Question: How many species of birds are there?

List of birds




This page lists living orders and families of birds. The links below should then lead to family accounts and hence to individual species.
The passerines (perching birds) alone account for well over 5000 species. In total there are about 10,000 species of birds described worldwide, though one estimate of the real number places it at almost twice that[1].
Taxonomy is very fluid in the age of DNA analysis, so comments are made where appropriate, and all numbers are approximate. In particular see Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy for a very different classification.
Phylogeny
Cladogram of modern bird relationships based on Jarvis, E.D. et al. (2014)[2] with some clade names after  Yury, T. et al. (2013).[3]





Aves










Palaeognathae










Struthionimorphae
Struthioniformes (ostriches)[4]Notopalaeognathae





















Rheimorphae
Rheiformes (rheas)Novaeratitae











Casuariiformes (cassowaries & emus)











Apterygiformes (kiwi)
†Aepyornithiformes (elephant birds)Tinamomorphae











†Dinornithiformes (moas)











†Lithornithiformes (false tinamous)
Tinamiformes (tinamous)Neognathae










Galloanserae










Gallomorphae
Galliformes (landfowl)Odontoanserae











†OdontopterygiformesAnserimorphae






















†Vegaviiformes[5]
†Gastornithiformes
Anseriformes (waterfowl)Neoaves










Columbea










Mirandornithes











Phoenicopteriformes (flamingoes)
Podicipediformes (grebes)Columbimorphae






















Mesitornithiformes (mesites)
Pteroclidiformes (sandgrouse)
Columbiformes (pigeons)Passerea










Otidae










Otidimorphae











Cuculiformes (cuckoos)











Otidiformes (bustards)
Musophagiformes (turacos)Cypselomorphae











Caprimulgiformes (nightjars)











Nyctibiiformes (oilbirds & potoos)











Podargiformes (frogmouths)











Aegotheliformes (owlet-nightjars)
Apodiformes (hummingbirds & swifts)










Gruae











Opisthocomiformes (hoatzin)Cursorimorphae











Gruiformes (rails and cranes)
Charadriiformes (shorebirds)










Ardeae










Phaethontimorphae











Eurypygiformes (sunbittern, kagu)
Phaethontiformes (tropicbirds)Aequornithes











Gaviiformes (loons)










Austrodyptornithes











Procellariiformes (albatross and petrels)
Sphenisciformes (penguins)











Ciconiiformes (storks)











Suliformes (boobies, cormorants, etc.)
Pelecaniformes (pelicans, herons & egrets)Telluraves










Afroaves










Accipitrimorphae











Cathartiformes (condors and New World vultures)
Accipitriformes (hawks, eagles, vultures, etc.)











Strigiformes (owls)Coraciimorphae











Coliiformes (mousebirds)Cavitaves











Leptosomatiformes (cuckoo roller)Eucavitaves











Trogoniformes (trogons)Picocoraciae











Bucerotiformes (hornbills, hoopoe and wood hoopoes)Picodynastornithes











Coraciformes (kingfishers etc.)
Piciformes (woodpeckers etc.)Australaves











Cariamiformes (seriemas)Eufalconimorphae











Falconiformes (falcons)Psittacopasserae











Psittaciformes (parrots)
Passeriformes (songbirds and kin)
Paleognathae
The flightless and mostly giant Struthioniformes lack a keeled sternum and are collectively known as ratites. Together with the Tinamiformes, they form the Paleognathae or "old jaws", one of the two superorders recognized within the taxonomic class Aves.
Struthioniformes



Africa; 2 species
Struthionidae: ostrich
Notopalaeognathae
Rheiformes
South America; 2 species
†Opisthodactylidae
Rheidae: rheas
Casuariiformes
Australasia;  4 species
Casuariidae: cassowaries and emu
Apterygiformes
Australasia; 5 species
Apterygidae: kiwis
Aepyornithiformes
Madagascar
†Aepyornithidae: elephant birds
Dinornithiformes
New Zealand
†Megalapteryidae: upland moas
†Dinornithidae: great moas
†Emeidae: lesser moas
Tinamiformes
South America; 45 species
Tinamidae: tinamous
Neognathae
Nearly all living birds belong to the superorder Neognathae or "new jaws". With their keeled sternum (breastbone), unlike the ratites, they are known as carinatae.
Galloanserae
Galliformes

