List of fossil bird genera

{{Short description|None}}

{{For-multi|a list of birds extinct in Late Quaternary prehistoric times and (usually) known from specimens not completely fossilized|List of Late Quaternary prehistoric bird species|birds that have gone extinct since the year 1500|List of extinct bird species since 1500}}

File:Archaeopteryx lithographica - cast of Humboldt Museum specimen.JPG, most famous of prehistoric "birds". Modern research considers it unlikely to be a bird ancestor, though it was certainly a close relative of these.]]

File:Gastornis, a large flightless bird from the Eocene of Wyoming.jpg fossil bird Gastornis]]

Birds evolved from certain feathered theropod dinosaurs, and there is no real dividing line between birds and non-avian dinosaurs except that some of the former survived the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event while the latter did not. For the purposes of this article, a 'bird' is considered to be any member of the clade Avialae.Sereno (2005) Some dinosaur groups which may or may not be true birds are listed below under Proto-birds.

This page contains a listing of prehistoric bird taxa only known from completely fossilized specimens. These extinctions took place before the Late Quaternary and thus took place in the absence of significant human interference. While the earliest hominids had been eating birds and especially their eggs, human population and technology was simply insufficient to seriously affect healthy bird populations until the Upper Paleolithic Revolution. Rather, reasons for the extinctions listed here are stochastic abiotic events such as bolide impacts, climate changes due to orbital shifts, mass volcanic eruptions etc. Alternatively, species may have gone extinct due to evolutionary displacement by successor or competitor taxa – it is notable that an extremely large number of seabirds have gone extinct during the mid-Tertiary; this seems at least partly due to competition by the contemporary radiation of marine mammals.

The relationships of these taxa are often hard to determine, as many are known only from very fragmentary remains and due to the complete fossilization precluding analysis of information from DNA, RNA or protein sequencing. The taxa listed in this article should be classified with the Wikipedia conservation status category "Fossil".

Before the late 19th century, when minerals were still considered one of the kingdoms of binomial nomenclature, fossils were often treated according to a parallel taxonomy. Rather than assigning them to animal or plant genera, they were treated as mineral genera and given binomial names typically using Osteornis ("bone-bird") or Ornitholithus ("bird fossil") as "genus". The latter name, however, is still in use for an oogenus of fossil bird eggs. Also, other animals (in particular pterosaurs) were placed in these "genera". In sources pre-dating the Linnean system, the above terms are also seen in the more extensive descriptions used to name taxa back then.

Taxonomic list of fossil prehistoric birds

Higher-level taxa are presented in likely or suspected phylogenetic order. Genus-level taxa and lower are sorted chronologically, in ascending order (i.e., older taxa first).

The higher-level groups of non-Neornithes are arranged based on the phylogeny proposed by Luis Chiappe,Chiappe (2001, 2002) updated and expanded to incorporate recent research.See e.g. Mortimer (2004), Sereno (2005) The categories are inclusive in ascending order.

Taxonomic assignments, especially in the pygostylian to early neornithine genera, are still very provisional and subject to quite frequent change.{{cite web|website=Paleofile.com (net, info) |url=http://www.paleofile.com/ |title=Taxonomic lists- Aves |access-date=30 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111195520/http://paleofile.com/ |archive-date=11 January 2016 }}{{cite journal|author=Brodkob, Pierce|year=1963|title=Catalogue of fossil birds 1- Archaeopterygiformes through Ardeiformes|journal=Biological Sciences, Bulletin of the Florida State Museum|volume=7|issue=4|pages=180–293}}

Basal [[Avialae]] (extinct)

The most primitive "birds", usually still possessing a long bony tail with generally unfused vertebrae. Not all of these may be on the line of bird ancestors; whether they are not closer to other theropods groups than to the Avialae remains to be thoroughly tested (see Xiaotingia).

