Updated: 09/28/09

Now that the Lee’s Birds of the World has been started, these pages will give background information for the bird families of the world.

I have been using links to Bird Families of the World for some time. They are now in their 9th edition (April 2009) and it is an ongoing challenge for them to keep up with all the changes that come up. I like the format and it provides good information about birds. For the non-birders, it will seem odd, but much thought around the world goes into developing these lists.

Since Bird Families say there are 228-231 families (depending on whose list you use), don’t expect them to all be duplicated here.  The pages are missing a few at families, but the Whole Wide World (www) is out there to provide what is not found here.

Here is a list of the families according to Bird Families of the World, 9th edition and IOC World Bird Lists, ver 2.1 As you can see, there are quite a few families.  (There are 42 Orders, 228 Families, 2198 Genera and about 10,340 birds species worldwide, according to IOC.) If you see -” a Bird of the Bible”, then look under that tab at the top to see those birds (at least for now) The links are active:

Non-Passerine Families

Struthionidae – Ostrich – a Bird of the Bible

Rheidae – Rheas

Casuariidae – Cassowaries

Dromaiidae – Emu

Apterygidae – Kiwis

Tinamidae – Tinamous

Anhimidae – Screamers

Anserantidae – Magpie-Goose

Anatidae – Geese, Swans & Ducks – a Bird of the Bible

Megapodiidae – Megapodes

Cracidae – Curassows & Guans

Numididae – Guineafowl

Odontophoridae – New World Quails] – a Bird of the Bible

Phasianidae – Pheasants, Partridges, Grouse & Turkeys [5]] – a Bird of the Bible

Gaviidae – Loons

Podicipedidae – Grebes

Phoenicopteridae – Flamingos

Spheniscidae – Penguins

Diomedeidae – Albatrosses

Procellariidae – Petrels & Shearwaters

Hydrobatidae – Storm-Petrels

Pelecanoididae – Diving-Petrels

Phaethontidae – Tropicbirds

Scopidae – Hamerkop

Balaenicipitidae – Shoebill

Pelecanidae – Pelicans] – a Bird of the Bible

Sulidae – Boobies

Phalacrocoracidae – Cormorants – a Bird of the Bible

Anhingidae – Darters

Fregatidae – Frigatebirds

Ardeidae – Herons [8] – a Bird of the Bible

Threskiornithidae – Ibises & Spoonbills

Ciconiidae – Storks – a Bird of the Bible

Cathartidae – New World Vultures – a Bird of the Bible

Pandionidae – Osprey – a Bird of the Bible

Accipitridae – Hawks & Eagles – a Bird of the Bible

Sagittariidae – Secretarybird

Falconidae – Falcons & Caracaras – a Bird of the Bible

Mesitornithidae – Mesites

Turnicidae – Buttonquails

Gruidae – Cranes – a Bird of the Bible

Aramidae – Limpkin

Psophiidae – Trumpeters

Rallidae – Rails

Heliornithidae – Finfoots

Rhynochetidae – Kagu

Eurypygidae – Sunbittern

Cariamidae – Seriemas

Otididae – Bustards

Charadriidae – Plovers

Glareolidae – Coursers & Pratincoles

Dromadidae – Crab Plover

Haematopodidae – Oystercatchers

Ibidorhynchidae – Ibisbill

Recurvirostridae – Stilts & Avocets

Burhinidae – Thick-knees

Chionidae – Sheathbills

Pluvianellidae – Magellanic Plover

Scolopacidae – Sandpipers, Snipes & Phalaropes

Pedionomidae – Plains-wanderer

Thinocoridae – Seedsnipes

Jacanidae – Jaçanas

Rostratulidae – Painted-snipe

Laridae – Gulls

Sternidae – Terns

Rynchopidae – Skimmers

Stercorariidae – Skuas & Jaegers

Alcidae – Auks

Pteroclidae – Sandgrouse

Columbidae – Pigeons & Doves – a Bird of the Bible

Strigopidae – New Zealand Parrots

Cacatuidae – Cockatoos

Psittacidae – Typical Parrots

Opisthocomidae – Hoatzin

Musophagidae – Turacos & Allies

Cuculidae – Cuckoos, Coucals & Anis [20] – a Bird of the Bible

Tytonidae – Barn & Grass Owls

Strigidae – Typical Owls – a Bird of the Bible

Steatornithidae – Oilbird

Podargidae – Australasian Frogmouths

Batrachostomidae – Asian Frogmouths

Nyctibiidae – Potoos

Caprimulgidae – Nightjars & Nighthawks – a Bird of the Bible

Aegothelidae – Owlet-Nightjars

Apodidae – Swifts

Hemiprocnidae – Treeswifts

Trochilidae – Hummingbirds

Coliidae – Mousebirds

Trogonidae – Trogons

Alcedinidae – River Kingfishers

Cerylidae – Water Kingfisher

Halcyonidae – Tree Kingfisher

Todidae – Todies

Momotidae – Motmots

Meropidae – Bee-eaters

Coraciidae – Rollers

Brachypteraciidae – Ground-Rollers

Leptosomidae – Cuckoo-Roller – a Bird of the Bible

Upupidae – Hoopoes – a Bird of the Bible

Phoeniculidae – Wood-Hoopoes & Scimitarbills

