To search within the taxonomy, please type the desired term into the input box of the systematics search.
Click here or on one of the underlined terms in the list below to search under birds.
Aves – Birds Class
Palaeognathae - Old Jaw Birds Subclass
Struthioniformes - Flightless birds Order
Struthionidae - Ostriches Family
Aepyornithidae - Elephant birds Family
Casuariidae - Cassowaries Family
Dromaiidae - Emus Family
Rheidae - Rheas Family
Tinamiformes - Tinamous Order
Neognathae - New Jaw Birds Subclass
Anseriformes – Geese and Ducks Order
Anatidae – Ducks Family
Galliformes Order
Phasianidae - Fowl Family
Numididae - Guinea fowl Family
Columbiformes (Gyrantes) – Doves Order
Columbidae – Doves Family
Charadriiformes Order
Laridae - Seagulls Family
Charadriidae Plover Family
Glareolidae Family
Haematopodidae - Oystercatcher Family
Recurvirostridae - Stilts Family
Scolopacidae - Sandpipers Family
Stercorariidae - Skuas Family
Ciconiiformes Order
Ardeidae – Herons Family
Cathartidae – New World Vultures* Family
Ciconiidae – Storks Family
Threskiornithidae – Ibises Family
Gruiformes - Cranes Order
Gaviiformes - Loons, Divers Order
Pelecaniformes – Pelicans Order
Pelecanidae – Pelecans Family
Phalacrocoracidae - Cormorants, Shags Family
Phoenicopteriformes - Flamingoes Order
Procellariiformes Order
Diomedeidae – Albatrosses Family
Procellariidae - Petrels Family
Sphenisciformes – Penguins Order
Spheniscidae – Penguins Family
Apodiformes/ Macrochiriformes Order
Apodidae/ Cypselidae - Swifts Family
Trochilidae - Hummingbirds Family
Trogoniformes - Trogons Order
Falconiformes / Accipitres * - Birds of Prey Order
Accipitridae - Eagles Family
Falconidae – Falcons Family
Pandionidae - Ospreys Family
Strigiformes - Owls Order
Strigidae - Real Owls Family
Tytonidae - Barn Owls Family
Psittaciformes – Parrots Order
Psittacidae – Parrots Family
Cacatuidae - Cockatoos Family
Cuculiformes – Cuckoos Order
Piciformes - Woodpeckers Order
Lybiidae - African barbets Family
Picidae - Woodpeckers Family
Ramphastidae - Toucanes Family
Coraciiformes - Rollers Order
Alcedinidae - Kingfishers Family
Bucerotidae Family
Halcyonidae - Tree kingfishers Family
Meropidae - Bee eaters Family
Upupidae - Hoopoes Family
Passeriformes - Songbirds Order
Aegithalidae - Long-tailed Tits Family
Alaudidae - Larks Family
Bombycillidae - Waxwings Family
Corvidae - Crows Family
Emberizidae - Buntings Family
Fringillidae – Finches Family
Hirundinidae - Swallows Family
Mimidae - Mockingbirds Family
Motacillidae - Wagtails Family
Muscicapidae - Old world flycatchers Family
Oriolidae - Oriols Family
Paridae - Tits Family
Passeridae – Sparrows Family
Prunellidae - Accentors Family
Sittidae - Nuthatches Family
Sturnidae - Starlings Family
Sylviidae - Warblers Family
Troglodytidae - Wrens Family
Turdidae - Thrushs Family
* The most recent DNA analysis (Ericson et al. 2006) confirms that the Cathartidae (new world vultures, relevant for us: Cathartes aura and Vultur gryphus) branch does not associate closely with any other branch and therefore belong in their own separate order, the Cathartiformes.