupis, Saltator, Spiza.
        • FAMILY CHLOROPSEIDAE
        • Leafbirds.
        • Chloropsis.
        • FAMILY COEREBIDAE
        • Bananaquits. They occur in woodlands of the Caribbean islands, Central America, and northern South America. They are small birds (10-13cm) that specialize on eating nectar, but they will take insects, and fruit. It often robs nectar by cutting a hole at the base of large flowers thus bypassing pollination. They do not migrate.
        • Coereba.
        • FAMILY DICAEIDAE
        • Flowerpeckers.
        • Dicaeum.
        • FAMILY EMBERIZIDAE
        • Buntings and American Sparrows. They occur in open habitats of all continents except Australia and Antarctica. They are small to medium-sized birds (10-24cm) that forage mostly on the ground where they feed on insects and seeds. They have relatively short, stout beaks. Most are migratory.
        • Acanthidops, Aimophila, Amaurospiza, Ammodramus, Amphispiza, Arremon, Arremonops, Atlapetes, Buarremon, Calamospiza, Calcarius, Camarhynchus, Catamenia, Certhidea, Charitospiza, Chondestes, Coryphaspiza, Coryphospingus, Diuca, Dolospingus, Donacospiza, Emberiza, Emberizoides, Embernagra, Euneornis, Geospiza, Gubernatrix, Haplospiza, Idiopsar, Incaspiza, Junco, Latoucheornis, Lophospingus, Loxigilla, Loxipasser, Lysurus, Melanodera, Melanospiza, Melophus, Melopyrrha, Melospiza, Melozone, Myospiza, Nesospiza, Oreothraupis, Oriturus, Oryzoborus, Paroaria, Passerculus, Passerella, Pezopetes, Phrygilus, Piezorhina, Pinaroloxias, Pipilo, Plectrophenax, Pooecetes, Poospiza, Porphyrospiza, Pselliophorus, Rhodospingus, Rowettia, Saltatricula, Sicalis, Spizella, Sporophila, Tiaris, Torreornis, Urothraupis, Volatinia, Xenospingus, Xenospiza, Zonotrichia.
        • FAMILY ESTRILDIDAE
        • Waxbills
        • Amadina, Amandava, Clytospiza, Emblema, Eurythrura, Estrilda, Euschistospiza, Heteromunia, Hypargos, Lagonosticta, Lonchura, Mandigoa, Neochmia, Nesocharis, Nigrita, Oreostruthus, Ortygospiza, Parmoptila, Poephila, Pyrenestes, Pytilia, Spermophaga, Stagonopleura, Taeniopygia, Uraeginthus.
        • FAMILY FRINGILLIDAE
        • Finches, Serins, Linnets, Redpolls, Siskins, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Grosbeaks, Desert Finches, Rosefinches, Crossbills. They occur in they occur through the Americas, Eurasia (except southern India), Africa (not Madagascar), and the islands of the Pacific. They are small to medium-sized birds (10-25cm) that have short stout beaks. They show sexual dimorphism and have very complex songs. They eat seeds, though some take insects and even nectar. Many are migratory.
        • Bucanetes, Callacanthis, Carduelis, Carpodacus, Chaunoproctus, Chloridops, Ciridops, Coccothraustes, Drepanis, Dysmorodrepanis, Eophona, Fringilla, Haematospiza, Hemignathus, Hesperiphona, Himatione, Kozlowia, Leucosticte, Linurgus, Loxia, Loxioides, Loxops, Melamprosops, Mycerobas, Neospiza, Oreomystis, Palmeria, Paroreomyza, Pinicola, Pseudonestor, Psittirostra, Pyrrhoplectes, Pyrrhula, Rhodacanthis, Rhodopechys, Rhodospiza, Rhynchostruthus, Serinus, Telespyza, Uragus, Urocynchramus, Vestiaria.
        • FAMILY ICTERIDAE
        • Blackbirds and New World Orioles. They occur in open habitats (open forests to marshes to grasslands) of the Americas. They are small to moderately large birds (14-45cm) with long pointed beaks. They feed on insects mainly but also eat fruit and seeds. Temperate zone species are migratory.
        • Agelaioides, Agelaius, Amblyramphus, Cacicus, Chrysosomus, Curaeus, Dives, Dolichonyx, Euphagus, Gnorimospar, Gymnomystax, Hypopyrrhus, Icterus, Lamprospar, Macroagelaius, Molothrus, Nesopsar, Ocyalus, Oreopsar, Psarocolius, Pseudoleistes, Quiscalus, Sturnella, Xanthocephalus, Xanthopsar.