Basal [[Pygostylia]] (extinct)

The earliest birds with a modern pygostyle: a reduction and fusion of the tail vertebrae; possibly a paraphyletic group. Two types of pygostyle are known, a rod-shaped one found in Confuciusornithidae, Enantiornithes and some non-avian theropods such as Nomingia, and a plowshare-shaped one, only known in the lineage leading to modern birds. It is not certain that the pygostyles found in birds are indeed synapomorphies.Clarke et al. (2006)

[[Enantiornithes]] (extinct)

File:Iberomesornis-model-2.jpg, a tiny primitive enantiornithine.
It was no bigger than a modern-day finch.]]

The taxonomic list of enantiornithine groups presented here follows a summary published by Thomas R. Holz Jr. in 2011.

{{extinct}}Enantiornithes

Note that Holtz (2011) also included Zhyraornis in his classification of euenantiornithines, though this genus is more often classified as an ornithuran.Kurochkin (2006) Holtz also placed Liaoningornis as an ornithuromorph, though more recent studies have placed it as a close relative of Eoalulavis.O'Connor, J.K. (2012)

Basal [[Euornithes]] (extinct)

Also called "basal Ornithuromorpha".Fide Chiappe (2002) Essentially modern birds, except many still possess a few primitive features such as teeth or wing claws. These have the plowshare-shaped pygostyle and proper tail fan as seen in most living birds. The taxonomy of this group is confusing; the name "Ornithurae" was first proposed by Ernst Haeckel in 1866 and has been revised in meaning several times since.

The following is a list of primitive euornithian genera and those that cannot be confidently referred to any subgroups, following Holtz (2011).{{cite book | last=Holtz | first=Thomas R. Jr. | year = 2007 | title = Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages | publisher = Random House | location = New York NY, US | isbn = 978-0-375-82419-7 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/dinosaursmostcom00holt }} [http://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/dinoappendix/HoltzappendixWinter2011.pdf Winter 2011 Appendix.]

Note that Holtz also included the genera Eurolimnornis, Holbotia, Palaeocursornis and Piksi as euornitheans, though they have since been re-identified as pterosaurs.{{cite journal|author=Federico L. Agnolin and David Varricchio|year=2012|title=Systematic reinterpretation of Piksi barbarulna Varricchio, 2002 from the Two Medicine Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of Western USA (Montana) as a pterosaur rather than a bird|url=http://www.mnhn.fr/museum/foffice/science/science/DocScientifique/publications/presentation/publicationAP/ficheContenu.xsp?CONTENU_ID=4592&PARUTION_ID=2966&PUBLICATION_ID=21&idx=6&nav=listeParution|journal=Geodiversitas|volume=34|issue=4|pages=883–894|doi=10.5252/g2012n4a10|s2cid=56002643|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130107012637/http://www.mnhn.fr/museum/foffice/science/science/DocScientifique/publications/presentation/publicationAP/ficheContenu.xsp?CONTENU_ID=4592&PARUTION_ID=2966&PUBLICATION_ID=21&idx=6&nav=listeParution|archive-date=2013-01-07|url-access=subscription}}

Basal [[Ornithurae]] (extinct)

[[Neornithes]]

The subclass that contains all modern birds.

Unresolved and basal forms

These modern birds are known from remains that cannot be placed in relation to any one modern group and are neither autapomorphic enough to assign them to own orders. Especially the Late Cretaceous/early Paleogene taxa are probably basal to several modern orders, while later Paleogene taxa often represent extinct lineages outside the modern families.

