User blog:StaraptorEmpoleon/Introduction to birds, part four

Passerae
(pass-er-AY).

Accipitrimorphae
(ack-sip-ih-tree-ih-MOR-fay).



New Wolrd Vultures: Cathartiformes
(cath-art-ih-FOR-meez).

This group only includes the New World vultures.

Example: Lesser yellow-headed vulture.



Hawks, Eagles: Accipitriformes
(ack-sip-IH-try-FOR-meez).

Includes the diurnal raptors but excludes the falcons.

Example: Ornate hawk-eagle.

‘Anomalogonatae’
(an-oh-mall-oh-GON-a-tay).

Birds that appear to be distantly related to passerines (???).



Mousebirds: Coliiformes
(call-ih-FOR-meez).

The mousebirds.

Example: Blue-naped mousebird.



Owls: Strigiformes
(STRI-gih-FOR-meez).

The owls.

Example: Spotted owl.

Cuckoo-Roller: Leptosomiformes
(lep-to-SO-mih-FOR-meez).

The Cuckoo Roller, Leptosomus discolor, is the only bird in the family Leptosomatidae, which is usually considered to be within the order Coraciiformes, which also includes the kingfishers, bee-eaters and rollers. However, the position of this family is not very clear. Morphological evidence may suggest a placement within or near to Falconiformes. In the rather comprehensive DNA study by Hackett et al. this is one of only two birds – besides the Hoatzin – of which the position is not clear, although it seems to be at the root of a group that contains the Trogoniformes, Bucerotiformes, Piciformes and Coraciiformes.

Or, according to tolweb.org:

"Cuckoo rollers are traditionally placed within the order Coraciiformes, but molecular analyses show that they are not closely related to other rollers, Coraciidae and Brachypteracidae (Kirchman et al. 2001) and are not coraciiforms (Hackett et al. 2008) ."

Trogons: Trogoniformes
(troh-gone-ih-FOR-meez).

The trogons.

Example: Resplendent quetzal

Hornbills: Bucerotiformes
(bue-cer-OT-ih-FOR-meez).

An order that includes the hornbills and their allies.

Example: Hoopoe.

Rollers, Kingfishers: Coraciiformes
(COR-ass-ih-FOR-meez).

An order that includes the kingfishers and their allies.

Example: Jamaican tody.

Woodpeckers: Piciformes
(PIES-ih-FOR-meez).

An order that includes the woodpeckers and their allies.

Example: Toco toucan.

Seriemas: Cariamiformes
(car-ee-am-ih-FOR-meez).

A group that includes the seriemas and their extinct relatives.

Though traditionally considered as a suborder of the Gruiformes, based on both morphological and genetic studies they may belong to a separate group of birds whose other living members would be the Falconidae, the Psittaciformes and the Passeriformes.

Example: Red-legged seriema.

Falcons: Falconiformes
(FAL-con-ih-FOR-meez).

Used to include all of the diurnal raptors (hawks, eagles, etc.) but nowadays only includes the falcons and caracaras. Falconiformes is more related to the Passeriformes and Psittaciformes.

Parrots: Psittaciformes
(sih-TAS-ih-FOR-meez). Parrots, cockatoos, psittacines.

There are three families: Strigopidae, Cacatuidae, Psittacidae.

I go over more of the parrot classification here.

Example: Eclectus parrot.

Example: American kestrel.

Songbirds: Passeriformes
(pass-er-ih-FOR-meez).

Perching birds, songbirds, passerines.

Example: Common green magpie.

I go over more of passerine taxonomy: here.