"Wisdom begins with putting the right name on a thing"
(Old Chinese Proverb)

Family Links

Tree of Life links

IOC page links

TiF links
ORDER FAMILY FAMILY NOTES ON CLASSIFICATION
Tinamiformes Tinamous Tinamidae “Early Bird” DNA study suggested that flighted tinamous may have evolved from flightless ratites (Hackett et al. 2008); but recent analyses reposition tinamous (with moas) as the outgroup to the traditional ratites (Hadrath & Baker 2012)
Struthioniformes Ostriches Struthionidae
Rheiformes Rheas Rheidae
Casuariiformes Cassowaries Casuariidae
Emu Dromaiidae
Apterygiformes Kiwis Apterygidae
Galliformes Megapodes Megapodiidae
Chachalacas, Curassows and Guans Cracidae
Guineafowl Numididae
New World Quail Odontophoridae Ptilopachus partridges of Africa are related to New World quails (Odontophoridae) and in turn to the guineafowl (Numididae), not to members of Phasianidae (Crowe et al. 2006, Crowe 2010, Cohen et al 2012)
Pheasants and Allies Phasianidae
Anseriformes Screamers Anhimidae
Magpie Goose Anseranatidae
Ducks, Geese and Swans Anatidae
Gaviiformes Loons Gaviidae
Sphenisciformes Penguins Spheniscidae
Procellariiformes Albatrosses Diomedeidae
Petrels, Shearwaters Procellariidae
Storm Petrels Hydrobatidae The subfamilies Hydrobatinae and Oceanitinae may not be sister taxa and therefore would be separate families (Nunn and Stanley 1998; Hackett et al. 2008; Christidis and Boles 2008)
Diving Petrels Pelecanoididae
Podicipediformes Grebes Podicipedidae Grebes and flamingos are sister lineages (Mayr 2008, Hackett et al 2008)
Phoenicopteriformes Flamingos Phoenicopteridae
Phaethontiformes Tropicbirds Phaethontidae The tropicbirds (Phaethontidae) do not belong in the Pelecaniformes and merit treatment as the Order Phaethontiformes (Hackett et al. 2008, Christidis and Boles 2008)
Ciconiiformes Storks Ciconiidae The Ciconiiformes now includes only one family; the storks (Ciconiidae). Ibises and spoonbills (Threskiornithidae)and herons (Ardeidae) are moved the Pelecaniformes (Hackett et al 2008).
Pelecaniformes Ibises, Spoonbills Threskiornithidae Ibises and spoonbills (Threskiornithidae) and herons (Ardeidae) are sister taxa (Hackett et al. 2008); Some classifications separate as Ardeiformes. Ibises are polyphyletic with Old World species (plus spoonbills) and New World species on separate lineages (Chesser et al 2010, Ramirez et al 2010 Brasil IOC poster);
Herons, Bitterns Ardeidae
Hamerkop Scopidae
Shoebill Balaenicipitidae
Pelicans Pelecanidae
Suliformes Frigatebirds Fregatidae Continuing the breakup of the classical Pelecaniformes, we segregate these families into new order Suliformes to align with phylogeny (NACC 2010)
Gannets, Boobies Sulidae
Cormorants, Shags Phalacrocoracidae
Anhingas, Darters Anhingidae
Accipitriformes New World Vultures Cathartidae SACC elevates the New    World Vultures (Cathartidae) to a separate order, the Cathartiformes
Secretarybird Sagittariidae Secretarybird is best treated as a monotypic family Sagittariidae in accord with the Tree of Life phylogeny (Hackett et al. 2008)
Ospreys Pandionidae Ospreys are returned to the family Pandionidae in accord with the Tree of Life phylogeny (Hackett et al. 2008)
Kites, Hawks and Eagles Accipitridae Many changes based on the molecular phylogenies  are underway such as subdivision of hawk-eagles and true eagles, breakup of Aquila eagles etc. Will revise when results stabilize.
Falconiformes Caracaras, Falcons Falconidae The falcons (Falconidae) are not members of the Accipitriformes, but are a separate lineage and Order more closely related to parrots and in turn the Passeriformes (Hackett et al. 2008). Resequence in the future if this arrangement stands
Otidiformes Bustards Otididae Move bustards (Otididae) from the Gruiformes to their own Order, the Otidiformes (Hackett et al. 2008); rearrange taxa split from classical Gruiformes because they are not close relatives.
