Modern birds Fossil range: Cretaceous - Recent
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Subclass: Neornithes Gadow, 1893
Superorders
Paleognathae Neognathae

Modern birds (subclass Neornithes) are the members of class Aves that have survived into recent times and have coexisted with humans. The Cretaceous (kriːˈteɪʃəs, usually abbreviated 'K' for its German translation "Kreide" is a geologic period and system, reaching from the end of Chordates ( Phylum Chordata) are a group of Animals that includes the Vertebrates together with several closely related Invertebrates Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. Hans Friedrich Gadow ( March 8, 1855 - May 16, 1928) was a German Ornithologist. The Paleognathae or paleognaths ("old jaws" are one of the two living Superorders of Birds The other living superorder is Neognathae Neognaths ( Neognathae) are Birds within the Subclass Neornithes of the class Aves. Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus Modern birds are characterised primarily by their toothless beaks, as most prehistoric bird groups possessed teeth. A body plan, or bauplan, is essentially the blueprint for the way the body of an organism is laid out Anatomy Stegosaurus --> Beaks can vary significantly in size and shape from species to species Prehistoric birds are various taxa of Birds that became Extinct before recorded History, or more precisely before they could be studied

Many species of modern bird undertake long distance annual migrations, and many more perform shorter more irregular movements. Bird migration refers to the regular seasonal journeys undertaken by many species of Birds Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability They are primarily socially monogamous, with engagement in extra-pair copulations being common in some species; other species have polygamous or polyandrous breeding systems. Recent discoveries have led biologists to talk about the three varieties of Monogamy: social monogamy sexual monogamy and genetic monogamy Animal sexual behaviour takes many different forms even within the same Species. The term polygamy (a Greek word meaning "the practice of multiple marriage" is used in related ways in Social anthropology, Sociobiology, and In Social anthropology and Sociobiology, polyandry ( Greek: poly - many andros - man refers to a form of polygamous Eggs are usually laid in a nest and incubated and most birds have an extended period of parental care after hatching. A nest is a place of refuge to hold an animal's eggs and/or provide a place to raise their offspring Incubation is the process by which Birds hatch their eggs, and to the development of the Embryo within the egg

Contents 1 Taxonomy 1.1 Classification 1.2 Phylogeny 2 References

Taxonomy

Modern birds are divided into two superorders, the Paleognathae (mostly flightless birds like ostriches), and the wildly diverse Neognathae, containing all other birds. This article is about the taxonomic rank for the sequence of species in a taxonomic list see Taxonomic order In scientific classification used The Paleognathae or paleognaths ("old jaws" are one of the two living Superorders of Birds The other living superorder is Neognathae The Ostrich ( Struthio camelus) is a large Flightless bird native to Africa (and formerly the Middle East) Neognaths ( Neognathae) are Birds within the Subclass Neornithes of the class Aves. Depending on the taxonomic viewpoint, the number of species cited varies anywhere from 8,800 to 10,200 known living bird species in the world. Taxonomy, sometimes alpha taxonomy, is the Science of finding describing and categorising Organisms thus giving rise to taxonomic groups or taxa It is generally agreed that the Neornithes evolved in the Cretaceous Period and that the split between the Galloanserae (fowl) and the other Neognathae occurred before the K-T extinction event, but there are different opinions about whether the radiation of the remaining neognathes occurred before or after the extinction of the other dinosaurs. The Cretaceous (kriːˈteɪʃəs, usually abbreviated 'K' for its German translation "Kreide" is a geologic period and system, reaching from the end of Most or all Birds collectively referred to as fowl belong to one of two orders namely the gamefowl or landfowl ( Galliformes) and the waterfowl The Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event, which occurred approximately ( Ma) was a large-scale mass extinction of animal and plant species in a geologically ^[1] This disagreement is in part caused by a divergence in the evidence, with molecular dating suggesting a Cretaceous radiation and fossil evidence supporting a Tertiary radiation. FOSSIL is a standard protocol for allowing serial communication for Telecommunications programs under the DOS Operating system. The chuprichondira geological time interval covers roughly the time span between the demise of the non- avian Dinosaurs and beginning of the most recent Ice Age, approximately Attempts made to reconcile the molecular and fossil evidence have proved controversial. ^[1][2]

