VI. Aves-03. The System of Modern Birds
The modern bird system (main source - www.worldbirdnames.org)
On these and the following pages, data on the diversity of modern birds are presented. The composition of orders, families, and species is given according to the IOC World Bird List 12.1.
Phylogenetic relationships follow the Tree of Birds cladogram given below, with some clarifications (for example, on the cladogram Caprimulgiformes are not split into five genera).
In the classification below, the bird orders of the parvclass Neoaves are distributed into groups that are partly conventional. Most of these groups cannot be regarded as taxa. However, this division makes it possible to show the position of each order in the common tree more clearly.
A vivid and convenient database of bird diversity is available here: Birds of the World.
As in other cases, the bird taxa whose knowledge will be tested in the course of the quizzes are highlighted in brick red.
Class Aves - Birds
Subclass Archaeornithes - lizard-tailed birds
Subclass Neornithes - fan-tailed birds
Infraclass Odontognathae - toothed birds
Infraclass Ichthyornithes - ichthyornithines
Infraclass Paleognathae - ratites
1. Struthioniformes - ostrich-like birds
2. Rheiformes - rheas
3. Apterygiformes - kiwis
4. Casuariiformes - cassowaries
5. Tinamiformes - tinamous
Infraclass Neognathae - neognaths
Parvclass Galloanseres
6. Anseriformes - waterfowl
7. Galliformes - fowl
Parvclass Neoaves
Strisores
8. Steatornithiformes - oilbirds
9. Nyctibiiformes - potoos
11. Caprimulgiformes - nightjars
11. Podargiformes - frogmouths
12. Aegotheliformes - owlet-nightjars
13. Apodiformes - swifts
Columbaves
14. Musophagiformes - turacos
15. Otidiformes - bustards
16. Cuculiformes - cuckoos
17. Mesitornithiformes - mesites
18. Pterocliformes - sandgrouse
19. Columbiformes - pigeons
(Noname group 1)
20. Gruiformes - cranes
21. Podicipediformes - grebes
22. Phoenicopteriformes - flamingos
23. Charadriiformes - shorebirds
24. Eurypygiformes - sunbitterns
25. Phaethontiformes - tropicbirds
Aequornithes
26. Gaviiformes - loons
27. Sphenisciformes - penguins
28. Procellariiformes - petrels and allies
29. Ciconiiformes - storks
30. Suliformes - suliforms
31. Pelecaniformes - pelicans
(Noname group 2)
32. Opisthocomiformes - hoatzins
33. Accipitriformes - hawks
Telluraves
34. Strigiformes - owls
35. Coliiformes - mousebirds
36. Leptosomiformes - cuckoo-rollers
37. Trogoniformes - trogons
38. Bucerotiformes - hornbills
39. Coraciiformes - rollers
40. Piciformes - woodpeckers
Australaves
41. Cariamiformes - seriemas
42. Falconiiformes - falcons
43. Psittaciformes - parrots
44. Passeriformes - passerines