Mesitornithiformes Mesites Mesitornithidae Move mesites (Mesitornithidae) from the Gruiformes to their own Order, the Mesitornithiformes (Hackett et al. 2008). Uncertain relationships to grebes/flamingos (Ericson et. al., 2006), or pigeons (Hackett et al 2008)
Cariamiformes Seriemas Cariamidae Move seriemas (Cariamidae)  from the Gruiformes to their own Order, the Cariamiformes (Hackett et al. 2008)
Eurypygiformes Kagu Rhynochetidae The Kagu (Rhynochetidae) and Sunbittern (Eurypygidae) are sister families removed from the Gruiformes to a new Order, tentatively named the “Eurypygiformes” (Hackett et al. 2008).
Sunbittern Eurypygidae
Gruiformes Flufftails Sarothruridae Long recognized to be an    artificial assemblage of taxa, the Gruiformes now is restricted to flufftails, finfoots, rails, trumpeters, cranes, and Limpkin (Hackett et al. 2008).
Finfoots Heliornithidae The finfoots (Heliornithidae) and flufftails (Sarothruridae) may be sister taxa (Hackett et al. 2008)
Rails, Crakes and Coots Rallidae
Trumpeters Psophiidae
Cranes Gruidae
Limpkin Aramidae
Charadriiformes Buttonquails Turnicidae The buttonquails (Turnicidae) belong in the Charadriiformes, not the Gruiformes (Hackett et al. 2008); Inclusion of Quail-plover (Ortyxelos) in this family is tentative (REFS)
Stone-curlews, Thick-knees Burhinidae
Sheathbills Chionidae
Magellanic Plover Pluvianellidae The Magellanic Plover (Pluvianellus) is most closely related to the sheathbills (Chionidae) but treated as a monotypic family by the SACC.
Oystercatchers Haematopodidae
Crab-plover Dromadidae Latest molecular data place Crab-plover as the outgroup relative of coursers and pratincoles (Glareolidae)(Pereira and Baker 2010); Change position in sequence
Ibisbill Ibidorhynchidae
Stilts, Avocets Recurvirostridae
Plovers Charadriidae Latest studies (Baker et al MS) support inclusion of Pluvialis plovers in the Charadriidae (Baker et al 2007, TOL)
Egyptian Plover Pluvianidae The Egyptian Plover (Pluvianus) does not belong to the Glareolidae. It is a separate lineage that is the outgroup to plovers, ibisbill, stilts and their allies (Hackett et al. 2008).    Therefore separated here to its own family tentatively named “Pluvianidae”
Painted Snipes Rostratulidae Painted Snipes and Jacanas are sister families
Jacanas Jacanidae
Plains-wanderer Pedionomidae
Seedsnipes Thinocoridae
Sandpipers, Snipes Scolopacidae
Coursers, Pratincoles Glareolidae
Gulls, Terns and Skimmers Laridae The skimmers and (noddy) terns are embedded among the gulls in a monophyletic clade; separation of the families Rynchopidae and Sternidae would render the gull family Laridae paraphyletic    relative to these other two groups (Baker et al. 2008).DNA analysis confirm that Gygis is a noddy (Baker et al 2007, Odeen et al 2010) and support the English name “White Noddy”.
Skuas Stercorariidae
Auks Alcidae
Pterocliformes Sandgrouse Pteroclidae The sandgrouse  are treated as a separate Order Pteroclidiformes; they are not shorebirds (Charadriiformes), but relationships to pigeons (Columbidae) need confirmation
Columbiformes Pigeons, Doves Columbidae
Psittaciformes New Zealand Parrots Strigopidae Parrots (Psittaciformes) are the sister group to the Passeriformes (Hackett et al. 2008); resequence in future. The New Zealand parrots are a basal lineage that is sister to all other parrots; elevate to family status (Christidis & Boles (2008)
Cockatoos Cacatuidae Cockatoos are treated as a family separate from other parrots (Psittacidae) following Christidis & Boles (2008)
Parrots Psittacidae
Opisthocoformes Hoatzin Opisthocomidae Relationships of the Hoatzin still unknown
Musophagiformes Turacos Musophagidae
Cuculiformes Cuckoos Cuculidae
Strigiformes Barn Owls Tytonidae
Owls Strigidae
Caprimulgiformes Frogmouths Podargidae Defer recognition of the Asian frogmouths (Batrachosomus) vs Australasian frogmouths (Podargus) as separate families (Christidis and Boles 2008) until (basal?) relationships of Rigidipenna inexpectata are resolved (see Tree of Life)
Oilbird Steatornithidae
Potoos Nyctibiidae
Nightjars Caprimulgidae The eared nightjars (Eurostopodus) are the sister taxon to rest of the Caprimulgidae (Barrowclough et al 2006, Larsen et al. 2007), but they are not equivalent in rank to other families in the Caprimulgiformes.
