Bird Accounts
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What is a Bird?
All birds are placed in the Class Aves. The defining characteristic of all
birds is the presence of feathers.
All bird species have feathers, and no bird species lacks feathers. There
are several other characteristics that birds share, but feathers are the
only characteristic completely unique to birds.
Bird Orders
Links are to more information, and species lists for most orders
Palaeognathae (the ratites and tinamous)
Tinamiformes - Tinamous
Rheiformes - Rheas
Struthioniformes -
Ostrich
Casuariiformes - Cassowaries
Dinornithiformes -
Kiwis
Neognathae (all other modern birds)
Podicipediformes -
Grebes
Sphenisciformes - Penguins
Procellariiformes
- Tube-nosed Seabirds
Pelecaniformes - Pelicans
and relatives
Anseriformes - Waterfowl
Phoenicopteriformes
- Flamingos
Ciconiiformes - Herons,
Storks, New World Vultures and relatives
Falconiformes - Diurnal
Birds of Prey (no species list yet)
Galliformes - Fowlike Birds
Gruiformes - Cranes, Rails
and relatives
Charadriiformes - Shorebirds,
Gulls and relative
Gaviiformes - Loons
Columbiformes - Pigeons
and Doves
Psittaciformes - Parrots (no species list yet)
Coliiformes - Mousebirds
Musophagiformes - Turacos
Cuculiformes - Cuckoos
Strigiformes - Owls
Caprimulgiformes -
Nightjars and relatives
Apodiformes - Swifts and
Hummingbirds
Trogoniformes - Trogons
Coraciiformes - Rollers,
Kingfishers and relatives
Piciformes - Woodpeckers,
Toucans and relatives (no species list yet)
Passeriformes - Perching
Birds (no species list yet)
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Page last updated: Thu, Feb 3, 2000