ZOOLOGY STUDY GUIDE - Ye. O. Nevedomska - 2013

LECTURE 17. CLASS AVES (BIRDS)

2. Classification of birds

Three superorders of birds are recognized:

1. Superorder Palaeognathae (Ratites) — 9 species: African ostrich, Australian ostrich (cassowary), American ostrich (emu), New Zealand kiwi, rhea.

2. Superorder Penguins (Spheniscidae) — 18 species: emperor penguin.

3. Superorder Neognathae (Carinatae) — over 8 500 species.

Modern orders of carinate birds:

Procellariiformes — 100 species: albatrosses, petrels.

Columbiformes — about 200 species: wood pigeon, turtle doves, rock dove.

Passeriformes — more than 5 000 species: sparrows, swallows, magpies, crows, thrushes.

Anseriformes — more than 150 species: geese, ducks, swans.

Piciformes — about 400 species: great and lesser spotted woodpeckers, black woodpecker.

Ciconiiformes — 118 species: storks, herons.

Cuculiformes — 147 species: common cuckoo, hoatzins.

Galliformes — 283 species: hazel grouse, black grouse, capercaillies, quails, partridges.

Psittaciformes — 325 species: budgerigar.

Charadriiformes — more than 300 species: woodcocks, lapwings, plovers, sandpipers, gulls, black tern, guillemots.

Strigiformes — 130 species: tawny owl, long-eared owl, short-eared owl, little owl, eagle owl.

Falconiformes — 225 species: falcons, eagles, hawks, osprey, golden eagle, cinereous vulture, condor.

Apodiformes — about 390 species: common and alpine swifts, hummingbirds.



Last update: 14/08/2026

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