Apodiformes Owlet-nightjars Aegothelidae The owlet-nightjars (Aegothelidae) are the sister taxon to treeswifts and in turn to the swifts and hummingbirds; hence are included in the Apodiformes (Hackett et al. 2008,    Christidis and Boles 2008)
Treeswifts Hemiprocnidae
Swifts Apodidae
Hummingbirds Trochilidae Revise the hummingbird classification to  follow the molecular phylogeny (McGuire et al. 2007, 2009) with Topaza and Florisuga basal.
Coliiformes Mousebirds Coliidae
Trogoniformes Trogons Trogonidae
Leptosomiformes Cuckoo Roller Leptosomidae The Cuckoo Roller is the only member of an ancient lineage (not Coraciiformes) with no known relatives among modern birds and thus put into a separate Order, Leptosomiformes (Hackett et al. 2008)
Coraciiformes Rollers Coraciidae
Ground Rollers Brachypteraciidae
Kingfishers Alcedinidae The kingfishers (Alcedinidae) comprise three monophyletic clades (Alcedininae, Cerylinae, and Daceloninae) (Moyle 2007); some taxonomists elevate them to family status (Sibley and  Monroe 1990, Christidis and Boles 2008)
Todies Todidae
Motmots Momotidae
Bee-eaters Meropidae
Bucerotiformes Hoopoes Upupidae Separation of the hoopoes and hornbills as the Order Bucerotiformes maintains monophyly of the Coraciiformes without submerging the Piciformes and Trogoniformes into the Coraciiformes (Hackett et al. 2008).
Wood Hoopoes Phoeniculidae The hoopoes (Upupidae) and wood hoopoes (Phoeniculidae) are sister taxa, related in turn to the hornbills (Hackett et al. 2008)
Hornbills Bucerotidae The hornbills (Bucerotidae) and ground hornbills (Bucorvidae) are sister taxa, related in turn to the hoopoes and wood hoopoes (Hackett et al. 2008)
Ground Hornbills Bucorvidae
Piciformes Jacamars Galbulidae The jacamars (Galbulidae) and  puffbirds (Bucconidae) are well-established sister taxa (SACC, Hackett et al. 2008), with evidence favoring inclusion in the Piciformes, rather than a    separate Order Galbuliformes (TOL, Ericson et al. 2006; cf SACC, Fain & Houde 2004)
Puffbirds Bucconidae
New World Barbets Capitonidae Follow AOU in elevating to Family status as a member of trichotomy with Toucan Barbet and toucans
Toucan Barbet Semnornithidae Follow AOU in elevating to Family status as a member of trichotomy with New World barbets and toucans
Toucans Ramphastidae Toucans, New World barbets, and Toucan Barbets are a well defined clade  (Moyle 2004, SACC).