  • {{extinct}}Australornis lovei {{small|Mayr & Scofield 2014}} (late early Paleocene)
  • {{extinct}}Gallornis straeleni {{small|Lambrecht 1931}} (Late Cretaceous)
  • {{extinct}}Ceramornis major {{small|Brodkorb 1963}} (Late Cretaceous) – charadriiform?
  • {{extinct}}"Presbyornithidae" gen. et sp. indet. (Barun Goyot Late Cretaceous of Udan Sayr, Mongolia) - anseriform (presbyornithid)?
  • {{extinct}}Torotix clemensi {{small|Brodkorb 1963}} (Late Cretaceous) – pelecaniform, charadriiform, procellariiform or phoenicopteriform
  • Neornithes incerta sedis {{small|Kurochkin 1995}} (Nemegt Late Cretaceous of S Mongolia) - phalacrocoracid?
  • Neornithes incerta sedis AMNH FR 25272 (Lance Creek Late Cretaceous of Converse County, US) - phalacrocoracid?
  • Neornithes incerta sedis PVPH 237 (Portezuelo Late Cretaceous of Sierra de Portezuelo, Argentina) - galliform?
  • Neornithes incerta sedis UCMP 117598 (Hell Creek Late Cretaceous of Bug Creek West, US)
  • Neornithes incerta sedis UCMP 117599 (Hell Creek Late Cretaceous of Bug Creek West, US) – anseriform?
  • {{extinct}}"Lonchodytes" pterygius {{small|Brodkorb 1963}} (Late Cretaceous/?Early Palaeocene) – charadriiform?
  • {{extinct}}Novacaesareala hungerfordi {{small|Parris & Hope 2002}} (Late Cretaceous/Early Palaeocene) – related to Torotix?
  • {{extinct}}"Palaeotringa" vetus {{small|Marsh 1870}} (Lance Late Cretaceous of Wyoming – Hornerstown Late Cretaceous/?Early Palaeocene of New Jersey, US) - gruiform? anseriform (presbyornithid)?
  • {{extinct}}Volgavis marina {{small|Nessov & Jarkow 1989}} (Early Palaeocene of Volgograd, Russia) – charadriiform? phalacrocoraciform?
  • {{extinct}}Tshulia litorea {{small|Nessov 1988}} (Late Paleocene of Zhylga, Kazakhstan)
  • {{extinct}}Eupterornis remensis {{small|Lemoine 1878}} (Paleocene of Cernay, France) – charadriiform (larid?)? gaviiform?
  • {{extinct}}Gradiornis walbeckensis {{small|Mayr 2007}} (Paleocene of Walbeck, Germany) – cariamid?
  • {{extinct}}"Messelornis" russelli {{small|Mourer-Chauviré 1995 sensu Mayr 2007}} (Paleocene of Cernay, France) – messelornithid?
  • {{extinct}}Walbeckornis creber {{small|Mayr 2007}} (Paleocene of Walbeck, Germany) – charadriiform? messelornithid?
  • Neornithes incerta sedis (Late Paleocene/Early Eocene of Ouled Abdoun Basin, Morocco) – charadriiform, ciconiiform, gruiform?
  • {{extinct}}Argillipes {{small|Harrison & Walker 1977}} (London Clay Early Eocene of England) – galliform?
  • {{extinct}}A. aurorum {{small|Harrison & Walker 1977}}
  • {{extinct}}A. magnus {{small|Harrison & Walker 1979}}
  • {{extinct}}A. paralectoris {{small|Harrison & Walker 1977}}
  • {{extinct}}Coturnipes cooperi {{small|Harrison & Walker 1977}} (Early Eocene of England, and Virginia, US?)– galliform, falconiform?
  • {{extinct}}Fluviatilavis antunesi {{small|Harrison 1983}} (Early Eocene of Silveirinha, Portugal)– charadriiform?
  • {{extinct}}Mopsitta tanta {{small|Waterhouse et al. 2008}} (Early Eocene) – threskiornithid (may belong in Rhynchaeites), psittacid?
  • {{extinct}}Neanis schucherti {{small|Shufeldt 1913}} (Early Eocene)– coraciiform (primobucconid), piciform?
  • {{extinct}}Paleophasianus meleagroides {{small|Wetmore 1940}} (Willwood Early Eocene of Bighorn County, US)– galliform (tetraonine or cracid) or gruiform (aramid)?