Worldwide; 250 species
†Sylviornithidae
Megapodii
Megapodidae: megapodes
Craci
Cracidae: chachalacas, curassows, and guans
Phasiani
Numidioidea
Numididae: guineafowl
Phasianoidea: pheasants and allies
Odontophoridae: New World quail
Phasianidae: pheasants and relatives
Gastornithiformes
†Gastornithidae
†Dromornithidae: mihirungs
Anseriformes
Worldwide; 150 species
Anhimidae: screamers
Anseranatidae: magpie-goose
Anatidae: ducks, geese, and swans
Mirandornithes
Podicipediformes
Worldwide; 19 species
Podicipedidae: grebes
Phoenicopteriformes
Worldwide; 6 species
†Palaelodidae: swimming flamingos
Phoenicopteridae: flamingos
Columbimorphae
Columbiformes
Worldwide; 300 species
Columbidae: pigeons and doves
Pteroclidiformes
Africa, Europe, Asia; 16 species
Pteroclididae: sandgrouse
Mesitornithiformes
Madagascar; 3 species
Mesitornithidae: mesites
Cypselomorphae
Caprimulgiformes
Worldwide; 500 species

Caprimulgidae: nightjars
Steatornithidae: oilbird
Nyctibiidae: potoos
Podargidae: frogmouths
Daedalornithes
Aegothelidae: owlet-nightjars
Hemiprocnidae: treeswifts
Apodidae: swifts
Trochilidae: hummingbirds
Otidimorphae
Cuculiformes
Worldwide; 126 species
Cuculidae: cuckoos and relatives
Musophagiformes
Africa; 23 species
Musophagidae: turacos and relatives
Otidiformes
Africa and Eurasia; 27 species
Otididae: bustards
Gruae
Opisthocomiformes
South America; 1 species
Opisthocomidae: hoatzin
Gruiformes
Worldwide; 164 species
Grui: cranes and allies
Gruidae: cranes
Aramidae: limpkin
Psophiidae: trumpeters
Ralli: rails and allies
†Aptornithidae: adzebills
Heliornithidae: finfoots
Sarothruridae: flufftails
Rallidae: rails and relatives
Charadriiformes
Worldwide; 350 species
Charadrii
Chionida:  thick-knees and allies
Burhinidae: thick-knees and relatives
Chionididae: sheathbills
Pluvianellidae: Magellanic plover
Charadriida: plover-like waders
Pluvialidae: golden plovers
Ibidorhynchidae: ibisbill
Haematopodidae: oystercatchers
Recurvirostridae: avocets and stilts
Charadriidae: plovers and lapwings
Scolopaci
Jacanida: jacana-like waders
Rostratulidae: painted snipes
Pluvianidae: Egyptian plover
Jacanidae: jacanas
Thinocoridae: seedsnipes
Pedionomidae: plains-wanderer
Scolopacida
Scolopacidae: sandpipers and relatives
Lari
Turnicida
Turnicidae: buttonquail
Larida:  gulls and allies
Glareolidae: coursers and pratincoles
Dromadidae: crab-plover
Stercorariidae: skuas and jaegers
Alcidae: auks and puffins
Laridae: gulls, skimmers and terns
Phaethontimorphae
Eurypygiformes
Neotropics and New Caledonia; 2 species
Rhynochetidae: kagu
Eurypygidae: sunbittern
Phaethontiformes
Oceanic; 3 species
Phaethontidae: tropicbirds
Aequornithes
Gaviiformes
North America, Eurasia; 5 species
Gaviidae: loons
Sphenisciformes
Antarctic and southern waters; 17 species
Spheniscidae: penguins
Procellariiformes
Pan-oceanic; 120 species
Diomedeidae: albatrosses
Oceanitidae: austral storm petrels
Hydrobatidae: northern storm petrels
Procellariidae: petrels and relatives
Ciconiiformes
Worldwide; 19 species