Asian Barbets Megalaimidae Asian barbets (Megalaimidae) are the basal outgroup to the African barbets and in turn the New World barbets and toucans (Moyle 2004)
African Barbets Lybiidae
Honeyguides Indicatoridae Honeyguides (Indicatoridae) and woodpeckers (Picidae) are sister families (Hackett et al. 2008)
Woodpeckers Picidae
Passeriformes Suboscines
New Zealand Wrens Acanthisittidae
Broadbills Eurylaimidae The broadbills (family Eurylaimidae) include here both the asities (Philepittidae) of Madagascar and Sapayoa of the New World, and together are the sister group to the pittas (Pittidae) (Irestedt et al. 2006; Moyle 2006a). An alternative classification would be to recognize asities and Sapayoa in their own respective families and two families of broadbills, the Eurylaimidae and Calyptomenidae (TOL)
Pittas Pittidae The pittas (Pittidae) are sister to broadbills (Eurylaimidae) (Moyle et al 2006)
Ovenbirds Furnariidae The  Furnariidae includes the phylogenetically embedded woodcreepers, formerly separated as the family Dendrocolaptidae (SACC)
Antbirds Thamnophilidae
Antthrushes Formicariidae
Antpittas Grallariidae The antpittas (Grallariidae) are not closely related to the antthrushes (Formicariidae) and thus are treated as a separate family (Chesser 2004, Rice 2005, SACC)
Gnateaters Conopophagidae
Tapaculos Rhinocryptidae
Crescentchests Melanopareiidae The crescentchests are not related to tapaculos and thus are separated to their own family Melanopareiidae pending resolution of their correct relationships (Chesser 2004, SACC)
Tyrant Flycatchers Tyrannidae
Sharpbill move to Tityridae below Genetic data place Sharpbill in the Tityridae (Ohlson et al. 2008,Tello et al 2009,Harshman 2009)
Cotingas Cotingidae
Manakins Pipridae
Tityras, Becards Tityridae The genera placed in the family Tityridae are more closely related to the manakins (Pipridae) than to the cotingas (Cotingidae) (Chesser 2004, Barber and Rice 2007, SACC)
Family Uncertain Incertae Sedis Includes Philabura and Calyptura; Piprites moved to Tyrannidae (Tello et al 2009); Calyptura belongs there also, provisionally in a clade with Neopipo and Platirynchus (Ohlson et al MS).
Passeriformes Oscines
Lyrebirds Menuridae
Scrubbirds Atrichornithidae
Bowerbirds Ptilonorhynchidae Includes Turnagra (Christidis & Boles 2008; Fjeldsa comm), but challenged (Gibb unpubl thesis 2010)
Australasian Treecreepers Climacteridae
Australasian Wrens Maluridae
Honeyeaters Meliphagidae
Bristlebirds Dasyornithidae
Pardalotes Pardalotidae
Australasian Warblers Acanthizidae Includes Pachycare (Norman et al 2009). Excludes Mohoua and Finschia which form a deep branch in the Corvoidea (Mohouidae?). (Norman et al 2009) and were moved to Incertae sedis (2.3)
Australasian Babblers Pomatostomidae
Logrunners Orthonychidae
Satinbirds Cnemophilidae
Berrypeckers, Longbills Melanocharitidae
Painted Berrypeckers Paramythiidae Separate the painted berrypeckers    (Oreocharis and Paramythia) from the Melanocharitidae to the    Paramythiidae  (Barker et al 2004; HBW)
Wattled Crows Callaeidae
Stitchbird Notiomystidae Stitchbird is related to the wattled crows of New Zealand, not to honyeaters (Meliphagidae) (Driskell et al 2007)
Whipbirds, Jewel-babblers and Quail-thrushes Psophodidae Psophodidae includes Androphobus, Psophodes, Ptilorrhoa and Cinclosoma formerly in Eupetidae (now Eupetes only) (Christidis and Boles 2008; see also Cibois et al. 2003, Alstrom et al 2006); resequence to follow Oriolidae
Wattle-eyes, Batises Platysteiridae
Woodshrikes and allies Tephrodornithidae Move Tephrodornis and Philentoma from Incertae Sedis, and Hemipus from Campephagidae to a new shrike family the Tephrodornithidae (Fuchs et al. 2006, 2007)
Helmetshrikes Prionopidae Separate helmetshrikes (Prionopidae) sister to Vangidae from bushshrikes (Malaconotidae)  (TOL; Beresford et al. 2005; Moyle et al 2006b); if we continue to recognize Vangidae
Bushshrikes Malaconotidae
Boatbills Machaerirhynchidae
Vangas Vangidae
Butcherbirds and allies Artamidae
Bristlehead Pityriaseidae Bristlehead Pityriasis is related to ioras (Aegithinidae) and perhaps the helmetshrikes (Prionopidae), not to the butcherbirds (Cracticidae) as previously thought (Moyle et al    2006)
Woodswallows Artamidae
Ioras Aegithinidae
Cuckooshrikes Campephagidae
Sittellas Neosittidae