        • FAMILY IRENIDAE
        • Fairy Bluebirds.
        • Irena.
        • FAMILY MOTACILLIDAE
        • Pipits and Wagtails. They are birds of open habitats (terrestrial and water-edge habitats) with a global distribution (even in the sub-Antarctic). They are small birds (14-21cm) that catch invertebrates on the ground and near water. Wagtails have the conspicuous behavior of wagging their long tails up and down, a characteristic shares with many unrelated open ground foragers. Many are migratory.
        • Anthus, Dendronanthus, Macronyx, Motacilla, Tmetothylacus.
        • FAMILY NECTARINIDAE
        • Sunbirds
        • Aeothopyga, Anabathmis, Anthobaphes, Anthreptes, Arachnothera, Chalcomitra, Chalcoparia, Cinnyris, Cyanomitra, Deleornis, Drepanorhynchus, Dreptes, Hedydipna, Hypogramma, Leptocoma, Nectarinia.
        • FAMILY PARULIDAE
        • Wood Warblers. They occur in forests, marshes, and open shrublands of the Americas (tropical through temperate environments). They are small birds (9.5-19cm) that are usually brightly colored and very active. The beaks are typically thin and short. They catch insects on leaves and bark of trees. They sometimes eat fruit and nectar. They are migratory.
        • Basileuterus, Cardellina, Catharopeza, Dendroica, Ergaticus, Euthlypis, Geothlypis, Helmitheros, Icteria, Leucopeza, Limnothlypis, Microligea, Mniotilta, Myioborus, Oporornis, Parula, Phaeothlypis, Protonotaria, Seiurus, Setophaga, Teretistris, Vermivora, Wilsonia, Zeledonia,
        • FAMILY PASSERIDAE
        • Old World Sparrows. They occur in arid regions , but many have adapted well to human landscapes and cities. They occur in Eurasia and Africa, but have been introduced almost everywhere else. They are small birds (10-18cm) with relatively simple songs. They have short stout beaks that they us for feeding on seeds, but they will eat fruits and insects also. Most are gregarious and not migratory.
        • Carpospiza, Gymnornis, Histurgops, Montifringilla, Onychostruthus, Passer, Petronia, Philetairus, Plocepasser, Pseudonigrita, Pyrgilauda.
        • FAMILY PEUCEDRAMIDAE
        • Olive Warblers. They occur in upland conifer forest habitats of Central America northward to the southwestern US. They are small birds (13-14cm) that feed in conifers where they pick insects. They are placed with the American Wood Warblers in some systems. Olive Warblers are not migratory.
        • Peucedramus.
        • FAMILY PLOCEIDAE
        • Weaver Finches.
        • Amblyospiza, Anaplectes, Brachycope, Bubalornis, Dinemellia, Euplectes, Foudia, Malimbus, Ploceus, Quelea, Sporopipes.
        • FAMILY PROMEROPIDAE
        • Sugarbirds.
        • Promerops.
        • FAMILY PRUNELLIDAE
        • Accentors. Sparrow-like birds that occur in mostly open or edge habitats (some to high altitudes; and many in association with human landscapes) of Eurasia. They are small birds (15-18cm) with characteristic beaks that are broad at the base and sharp-pointed at the tip, which they use for foraging on the ground (insects, fruit, seeds). Some are migratory.
        • Prunella.
        • FAMILY THRAUPIDAE
        • Tanagers. They occur in forests world-wide. They are small to medium-sized birds (10-30cm) and tend to have stout beaks. They mainly feed on insects which they pick from vegetation, but they can catch them in flight. They will also take fruit. Temperate zone inhabitants are migratory.
        • Anisognathus, Bangsia, Buthraupis, Calochaetes, Chlorochrysa, Chlorophanes, Chlorornis, Chrysothlypis, Cissopis, Cnemoscopus, Compsothraupis, Conirostrum, Conothraupis, Creurgops, Cyanerpes, Cyanicterus, Cypsnagra, Dacnis, Delothraupis, Diglossa, Dubusia, Eucometis, Hemispingus, Hemithraupis, Heterospingus, Iridophanes, Iridosornis, Lamprospiza, Lanio, Mitrospingus, Nemosia, Neothraupis, Nephelornis, Orchesticus, Oreomanes, Orthogonys, Pipraeidea, Pyrrhocoma, Ramphocelus, Schistochlamys, Sericossypha, Stephanophorus, Tachyphonus, Tangara, Tersina, Thlypopsis, Thraupis, Trichothraupis, Wetmorethraupis, Xenodacnis.
