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What are the Different Types of Bird Species?

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Birds are feathered vertebrates of the class Aves, most of which are capable of flight and have an active metabolism and all of which have beaks, no teeth, and lay eggs. Although birds evolved from a common ancestor, there are around 30 orders of birds, around 180 families, around 2000 genera, and about 10,000 bird species. The most efficient way to type the bird species is by the orders they belong to.

The order Anseriformes, which includes ducks, geese, swans, and their relatives, has 161 bird species. Members of this order are found in every part of the world except the Antarctic. The order Galliformes includes a number of game birds, including guineafowl, pheasants, quails, turkeys, grouse, and partridges. This order has over 250 bird species.

The order Caprimulgiformes consists of birds collectively called nightbirds. These include the oddly named nightjars and frogmouths. The order Apodiformes consists of hummingbirds, with 328 species, and swifts.

Canaries are in the Passeriformes order.
Canaries are in the Passeriformes order.

The order Balaenicipitiformes has shoebill or whale-headed storks, while Ciconiiformes has other storks and related birds, such as herons, ibises, and spoonbills, and Charadriiformes includes other shorebirds, such as puffins, lapwings, plovers, gulls, terns, sandpipers, and snipe. The order Coliiformes only includes mousebirds, but Columbiformes contains doves, pigeons, and dodos.

A raven (Corvus corax).
A raven (Corvus corax).

Kingfishers, hornbills, bee-eaters, hoopoes are in the order Coraciiformes, while cuckoos and roadrunners and their relatives are members of the order Cuculiformes. The order Falconiformes is characterized as containing diurnal birds of prey, and these include eagles, hawks, kites, vultures, condors, and falcons. There are 233 species of eagles, hawks, and their relatives alone, while in contrast, the order Gaviiformes has five species of loon, and that is all.

An American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos).
An American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos).

The order Galbuliformes has puffbirds and jacamars, and the order Gruiformes consists of coots, cranes, and rails. The order Mesitornithiformes has the mesites, Musophagiformes has the turacos, and Opisthocomiformes has the hoatzin. The order of perching birds, Passeriformes, has 95 families, and includes thrushes, swallows, crows, jays, flycatchers, orioles, birds-of-paradise, fantails, vireos, honeyeaters, lyrebirds, waxwings, mockingbirds, nuthatches, starlings, wrens, cardinals, grosbeaks, sparrows, buntings, finches, tanagers, blackbirds, larks, chickadees, and titmice.

Ducks are in the same order as geese and swans.
Ducks are in the same order as geese and swans.

There are six families and 67 bird species in the order Pelecaniformes, including pelicans, anhingas, cormorants, frigates, and boobies. The order Phoenicopteriformes, another small order, has the five species of flamingos. Woodpeckers, honeyguides, and toucans are members of the order Piciformes, and the 22 species of grebes are members of the order Podicipediformes.

Flamingos are in the order Phoenicopteriformes.
Flamingos are in the order Phoenicopteriformes.

Albatrosses and petrels, classified as tub-nosed seabirds are members of the order Procellariiformes, while parrots, cockatoos, parakeets, lorikeets, lories, and their relatives are members of the order Psittaciformes. The seventeen species of penguin are members of the order Sphenisciformes, and the over 200 species of owls belong to the order Strigiformes.

There are 328 species of hummingbirds.
There are 328 species of hummingbirds.

The trogons belong to the order Trogoniformes. The buttonquail belongs to the order Turniciformes, and paleognath birds — such as cassowaries, emus, rheas, ostriches, and kiwis — belong to the order Sturthioniformes. The tinamous belongs to the order Tinamiformes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many different types of bird species are there?

According to the International Ornithologists' Union, there are over 10,000 recognized bird species worldwide. This number is constantly evolving due to new discoveries and taxonomic revisions. Birds are categorized into orders, families, genera, and species, reflecting their evolutionary relationships and diverse adaptations to virtually every habitat on Earth.

What are the major bird groups?

There are more than 200 species of owl.
There are more than 200 species of owl.

