BIO 456/585 Fall 2015 Ornithology UNCW ORDERS AND FAMILIES OF BIRDS The following is a list of nearly all Orders of birds, but not all North American families. This classification will be used in this course, but you will see different classifications in the literature. You will be expected to know all the orders and families shown here. This list follows the American Ornithologists’ Union (A.O.U.) 1998 classification plus supplements since that time. Superorder Palaeognathae (ratites) Struthioniformes Struthionidae – ostriches Rheiformes Rheidae – rheas Casuariiformes Casuariidae – emus and cassowaries Dinornithiformes Apterygidae – kiwis Tinamiformes Tinamidae – tinamous Superorder Neognathae Gaviiformes Gaviidae – loons Podicipediformes Podicipedidae – grebes Procellariformes Diomedeidae – albatrosses Procellaridae – shearwaters, fulmars, and petrels Hydrobatidae – storm-petrels Sphenisciformes Spheniscidae – penguins Pelecaniformes Sulidae – boobies and gannets Pelecanidae – pelicans Phalacrocoracidae – cormorants Anhingidae – anhingas Fregatidae – frigatebirds Ciconiiformes Ardeidae – herons and bitterns Threskiornithidae – ibises and spoonbills Ciconiidae – storks Cathartidae (Vulturidae) – vultures Phoenicopteriformes Phoenicopteridae – flamingos Anseriformes Anatidae – swans, geese, ducks Falconiformes (Accipitriformes) Accipitridae – kites, eagles, hawks Falconidae – caracaras and falcons Galliformes Phasianidae – grouse, turkey, and pheasants Odontophoridae – New World quail Gruiformes Rallidae – rails Gruidae – cranes Charadriiformes Charadriidae – plovers and lapwings Haematopodidae – oystercatchers Recurvirostridae – stilts and avocets Jacanidae – jacanas Scolopacidae – sandpipers and phalaropes Laridae – gulls, terns, and skimmers Alcidae – auks, murres, and puffins Columbiformes Columbidae – pigeons and doves Psittaciformes Psittacidae – lories, parakeets, macaws, and parrots Cuculiformes Cuculidae – cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis Strigiformes Tytonidae – barn-owls Strigidae – owls Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgidae – goatsuckers Apodiformes Apodidae – swifts Trochilidae – hummingbirds Coliiformes Coliidae – mousebirds Trogoniformes Trogonidae – trogons Coraciiformes Alcedinidae – kingfishers Piciformes Picidae – woodpeckers Passeriformes Tyrannidae – tyrant flycatchers, pewees, wood-pewees Laniidae – shrikes Vireonidae – vireos Corvidae – jays, magpies, crows, and ravens Hirundinidae – swallows and martins Paridae – titmice, chickadees Sittidae – nuthatches Certhiidae – brown creeper Troglodytidae – wrens Cinclidae – American dipper Regulidae – kinglets Sylviidae – Old World warblers and gnatcatchers Turdidae – robins, bluebirds, thrushes Mimidae – mockingbirds, catbirds, and thrashers Sturnidae – starlings Motacillidae – wagtails and pipits Bombycillidae – waxwings Parulidae – wood-warblers, yellowthroats, chats Thraupidae – tanagers Emberizidae – towhees, sparrows, longspurs, buntings Cardinalidae – cardinals, grosbeaks, buntings Icteridae – blackbirds, orioles, grackles Fringillidae – finches, crossbills, siskins, evening grosbeak Passeridae – house sparrow .