        • FAMILY TURDIDAE
        • Robins, Chats, Redstarts, Wheatears, Rock Thrushes, Thrushes. They occur in woodlands of all continents (except Antarctica). They are small to medium-sized birds (12-33cm) with a characteristic upright posture and hopping gait. Their beaks are straight; many are migratory.
        • Alethe, Brachypteryx, Cataponera, Catharus, Chlamydochaera, Cichlherminia, Cichlopsis, Cochoa, Entomodestes, Geomalia, Heinrichia, Hylocichla, Ixoreus, Myadestes, Myophonus, Neocossyphus, Nesocichla, Platycichla, Psophocichla, Ridgwayia, Sialia, Stizorhina, Turdus, Zoothera.
        • FAMILY VIDUIDAE
        • Vidua Finches and Wydahs.
        • Anomalospiza, Vidua.
        • SYLVOIDEA
        • Unassigned Genera
        • Nictators, African Flycatchers.
        • Elminia, Erythrocercus, Neolestes, Nicator.
        • Tailorbirds, Jerys.
        • Artistornis, Neomixis, Orthotomus, Poliolais.
        • Myzornis, Malia, Spot-Throat.
        • Chaetops, Horizorhinus, Malia, Modulatrix, Myzornis.
        • FAMILY AEGITHALIDAE
        • Long-tailed Tit. They occur in open areas (open woodlands and shrublands) worldwide, but only 1 species breeds in the US. They are small birds (8-16cm) with very small beaks. They feed primarily on insects. They build pendulous nests and most are not migratory.
        • Aegithalos, Leptopoecile, Psaltria.
        • FAMILY ALAUDIDAE
        • Larks. They occur in open habitats of Africa and Eurasia (1 species occurs in North America). Larks are small to medium-sized birds (10-23cm) with a very long hind claw. Their food consists of seeds and insects that they generally catch on the ground, or dig from the ground. Northern individuals migrate.
        • Alaemon, Alauda, Ammomanes, Calandrella, Certhilauda, Chersomanes, Chersophilus, Eremalauda, Eremophila, Eremopterix, Galerida, Lullula, Melanocorypha, Mirafra, Pinarocorys, Pseudalaemon, Ramphocoris, Spizocorys.
        • FAMILY CISTICOLIDAE
        • Forest Warblers and Grass Warblers.
        • Apalis, Calamonastes, Camaroptera, Cisticola, Drymocichla, Eminia, Euryptila, Heliolais, Hypergerus, Incana, Malcorus, Oreophilais, Phragmacia, Phyllolais, Prinia, Rhopophilus, Schistolais, Scotocerca, Spiloptila, Urolais, Urorhipis.
        • FAMILY HIRUNDINIDAE
        • Swallows and Martins. They occur in open habitats, usually near water on all continents in the tropical and temperate regions. They are small to medium sized birds (10-20cm) that feed on insects taken on the wing. Many are migratory.
        • Alopochelidon, Atticora, Cecropis, Chermamoeca, Delichon, Haplochelidon, Hirundo, Neochelidon, Notiochelidon, Petrochelidon, Phedina, Progne, Psalidoprocne, Pseudochelidon, Ptyonoprogne, Pygochelidon, Riparia, Stelgidopteryx, Tachycineta.
        • FAMILY PARIDAE
        • Chickadees and Titmice. They occur in woodlands (and wooded suburban areas) of the Northern Hemisphere and Africa. They are small (10-15cm) and noisy members of the woodland. They eat almost anything from insects to seeds to fruit. They are hole nesters and usually do not migrate.
        • Melanochlora, Parus, Sylviparus.
        • FAMILY PYCNONOTIDAE
        • Bulbuls. They occur in forests to open habitatas from Eurasia, Africa, Madagascar (and an introduced species in Florida). They are small to medium-sized birds (14-28cm) and weak fliers. They feed mainly on fruits, insects, seeds, buds, nectar, and other plant parts. Most do not migrate.
        • Acritillas, Andropadus, Baeopogon, Bleda, Calyptocichla, Cerasophila, Chlorocichla, Criniger, Hemixos, Hypsipetes, Iole, Ixonotus, Ixos, Microscelis, Phyllastrephus, Pycnonotus, Pyrrhurus, Setornis, Spizixos, Thapsinillas, Thescelocichla, Tricholestes.
        • FAMILY REMIZIDAE
        • Penduline Tits. They occur in arid habitats of Eurasia, Africa, and North America. They are small birds (7.5-11cm) with discinctive high-pitched calls. They generally feed on insects, but also eat nectar, berries, and other plant parts. Species on the temperate zone are migratory.
