Mirandornithes

Mirandornithes (name coined by Sangster (2005) ) is a clade that consists of flamingos and grebes. Many scholars use the term Phoenicopterimorphae for the superorder containing flamingoes and grebes.

Taxonomy
Determining the relationships of both groups has been problematic. Flamingos had been placed with numerous branches within Neognathae, such as ducks and storks. The grebes had been placed with the loons. However recent studies have confirmed these two branches as sister groups.

Both primitive phoenicopteriformes and their closest relatives, the grebes, were highly aquatic. This indicates that the entire mirandornithe group evolved from aquatic, probably swimming ancestors.

Synapomorphies
According to Mayr (2004) and Sangster (2005) there are at least twelve distinct morphological synapomorphies that are unique to this clade:
 * 1) "At least the fourth to seventh cervical vertebrae strongly elongate, with processus spinosus forming a marked ridge.
 * 2) Humerus with a marked oval depression at insertion site of musculus scapulohumeralis cranialis.
 * 3) At least 23 presacral vertebrae.
 * 4) At least four thoracic vertebrae fused to a notarium.
 * 5) Distal end of ulna with marked oval depression radialis.
 * 6) Phalanx proximalis digiti majoris very elongate and narrow craniocaudally.
 * 7) Distal rim of condylus medialis of tibiotarsus distinctly notched.
 * 8) Pars acetabularis of musculus iliotibialis lateralis absent.
 * 9) Pars caudalis of musculus caudofemoralis absent.
 * 10) Wing with 12 primaries
 * 11) Left arteria carotis reduced or absent.
 * 12) Eggs covered with a chalky layer of amorphous calcium phosphate."

Distribution
Flamingos are found in southern US, Mexico, Caribbean, northern South America, southern South America, southern Europe, Africa, and Asia. Flamingos became extinct in Australia.

Horned Grebe is one of the widest ranging grebes — it breeds in Iceland, northern United Kingdom and Scandinavia in Europe, and throughout the centre of Russia to the Pacific coast, southern Alaska (USA), in most of western and central Canada, and in northern USA. Wintering grounds occur further south, including the North Sea, Adriatic Sea, Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, the coast Japan, Korea and China, and the USA down to California on the Pacific coast and Texas on the Atlantic coast (del Hoyo et al. 1992).

Red-necked is found in Western Canada, northwest US, eastern Russia, northeast China, northern Japan. Winters in Japan, Korea, Aleutian Islands to California, eastern US, south to Florida; Eastern Europe, west and west-central Asia and wintering from North Sea, Black Sea and Caspian Sea (del Hoyo, et al.)

Pied-billed Grebe is generally a New World species, found throughout North, Central and South America, but as of lately (recently as 2007), in the United Kingdom, there are have been 37 sightings; appearing generally in October to January. One bird in England bred with a Little Grebe, producing hybrid young.