Birds are broadly classified into two groups: Paleognathae, which includes flightless birds like ostriches and emus, and Neognathae, comprising all other birds. Neognathae is further divided into numerous orders, such as Passeriformes (perching birds), Falconiformes (birds of prey), and Anseriformes (waterfowl), each with unique characteristics and ecological roles.

Which bird species are the most common?

Vultures belong to the order Falconiformes.
Vultures belong to the order Falconiformes.

The most common bird species vary by region, but the House Sparrow and the European Starling are widespread across many continents due to their adaptability to human-altered environments. The Red-billed Quelea is considered the most numerous wild bird on Earth, with populations in sub-Saharan Africa estimated in the billions.

What distinguishes bird species from one another?

Falcons are part of the bird order Falconiformes.
Falcons are part of the bird order Falconiformes.

Bird species are distinguished by a combination of physical characteristics, behaviors, vocalizations, and genetics. Differences can include plumage color and pattern, beak shape, size, wing structure, mating rituals, and habitat preferences. These traits are often adapted to specific ecological niches, resulting in the vast diversity of bird species observed today.

How do scientists classify new bird species?

Swans are part of the bird order Anseriformes.
Swans are part of the bird order Anseriformes.

Scientists classify new bird species through meticulous research that includes field observations, morphological comparisons, vocalization analysis, and genetic testing. When sufficient evidence suggests that a population is distinct from other known species, it can be formally described and named according to the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

Are bird species at risk of extinction?

The dodo, now extinct, was a member of the order Coliiformes .
The dodo, now extinct, was a member of the order Coliiformes .

Yes, bird species are at risk of extinction, with habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and hunting posing significant threats. The IUCN Red List estimates that approximately 14% of bird species are threatened with extinction. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect these species and maintain the ecological balance they contribute to.

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to AllThingsNature about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Learn more...
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to AllThingsNature about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Learn more...

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    • Canaries are in the Passeriformes order.
      By: enens
      Canaries are in the Passeriformes order.
    • A raven (Corvus corax).
      By: David Thyberg
      A raven (Corvus corax).
    • An American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos).
      By: Al Mueller
      An American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos).
    • Ducks are in the same order as geese and swans.
      By: jtboldt
      Ducks are in the same order as geese and swans.
    • Flamingos are in the order Phoenicopteriformes.
      By: Anna Omelchenko
      Flamingos are in the order Phoenicopteriformes.
    • There are 328 species of hummingbirds.
      By: Steve Byland
      There are 328 species of hummingbirds.
    • There are more than 200 species of owl.
      By: hitman1234
      There are more than 200 species of owl.
    • Vultures belong to the order Falconiformes.
      By: massimhokuto
      Vultures belong to the order Falconiformes.
    • Falcons are part of the bird order Falconiformes.
      By: falconhy
      Falcons are part of the bird order Falconiformes.
    • Swans are part of the bird order Anseriformes.
      By: Evgenia Tiplyashina
      Swans are part of the bird order Anseriformes.
    • The dodo, now extinct, was a member of the order Coliiformes .
      By: Tesgro Tessieri
      The dodo, now extinct, was a member of the order Coliiformes .
    • Plovers are part of the bird order Charadriiformes.
      By: Riverwalker
      Plovers are part of the bird order Charadriiformes.
    • Macaws are a type of tropical bird.
      By: jamdesign
      Macaws are a type of tropical bird.
    • Red-masked parakeets are native to Ecuador and Peru.
      By: Maisna
      Red-masked parakeets are native to Ecuador and Peru.
    • Seagulls are scavenger birds that are often found near beaches.
      By: azazello
      Seagulls are scavenger birds that are often found near beaches.
    • Pigeons are often found in urban areas.
      By: Vidady
      Pigeons are often found in urban areas.
    • Hoatzin are in the opisthocomiformes order of bird species.
      By: feathercollector
      Hoatzin are in the opisthocomiformes order of bird species.
    • The ringed plover is a type of small plover bird.
      By: Brad Thompson
      The ringed plover is a type of small plover bird.