Bucorvidae – Ground-Hornbills

Bucerotidae – Hornbills

Galbulidae – Jacamars

Bucconidae – Puffbirds

Megalaimidae – Asian Barbets

Lybiidae – African Barbets & Tinkerbirds

Capitonidae – American Barbets

Semnornithidae – Toucan-Barbets

Ramphastidae – Toucans

Indicatoridae – Honeyguides

Picidae – Woodpeckers

Passerine families

Acanthisittidae – New Zealand Wrens

Pittidae – Pittas

Calyptomenidae – Calyptomenid Broadbill

Eurylaimidae – Eurylaimid Broadbills

Philepittidae – Asities

Sapayoidae – Sapayoa

Furnariidae – Furnarids & Woodcreepers

Thamnophilidae – Typical Antbirds

Formicariidae – Antthrushes

Grallariidae – Antpittas

Conopophagidae – Gnateaters

Rhinocryptidae – Tapaculos

Melanopareiidae – Crescentchests

Tyrannidae – Tyrant Flycatchers

Cotingidae – Cotingas

Pipridae – Manakins

Tityridae – Tityras, Mourners & allies

Menuridae – Lyrebirds

Atrichornithidae – Scrub-birds

Ptilonorhynchidae – Bowerbirds

Climacteridae – Australasian Treecreepers

Locustellidae – Fairywrens & Grasswrens

Meliphagidae – Honeyeaters & allies, including Australian chats

Dasyornithidae – Bristlebirds

Pardalotidae – Pardalotes

Acanthizidae – Australo-Papuan Warblers

Pomatostomidae – Pseudo-babblers

Orthonychidae – Logrunners

Cnemophilidae – Satinbirds

Melanocharitidae – Berrypeckers & Longbills

Paramythiidae – Painted Berrypeckers

Callaeidae – New Zealand Wattlebirds

Notiomystidae – Stitchbird

Psophodidae – Whipbirds & Wedgebills

Cinclosomatidae – Quail-Thrushes & Jewel-Babblers

Oreoicaeda – Crested Bellbird & allies

Platysteiridae – Batises, Wattle-eyes & allies

Tephrodornithidae – Woodshrikes & allies

Prionopidae – Helmet-Shrikes

Malaconotidae – Bush-Shrikes

Vangidae – Vangas

Machaerirhynchidae – Boatbills

Artamidae – Woodswallows, Butcherbirds & allies

Pityriaseidae – Bristlehead

Aegithinidae – Ioras

Campephagidae – Cuckoo-Shrikes – a Bird of the Bible

Neosittidae – Sittellas

Pachycephalidae – Whistlers, Shrike-Thrushes, Shrike-tits & allies

Laniidae – True Shrikes

Vireonidae – Vireos, Greenlets, Erpornis & Shrike-Babblers

Oriolidae – Old World Orioles & Figbirds

Dicruridae – Drongos

Rhipiduridae – Fantails

Monarchidae – Monarchs & allies, including magpie-larks

Corvidae – Crows, Jays & allies

Corcoracidae – Apostlebirds

Paradisaeidae – Birds-of-Paradise

Petroicidae – Australo-Papuan Robins

Picathartidae – Rockfowl

Chaetopidae – Rockjumpers

Eupetidae – Rail-babbler

Bombycillidae – Waxwings

Ptiliogonatidae – Silky-flycatchers

Hypocoliidae – Hypocolius

Dulidae – Palmchat

Hylocitreidae – Olive-flanked Whistler

Stenostiridae – Fairy Flycatchers

Paridae – Tits & Chickadees, including Groundpecker

Remizidae – Penduline Tits

Panuridae – Bearded Reedling

Nicatoridae – Nicators

Alaudidae – Larks

Pycnonotidae – Bulbuls

Hirundinidae – Swallows & Martins – a Bird of the Bible

Macrosphenidae – Crombecs & African Warblers

Cettiidae – Cettid Warblers

Aegithalidae – Long-tailed Tits

Phylloscopidae – Leaf-Warblers

Acrocephalidae – Acrocephalid Warblers

Megaluridae – Megalurid Warblers & Grassbirds

Donacobiidae – Donacobius

Bernieridae – Malagasy Warblers

Cisticolidae – Cisticolas & Allies

Pnoepygidae – Pygmy Wren-Babblers

Timaliidae – Laughing-thrushes, Typical Babblers & White-eyes

Sylviidae – Sylvid Babblers, Parrotbills & Wrentit

Promeropidae – Sugarbirds & allies

Irenidae – Fairy-Bluebirds

Regulidae – Kinglets

Hyliotidae – Hyliotas

Troglodytidae – Wrens

Polioptilidae – Gnatcatchers

Sittidae – Nuthatches

Tichodromidae – Wallcreeper

Certhiidae – Treecreepers

Mimidae – Thrashers & Mimids

Sturnidae – Starlings & Mynas

Rhabdornithidae – Rhabdornis [Philippine Creepers]

Buphagidae – Oxpeckers

Turdidae – Thrushes

Muscicapidae – Old World Flycatchers & Chats

Cinclidae – Dippers

Chloropseidae – Leafbirds

Dicaeidae – Flowerpeckers

Nectariniidae – Sunbirds & Spiderhunters

Prunellidae – Accentors

Peucedramidae – Olive Warbler

Motacillidae – Pipits & Wagtails

Parulidae – New World Warblers

Thraupidae – Tanagers

Emberizidae – Sparrows & Old World Buntings

Calcariidae – Longspurs & Snow Buntings

Cardinalidae – Cardinals, Grosbeaks & allies

Icteridae – Icterids

Urocynchramidae – Przevalski’s Finch [Pink-tailed Bunting]

Fringillidae – Finches

Estrildidae – Waxbills

Viduidae – Indigobirds

Ploceidae – Weavers

Passeridae – Old World Sparrows – a Bird of the Bible