Classification of birds

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1. CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS
Class Aves
Adaptation for flight include: forelimbs are modified as feathered wings,
endothermic, high metabolic rate, flexible neck, fused posterior vertebrae,
and bones lightened by numerous air spaces. The skull is lightened by a
reduction in bone. Presence of a horny bill that lacks teeth.
1.Order Sphenisciformes: Heavybodied; flightless, flipper like wings for
swimming ; well insulated with fat. Penguins.

2. Order Struthioniformes & Rheiformes
2.Order Struthioniformes: Large, flightless birds ; wings with numerous fluffy
plumes.
3.Order Rheiformes:Large, flightless birds; degenerate wings with soft loose
plumes-Rheas

3. Order Casuariformes & Gaviiformes
4. Order Casuariformes:Reduced wings: coarse and hair like plumage.
Cassowaries emus.
5. Order Gaviiformes:Strong, straight bill: diving adaptations include legs far
back on body, bladelike tarsus, webbed feet and heavy bones. Loons.

4. Order Podicipediformes & Procellariiformes
6. Order Podicipediformes:Short wings; soft and dense plumage; feet
webbed with flattened nails. Grebes.
7. Order Procellariiformes:Tubular nostrils, large nasal glands; long and
narrow wings. Albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels.

5. Order Pelecaniformes & Ciconiiformes
8. Order Pelecaniformes:Four toes joined in common web; nostrils
rudimentary or absent; large gular sac. Pelicans, boobies, frigate-birds.
9. Order Ciconiiformes:Long neck, often folded in flight; long-legged waders.
Remus

6. Order Anseriformes& Falconiformcs
10. Order Anseriformes:South American screamers ducks, geese and swans,
the latter three groups possess a wide, flat bill and an undercoat of dense
down, webbed feet
11. Order Falconiformcs:Strong, hooked beak ; large wings; raptorial fret.
Vultures secretary birds, hawks, eagles, osprey.

7. Order Galliformes & Cruiformes
12. Order Galliformes:Short beak; short concave wings; strong feet and
claws.Curassows, grouse, quail, pheasants, turkeys.
13. Order Cruiformes:Order characteristics variable and not diagnostic.
Marsh birds including cranes, limpkins, rails, coot

8. Order Charadriiformes & Columbiformes
14. Order Charadriiformes:Order characteristics variable. Shorebirds, gulls,
terns, auks.
15. Order Columbiformes:Dense leathers loosely thin skin; well developed
crop. Pigeons, doves, sand grouse.

9. Order Psittaciformes & Cuculiformes
16. Order Psittaciformes:Maxilla hinged to skull; thick tongue; reversible
fourth toe; usually brightly. Parrot, lanes, macaws.
17. Order Cuculiformes:Reversible fourth toe; soft, tender skin; roadrunners
cuckoos

10. Order Strigiformes &Caprimulgiformes
18. Order Strigiformes:Large head with fixed eyes directed forward; raptorial
foot Owls.
19. Order Caprimulgiformes:Owl-like head and plumage. but weak bill and
feet: insectivorous. Whippoorwills. other goatsuckers.

11. Order Apodiformes & Coraciiformes
20. Order Apodiformes:Long wings; weak feet, Swifts, humming birds. .
21. Order Coraciiformes:Large head; large beak; metallic plumage;
Kingfishers, toddies, bee eaters, rollers.

12. Order Piciformes& Passeriformes
22. Order Piciformes:Long strong beak; strong legs and feet with fourth toe
permanently reversed in woodpeckers. Woodpeckers toucans, honey guides,
barber.
23. Order Passeriformes:Largest avian order; 69 families of perching bids;
perching foot; variable external features. Shallows, larks, crows, titmice,
nuthatches and many others

13. BIRDS