        • Anthoscopus, Auriparus, Cephalopyrus, Pholidornis, Remiz.
        • FAMILY SYLVIIDAE
        • Locustellas, Reed Warblers, Hippolais, Sylvias, Leaf Warblers. They occur in habitats ranging from arid environments to forests to subarctic shrublands inEurasia, Africa, Australia, and North America. They are small birds (9-20cm) that are generally active. They feed mainly on insects that they pick off of plants or catch in flight. Some are migratory.
        • Unassigned Genera (Longbills, Hyliotas, and Tetrakas): Amaurocichla, Bernieria, Crossleyia, Cryptosylvicola, Hartertula, Hylia, Hyliota, Macrosphenus, Oxylabes, Randia, Thamnornis, Xanthomixis.
        • Subfamily Acrocephalinae (Bush Warblers, Tesias, and Reed Warblers): Acrocephalus, Bathmocercus, Bradypterus, Cettia, Chloropeta, Dromaeocercus, Elaphrornis, Hemitesia, Hippolais, Iduna, Locustella, Melocichla, Nesillas, Oligura, Phragmaticola, Sphenoeacus, Tesia, Urosphena.
        • Subfamily Megalurinae (Grassbirds and Grass Warblers): Amphilais, Buettikoferella, Chaetornis, Cincloramphus, Eremiornis, Graminicola, Megalurus, Schoenicola.
        • Subfamily Phylloscopinae (Old World Warblers): Abroscopus, Eremomela, Graueria, Phylloscopus, Seicercus, Sylvietta, Tickellia.
        • Subfamily Sylvinae (Old World Warblers): Parisoma, Sylvia.
        • Locustella, Acrocephalus, Cettia, Cisticola, Scotocerca, Prinia, Hippolais, Sylvia, Phylloscopus, Anthreptes, Nectarinia
        • FAMILY TIMALIIDAE
        • Babblers and Reedlings. They occur in marshes, woods, and scrub areas worldwide, but mostly in tropical Asia, northern Eurasia, Africa, and 1 species in North America. They are small to medium-sized birds (9-41cm). They pick arthropods from the bark of plants, but will also take fruit and seeds. Not migratory.
        • Actinodura, Alcippe, Babax, Chamaea, Chrysomma, Conostoma, Crocias, Cutia, Dumetia, Erpornis, Gampsorhynchus, Garrulax, Heterophasia, Illadopsis, Jabouilleia, Kakamega, Kenopia, Kupeornis, Leiothrix, Leonardina, Liocichla, Lioptilus, Macronous, Malacocincla, Malacopteron, Micromacronus, Minla, Moupinia, Napothera, Panurus, Paradoxornis, Parophasma, Pellorneum, Phyllanthus, Pnoepyga, Pomatorhinus, Pseudoalcippe, Pteruthius, Ptilocichla, Ptyrticus, Rhopocichla, Rimator, Spelaeornis, Sphenocichla, Stachyris, Timalia, Trichastoma, Turdoides, Xiphirhynchus, Yuhina.
        • FAMILY ZOSTEROPIDAE
        • White-Eyes.
        • Apalopteron, Chlorocharis, Cleptornis, Heleia, Hypocryptadius, Lophozosterops, Madanga, Megazosterops, Oculocincta, Rukia, Speirops, Tephrozosterops, Woodfordia, Zosterops.
        • FAMILY PETROICIDAE
        • Australasian Robins.
        • Amalocichla, Drymodes, Eopsaltria, Eugerygone, Melanodryas, Microeca, Monachella, Pachycephalopsis, Peneothello, Petroica, Poecilodryas, Tregellasia.
        • FAMILY PICATHARTIDAE
        • Bald Crows.
        • Picathartes.
        • FAMILY POMATOSTOMIDAE
        • Australian Babblers.
        • Garritornis, Potamostomus.
        • FAMILY PTILONORHYNCHIDAE
        • Bowerbirds.
        • Ailuroedus, Amblyornis, Archboldia, Chlamydera, Prionodura, Ptilonorhynchus, Scenopoeetes, Sericulus.
        • ACANTHISITTAE
        • FAMILY ACANTHISITTIDAE
        • New Zealand Wrens.
        • Acanthisitta, Xenicus.
        • INCERTAE SEDIS
        • FAMILY TRICHODROMATIDAE
        • Wallcreepers
        • Trichodroma.
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By Jack R. Holt. Last revised: 12/19/2014
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