Whistlers and allies Pachycephalidae Pachycephalidae includes Colluricincla, Pitohui and Oreoica previously separated as Colluricinclidae (Christidis and Boles 2008); remove Hylocitrea, a bombycillid (Spellman et al. 2008)
Shrikes Laniidae
Vireos, Greenlets Vireonidae Vireonidae provisionally includes Erpornis and Pteruthius, new found relatives that may merit family status (Reddy and Cracraft 2007, Reddy 2008)
Figbirds, Orioles Oriolidae
Drongos Dicruridae
Fantails Rhipiduridae Includes Silktail (Lamprolia) moved from Monarchidae in v2.3 (Irestedt et al. 2008)
Monarchs Monarchidae
Crows, Jays Corvidae
Australian Mudnesters Corcoracidae
Birds-of-paradise Paradisaeidae
Australasian Robins Petroicidae
Rockfowl Picathartidae
Rockjumpers Chaetopidae
Rail-babbler Eupetidae Restrict Eupetidae to Rail-babbler Eupetes; which is sister to Chaetops and in turn to Picathartes (Jønsson et al. 2007)
Waxwings Bombycillidae
Silky-flycatchers Ptilogonatidae Follow AOU 1998 in recognizing silky flycatchers as a separate family Ptilogonatidae
Hypocolius Hypocoliidae Separate  Hypocolius as monotypic family Hypocoliidae to be consistent with treatment of other enigmatic waxwing relatives; Hylocitrea separated to its own family pending resolution of relationships
Palmchat Dulidae
Oos Mohoidae Species of Moho are related to waxwings (Bombycillidae), not to honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) (Fleischer et al. 2008)
Hylocitrea Hylocitreidae Hylocitrea, previously Yellow-flanked Whistler, is related to the waxwings, not whistlers (Spellman et al 2008)
Fairy Flycatchers Stenostiridae Stenostiridae includes Stenostira and Elminia from Incertae Sedis and Culcicapa from Muscicapidae (Barker et al. 2002, 2004; Beresford et al. 2005; Fuchs et al. 2006)
Tits, Chickadees Paridae
Penduline Tits Remizidae Penduline tits and tits/chickadees are sister taxa, treated by some as subfamilies of the Paridae
Bearded Reedling Panuridae Bearded Reedling is not related to parrotbills (Paradoxornis), but is sister to the larks (Alaudidae) and    in turn to the rest of the Sylvioidea (Ericson and Johansson 2003; Alström et    al. 2006; Fuchs et al. 2006)
Nicators Nicatoridae Move Nicator species from Incertae Sedis to Nicatoridae, which forms a basal trichotomy with Alaudidae and Panuridae that is sister to the rest of the rest of the sylvioids (Beresford et al 2005, Johansson et al 2008)
Larks Alaudidae
Bulbuls Pycnonotidae
Swallows, Martins Hirundinidae
Wren-babblers Pnoepygidae Pnoepyga wren-babblers are not babblers and elevated to their own family (Gelang et al. 2009)
Crombecs, African Warblers Macrosphenidae New family for clade that includes Sylvietta, Macrosphenus, Melocichla, Sphenoeacus, Achaetops & Cryptillas
Cettia Bush Warblers and allies Cettiidae See Alström et al. (2006) and Johansson et al (2008) for revisions of Old World warbler clades
Streaked Scrub Warbler Scotocercidae Scotocerca is sister to Cettiidae; move from Incertae sedis to family Scotocercidae ( Alström et al 2011c, Fregin et al 2012, cf Barhoum and Burns 2002)
Yellow Flycatchers Erythrocercidae  Move Yellow Flycatchers (Erythrocercus) from Incertae sedis to new family Erythrocercidae, after Scotocercidae (Fregin et al 2012)
Family Uncertain Incertae sedis 5 Graueria, Hylia, Pholidornis
Bushtits, Long-tailed Tits Aegithalidae
Leaf Warblers and allies Phylloscopidae See Alström et al. (2006) and Johansson et al (2008) for revisions of Old World warbler clades
Reed Warblers and allies Acrocephalidae See Alström et al. (2006) and Johansson et al (2008) for revisions of Old World warbler clades
Grassbirds and allies Locustellidae See Alström et al. (2006) and Johansson et al (2008) for revisions of Old World warbler clades
Black-capped Donacobius Donacobiidae Donacobius is related to the Old World warblers, not wrens (Troglodytidae); treated as a monotypic family Donacobiidae (Aleixo and Pacheco 2006; SACC) pending resolution of relationships to Locustellidae vs Bernieridae (Johansson et al 2008)
Malagasy Warblers Bernieridae DNA analyses define this endemic radiation of Malagasy genera previously treated as sylviid warblers and babblers (Cibois et al. 2001; Johansson et al 2008)
Cisticolas and allies Cisticolidae
Babblers, Scimitar babblers Timaliidae Working revisions of the babbler complex recognize three families (Timaliidae, Pellorneidae, Leiothrichidae) in addition to Sylviidae and Zosteropidae (Cibois et al 2003, Pasquet et al. 2006, Collar and Robson HBW12, Luo et al 2009; Gelang et al 2009.