The classification of modern birds is a contentious issue. Sibley & Ahlquist's Phylogeny and Classification of Birds (1990) is a landmark work on the classification of birds, although frequently debated and constantly revised. Charles Gald Sibley ( August 7, 1917 – April 12, 1998) was an American Ornithologist and Molecular biologist A preponderance of evidence seems to suggest that the modern bird orders constitute accurate taxa. A taxon (plural taxa) or taxonomic unit, is a name designating an organism or a group of Organisms In Biological nomenclature according to However, scientists are not in agreement as to the relationships between the orders; evidence from modern bird anatomy, fossils and DNA have all been brought to bear on the problem but no strong consensus has emerged. More recently, new fossil and molecular evidence is providing an increasingly clear picture of the evolution of modern bird orders. See also: Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy and dinosaur classification. The Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy is a radical bird Taxonomy proposed by Charles Sibley and Jon Edward Ahlquist. Dinosauria is a Clade of Archosaurs within the Phylum Chordata.

Classification

This is a list of the taxonomic orders in the subclass Neornithes, or modern birds. The list of birds gives a more detailed summary of these, including families. A Phylogenetic tree of the modern birds based on a recent study

Subclass Neornithes
Paleognathae:

• Struthioniformes, Ostrich, emus, kiwis, and allies
• Tinamiformes, tinamous

Neognathae:

• Anseriformes, waterfall
• Galliformes, fowl
• Gaviiformes, loons
• Podicipediformes, grebes
• Procellariiformes, albatrosses, petrels, and allies
• Sphenisciformes, penguins
• Pelecaniformes, pelicans and allies
• Ciconiiformes, storks and allies
• Phoenicopteriformes, flamingos
• Falconiformes, falcons, eagles, hawks and allies
• Gruiformes, cranes and allies
• Charadriiformes, gulls, button-quail, plovers and allies
• Pteroclidiformes, sandgrouse
• Columbiformes, doves and pigeons
• Psittaciformes, parrots and allies
• Cuculiformes, cuckoos, turacos, hoatzin
• Strigiformes, owls
• Caprimulgiformes, nightjars and allies
• Apodiformes, swifts and hummingbirds
• Coraciiformes, kingfishers
• Piciformes, woodpeckers and allies
• Trogoniformes, trogons
• Coliiformes, mousebirds
• Passeriformes, passerines