Ciconiidae: storks
Suliformes
Worldwide; 59 species
Fregatae
Fregatidae: frigatebirds
Sulae
Sulidae: boobies and gannets
Anhingidae: darters
Phalacrocoracidae: cormorants and shags
Pelecaniformes
Worldwide; 108 species
Threskiornithes
Threskiornithidae: ibises and spoonbills
Pelecani
Scopidae: hamerkop
Balaenicipitidae: shoebill
Pelecanidae: pelicans
Ardeae
Ardeidae: herons and relatives
Afroaves
Accipitriformes
Worldwide; 200 species
Cathartae
Cathartidae: New World vultures
Accipitres
Sagittariidae: secretarybird
Pandionidae: osprey
Accipitridae: hawks, eagles, buzzards, harriers, kites and Old World vultures
Strigiformes
Worldwide; 130 species
Tytonidae: barn owls
Strigidae: true owls
Coliiformes
Sub-Saharan Africa; 6 species
Coliidae: mousebirds
Leptosomatiformes
Madagascar; 1 species
Leptosomatidae: cuckoo-roller
Trogoniformes
Sub-Saharan Africa, Americas, Asia; 35 species
Trogonidae: trogons and quetzals
Bucerotiformes
Old World, New Guinea; 64 species
Buceroidea
Bucerotidae: hornbills
Upupoidea
Upupidae: hoopoe
Phoeniculidae: woodhoopoes
Coraciiformes
Worldwide; 144 species
Meropi
Meropidae: bee-eaters
Coracii
Coraciidae: rollers
Brachypteraciidae: ground rollers
Coracii
Todidae: todies
Momotidae: motmots
Alcedinidae

Piciformes
Worldwide except Australasia; 400 species
Galbuli
Galbulidae: jacamars
Bucconidae: puffbirds
Pici
Lybiidae: African barbets
Megalaimidae: Asian barbets
Ramphastidae: toucans
Semnornithidae: toucan barbets
Capitonidae: American barbets
Picidae: woodpeckers
Indicatoridae: honeyguides
Australaves
Cariamiformes
South America; 2 species
Cariamidae: seriemas
Falconiformes
Worldwide; 60 species
Falconidae: falcons and relatives
Psittaciformes
Pan-tropical, southern temperate zones; 330 species
Strigopoidea
Strigopidae: kakapo, kea and kakas
Cacatuoidea
Cacatuidae: cockatoos
Psittacoidea
Psittacidae: African and American parrots
Psittaculidae: Australasian parrots, Pesquet's parrot, vasa parrots
Passeriformes