Fulvettas, Ground Babblers Pellorneidae
Laughingthrushes Leiothrichidae We await the results of additional studies underway to address a series of proposed generic revisions.
Sylviid Babblers Sylviidae We separate Sylvia and allied genera of babblers to the Sylviidae, which includes Paradoxornis (all parrotbills), Chamaea, (some) Alcippe, and others (Cibois 2003).
White-eyes Zosteropidae White-eyes are retained in a separate family Zosteropidae which includes the following genera previously lumped with Stachyris babblers — Yuhina, Zosterornis, Dasycrotapha, Sterrhoptilus (Cibois et al. 2003, Moyle et al 2009). Further restructuring and revisions of genera in this family will be required.
Dapple-throat and allies Arcanatoridae It is unclear whether Promeropidae and Arcanatoridae are together or represent two independent basal branches. Each of them go further back in time than almost any other extant lineage in the Passerida … which would argue for accepting them as two families (Johansson et al 2008a Fjeldså, July 2012)
Sugarbirds and allies Promeropidae Expand to include Kakamega (not a babbler), Modulatrix, Arcanator, as well as Promerops (Barker et al 2004, Johanssen et al 2008)
Fairy-bluebirds Irenidae
Goldcrests, Kinglets Regulidae
Hyliotas Hyliotidae Move hyliotas from the Sylviidae to their own family Hyliotidae, a basal lineage of the Passerida without known modern relatives (Fuchs et al 2006; TOL)
Wrens Troglodytidae
Gnatcatchers Polioptilidae
Nuthatches Sittidae
Wallcreeper Tichodromidae
Treecreepers Certhiidae
Mockingbirds, Thrashers Mimidae
Starlings, Rhabdornis Sturnidae Includes Rhabdornis creepers of the Philippines  placed in the Sturnidae (2.3); see Lovette and Rubenstein 2007
Oxpeckers Buphagidae
Thrushes Turdidae
Chats, Old World Flycatchers Muscicapidae
Dippers Cinclidae
Leafbirds Chloropseidae
Flowerpeckers Dicaeidae
Sunbirds Nectariniidae
Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches Passeridae
Weavers, Widowbirds Ploceidae
Waxbills, Munias and allies Estrildidae
Indigobirds, Whydahs Viduidae
Olive Warbler Peucedramidae Peucedramus is sister to Prunellidae (Ericson and Johansson 2003, Jonsson amd Fjeldsa 2006)
Accentors Prunellidae
Wagtails, Pipits Motacillidae
Przevalski’s Finch Urocynchramidae
Finches Fringillidae Fringillidae includes Hawaiian honeycreeprs as subfamily Drepaninae, following AOU
New World Warblers Parulidae
Oropendolas, Orioles and Blackbirds Icteridae
Bananaquit Coerebidae SACC dissolved Coerebidae and placed Coereba along with other genera into Incertae Sedis
Buntings, New World Sparrows and Allies Emberizidae
Tanagers and allies Thraupidae Boundaries of the Thraupidae versus Emberizidae and Cardinalidae under major revision (NACC, SACC)
Longspurs, Snow Buntings Calcariidae Move longspurs (Calcarius) and snow buntings (Plectrophenax) from Emberizidae to their own family Calcariidae (Alström et al 2008)
Grosbeaks, Cardinals and allies Cardinalidae