Note: This is the traditional classification (the so-called Clements order). The Paleognathae or paleognaths ("old jaws" are one of the two living Superorders of Birds The other living superorder is Neognathae A ratite is any of a diverse group of large Flightless birds of Gondwanan origin most of them now extinct The Ostrich ( Struthio camelus) is a large Flightless bird native to Africa (and formerly the Middle East) The Emu ( Dromaius novaehollandiae, is the largest Bird native to Australia and the only extant member of the Genus KIWI (1029 FM, "Radio Lobo" is a commercial Radio station located in McFarland California, broadcasting to the Bakersfield California The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of Bird, members of a South American Bird family of about 47 species in 9 genera The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of Bird, members of a South American Bird family of about 47 species in 9 genera Neognaths ( Neognathae) are Birds within the Subclass Neornithes of the class Aves. The order Anseriformes contains about 150 living Species of Birds in three extant families the Anhimidae (the screamers Anseranatidae Galliformes are an order of Birds containing turkeys, Grouse, Chickens Quails and Pheasants More than 250 The loons (eg North America or divers (eg UK/Ireland are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Eurasia The loons (eg North America or divers (eg UK/Ireland are a group of aquatic birds found in many parts of North America and northern Eurasia Grebes are members of the Podicipediformes order, a widely distributed order of freshwater diving birds some of which visit the sea when migrating Grebes are members of the Podicipediformes order, a widely distributed order of freshwater diving birds some of which visit the sea when migrating Procellariiformes is an order of Seabirds that comprises four families: the Albatrosses procellariids, Storm-petrels and Diving Albatrosses, of the biological family Diomedeidae, are large Seabirds allied to the procellariids, Storm-petrels and Diving-petrels This article is about the petrel seabirds For other uses see Petrel (disambiguation. Penguins ( order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae) are a group of aquatic, flightless Birds living almost Penguins ( order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae) are a group of aquatic, flightless Birds living almost The Pelecaniformes are an order of medium-sized and large waterbirds found worldwide A pelican is a large water Bird with a distinctive pouch under the beak belonging to the Bird family Pelecanidae. Traditionally the order Ciconiiformes has included a variety of large long-legged wading birds with large bills Storks Herons Egrets Storks are large long-legged long-necked wading Birds with long stout bills, belonging to the family Ciconiidae. Flamingos or flamingoes ( are gregarious Wading birds in the Genus Phoenicopterus and family Flamingos or flamingoes ( are gregarious Wading birds in the Genus Phoenicopterus and family The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 Species of Birds that include the diurnal birds of prey. A falcon (fɔlkən or fælkən is any Species of raptor in the Genus Falco. Eagles are large birds of prey which are members of the Bird order Falconiformes and family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera The term hawk can be used in several ways In strict usage in Europe and Asia, to mean any of the Species in the Subfamily The diverse order Gruiformes contains a considerable number of living and extinct Bird families with on first sight little in common Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large Birds It includes about 350 Species and has members in all parts of the world Gulls (often informally Seagulls) are birds in the family Laridae The buttonquails or hemipodes are a small family of Birds which resemble but are unrelated to the true Quails They inhabit warm grasslands in Asia Sandgrouse is also the name of the journal of the Ornithological Society of the Middle East - see Sandgrouse (journal The sandgrouse are a The Bird order Columbiformes includes the very widespread and successful Doves and pigeons, classified in the family Columbidae and the Parrots are birds of the roughly 350 Species in 85 genera comprising the order Psittaciformes, found in most warm and tropical regions Parrots are birds of the roughly 350 Species in 85 genera comprising the order Psittaciformes, found in most warm and tropical regions The Near passerine Bird order Cuculiformes traditionally included three families as below Musophagidae - turacos and allies The cuckoos are a family Cuculidae, of Near passerine Birds The order Cuculiformes, in addition to the cuckoos also includes the The turacos, Plantain -eaters and go-away-birds make up the Bird family Musophagidae (literally "banana-eaters" The Hoatzin ( Opisthocomus hoazin) also known as the Hoactzin, Stinkbird, or Canje "Pheasant", is an unusual species The Owls are an order of birds of prey. Most are Solitary, and nocturnal, with some exceptions (e The Owls are an order of birds of prey. Most are Solitary, and nocturnal, with some exceptions (e The Caprimulgiformes is an order of Birds that includes a number of Birds with global distribution (except Antarctica) This article is about the bird For the aircraft see Gloster Nightjar. The swifts are a family Apodidae, of highly aerial Birds They are superficially similar to Swallows but are actually not closely related to those Hummingbirds are Birds in the family Trochilidae, and are endemic to the Americas. The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colourful Near passerine Birds including the Kingfishers the Hoopoe, the Bee-eaters the Kingfishers are small bright colored Birds of the three families Alcedinidae ( River kingfishers, Halcyonidae ( Tree kingfishers, and Cerylidae ( Water Six families of largely arboreal Birds make up the order Piciformes, the best-known of them being the Picidae which includes the Woodpeckers The woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks are a family, Picidae, of Near-passerine Birds. The trogons and quetzals are Birds in the order Trogoniformes which contains only one family the Trogonidae. The trogons and quetzals are Birds in the order Trogoniformes which contains only one family the Trogonidae. The mousebirds are a small group of (possibly Near passerine) Birds which have no real close affinities to other groups though they and the parrots and cockatoos Dr James Franklin ( Jim) Clements ( October 31, 1927 – June 9, 2005) was an ornithologist and Author A radically different classification based on molecular data has been developed (the so-called Sibley-Monroe classification or Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy). The Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy is a radical bird Taxonomy proposed by Charles Sibley and Jon Edward Ahlquist. This has influenced taxonomic thinking considerably, with the Galloanserae proving well-supported by recent molecular, fossil and anatomical evidence. Most or all Birds collectively referred to as fowl belong to one of two orders namely the gamefowl or landfowl ( Galliformes) and the waterfowl ^[1] With increasingly good evidence, it had become possible by 2006 to test the major proposals of the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, with favorable results (see for example Charadriiformes, Gruiformes or Caprimulgiformes). Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large Birds It includes about 350 Species and has members in all parts of the world The diverse order Gruiformes contains a considerable number of living and extinct Bird families with on first sight little in common The Caprimulgiformes is an order of Birds that includes a number of Birds with global distribution (except Antarctica)

Phylogeny

Basal divergences of modern birds based on the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy. The Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy is a radical bird Taxonomy proposed by Charles Sibley and Jon Edward Ahlquist.

Neornithes	Paleognathae  Struthioniformes Tinamiformes  Neognathae    Neoaves Galloanserae  Anseriformes      Galliformes Craciformes

References

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