Worldwide; 5000 species
Acanthisitti
Acanthisittidae: New Zealand wrens
Tyranni: suboscines
Eurylaimides: Old World suboscines
Sapayoidae: sapayoa
Calyptomenidae: Calyptomenid broadbills
Pittidae: pittas
Eurylaimidae: broadbills
Philepittidae: asities
Tyrannides: New World suboscines
Tyrannida: bronchophones
Pipridae: manakins
Cotingidae: cotingas
Oxyruncidae: sharpbills
Onychorhynchidae: royal flycatchers and allies
Tityridae: becards and tityras
Pipritidae:
Platyrinchidae: spadebills
Tachurididae: many-colored rush tyrants
Rhynchocyclidae: mionectine flycatchers
Tyrannidae: tyrant flycatchers
Furnariida: tracheophones
Melanopareiidae: crescent-chests
Conopophagidae: gnateaters
Thamnophilidae: antbirds
Grallariidae: antpittas
Rhinocryptidae tapaculos
Formicariidae: ground antbirds
Furnariidae: ovenbirds
Passeri: oscines
Menurides
Atrichornithidae: scrub-birds
Menuridae: lyrebirds
Climacterides
Ptilonorhynchidae: bowerbirds
Climacteridae: Australasian treecreepers
Meliphagides
Maluridae: Australasian wrens
Dasyornithidae: bristlebirds
Pardalotidae: gerygones and allies (Acanthizidae)
Meliphagidae: honeyeaters and relatives
Orthonychides
Pomatostomidae: Australasian babblers
Orthonychidae: logrunners
Corvides
Cinclosomatoidea
Cinclosomatidae: quail-thrushes and jewel-babblers
Campephagoidea
Campephagidae: cuckoo-shrikes
Mohouoidea
Mohouidae: whitehead and allies
Neosittoidea
Neosittidae: sittellas
Orioloidea
Eulacestomidae: wattled ploughbills
Psophodidae: whipbirds and quail-thrushes
Oreoicidae: Australo-Papuan bellbirds
Falcunculidae: crested shriketits
Paramythiidae: painted berrypeckers
Pteruthiidae:
Vireonidae: vireos and relatives
Pachycephalidae: whistlers and relatives (Colluricinclidae)
Oriolidae: Old World orioles
Malaconotoidea
Machaerirhynchidae: boatbills
Artamidae: woodswallows and butcherbirds
Rhagologidae: mottled berryhunter
Aegithinidae: ioras
Pityriaseidae: bristlehead
Malaconotidae: bushshrikes and relatives
Platysteiridae: wattle-eyes and batises
Vangidae: vangas (Tephrodornithidae; Prionopidae)
Corvoidea
Rhipiduridae: fantails
Lamproliidae: silktail, drongo fantail
Dicruridae: drongos
Ifritidae: blue-capped ifrits
Melampittidae:
Corcoracidae: Australian mudnesters
Paradisaeidae: birds-of-paradise
Monarchidae: monarch flycatchers
Laniidae: shrikes
Corvidae: jays and crows
Passerides
Melanocharitida
Melanocharitidae: berrypeckers
Cnemophilida
Cnemophilidae: satinbirds
Petroicida
Petroicidae: Australasian robins
Notiomystidae: stitchbird
Callaeidae: wattlebirds
Eupetida
Picathartidae: rockfowl
Chaetopidae: rock-jumpers
Eupetidae: rail-babbler
Sylviida
Paroidea 
Stenostiridae: fairy warblers
Hyliotidae: hyliotas
Remizidae: penduline tits
Paridae: chickadees and true tits
Alaudoidea
Nicatoridae: nicators
Panuridae: bearded reedling
Alaudidae: larks
Macrosphenidae: African warblers
Locustelloidea 
Cisticolidae: cisticolas and relatives
Acrocephalidae: marsh warblers
Pnoepygidae: pygmy wren-babblers
Locustellidae: grass warblers
Donacobiidae
Bernieridae: Malagasy warblers
Hirundinidae: swallows and martins
Pycnonotidae: bulbuls
Aegithaloidea
Phylloscopidae: leaf warblers
Cettiidae: bush warblers (Erythrocercidae; Scotocercidae)
Hyliidae
Aegithalidae: bushtits
Sylvioidea
Sylviidae: true warblers
Paradoxornithidae: parrotbills, fulvettas
Zosteropidae: white-eyes
Timaliidae: babblers and relatives
Pellorneidae: fulvettas, ground babblers
Leiothrichidae: laughing thrushes
Muscicapida
Reguloidea
Regulidae: kinglets
Bombycilloidea
Elachuridae: spotted wren-babblers
†Mohoidae: Hawaiian honeyeaters
Ptiliogonatidae: silky-flycatchers
Bombycillidae: waxwings
Dulidae: palmchat
Hypocoliidae: hypocolius
Certhioidea
Tichodromidae: wallcreeper
Sittidae: nuthatches
Certhiidae: treecreepers
Troglodytidae: wrens
Polioptilidae: gnatcatchers
Muscicapoidea
Cinclidae: dippers
Turdidae: thrushes and relatives
Muscicapidae: flycatchers and relatives
Buphagidae: oxpeckers
Mimidae: mockingbirds and thrashers
Sturnidae: starlings and mynas (Rhabdornithidae)
Passerida
Promeropidae: sugarbirds
Arcanatoridae: dapplethroat and allies
Dicaeidae: flowerpeckers
Nectariniidae: sunbirds
Irenidae: fairy-bluebirds
Chloropseidae: leafbirds
Peucedramidae: olive warbler
Prunellidae: accentors
Ploceoidea
Urocynchramidae: pink-tailed bunting
Ploceidae: weavers and relatives
Viduidae: whydahs and indigobirds
Estrildidae: weaver finches
Passerid clade
Passeridae: Old World sparrows
Motacillidae: wagtails and pipits
Fringillidae: finches and relatives
Calcariidae: longspurs, snow buntings
Rhodinocichlidae: rosy thrush-tanagers
Emberizidae: Old World buntings and New World sparrows
Passerellidae: American sparrows
Phaenicophilidae: palm-tanager and allies
Icteridae: New World blackbirds and New World orioles
Parulidae: wood warblers
Mitrospingidae
Cardinalidae: cardinals, grosbeaks, and New World buntings
Thraupidae: tanagers and relatives (Coerebidae)
See also
Lists of animals
List of birds of the world
List of chicken breeds
List of birds by common name
List of individual birds
Lists by continent
List of birds of Africa
List of birds of Antarctica
List of birds of Asia
List of birds of Australia
List of birds of Europe
List of birds of North America
List of birds of South America
Lists by smaller geographic unit
Lists of birds by region
Extinct birds
List of recently extinct bird species
List of Late Quaternary prehistoric bird species
List of fossil bird genera