  • {{extinct}}Precursor parvus (Early Eocene)– several species? psittaciform (pseudasturid or psittacid) + charadriiform (glareolid)?
  • {{extinct}}"Precursor" litorum {{small|Harrison & Walker 1977}}
  • {{extinct}}"Precursor" magnus {{small|Harrison & Walker 1977}}
  • {{extinct}}Procuculus minutus {{small|Harrison & Walker 1977}} (Early Eocene of Bognor Regis, England)– cuculiform (parvicuculid), coraciiform (primobucconid), close to Primapus?
  • {{extinct}}Pulchrapollia {{small|Dyke & Cooper 2000}} (Early Eocene) – psittaciform (pseudasturid or psittacid)?
  • {{extinct}}P. gracilis {{small|Dyke & Cooper 2000}}
  • {{extinct}}P. olsoni {{small|(Feduccia & Martin 1976)}} [Primobucco olsoni {{small|Feduccia & Martin 1976}}]
  • Neornithes incerta sedis USNM 496384 (Nanjemoy Early Eocene of Virginia, US)– parvicuculid? aegithalornithid?
  • {{extinct}}Palaeopsittacus georgei {{small|Harrison 1982b}} (Early – middle Eocene of NW Europe) – caprimulgiform (podargid?) or quercypsittid?
  • {{extinct}}Amitabha urbsinterdictensis {{small|Gulas-Wroblewski & Wroblewski 2003}} (Bridger middle Eocene of Forbidden City, US) - galliform (phasianid) or gruiform (rallid?)?
  • {{extinct}}Eociconia sangequanensis {{small|Hou 1989}} (middle Eocene of China)– ciconiiform (ciconiid)?
  • {{extinct}}Protocypselomorphus manfredkelleri {{small|Mayr 2005}} (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany)– caprimulgiform, apodiform or ancestral to both
  • {{extinct}}Pumiliornis tessellatus {{small|Mayr 1999}} (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany)
  • {{extinct}}Ludiortyx hoffmanni {{small|(Gervais 1852) Brunet 1970}} (Late Eocene) – rallid, quercymegapodid? [Includes Tringa hoffmanni {{small|Gervais 1852}}; Palaeortyx blanchardi {{small|Milne-Edwards 1869}}; Palaeortyx hoffmanni {{small|(Gervais 1852)}}; Ludiortyx blanchardi {{small|(Milne-Edwards 1869)}}; Eortyx hoffmanni {{small|(Gervais 1852)}}]
  • {{extinct}}Minggangia changgouensis {{small|Hou 1982}} (Late Eocene of China) – rallid, threskiornithid?
  • {{extinct}}Petropluvialis simplex {{small|Harrison & Walker 1976}} (Late Eocene of England)– may be same as Palaeopapia; anseriform?
  • {{extinct}}"Phasianus" alfhildae {{small|Shufeldt 1915}} (Washakie B Late Eocene of Haystack Butte, US)– gruiform, ciconiiform, phoenicopteriform?
  • {{extinct}}Telecrex grangeri {{small|Wetmore 1934}} (Irdin Manha Late Eocene of Chimney Butte, Mongolia)– meleagrid or gruiform (rallid?)
  • Neornithes incerta sedis AMNH FR 2941 (Irdin Manha Late Eocene of Chimney Butte, China) – falconiform (accipitrid)? gruiform (Eogrus)?
  • {{extinct}}Zheroia kurochkini {{small|Nesov 1988}} (Late Eocene of Kazakhstan) – gruiform? pelagornithid?
  • {{extinct}}"Falco" falconellus {{small|Shufeldt 1915}} (or falconella; Eocene of Wyoming, US) – falconiform (falconid)?
  • {{extinct}}Agnopterus {{small|Milne-Edwards 1868}} (Late Eocene– Late Oligocene of Europe)– phoenicopteriform or anseriform
  • {{extinct}}A. laurillardi {{small|Milne-Edwards 1868}}
  • {{extinct}}A. sicki {{small|Alvarenga 1990}}
  • {{extinct}}A. turgaiensis {{small|Tugarinov 1940}} [Cygnopterus lambrechti {{small|Kuročkin 1968}}]
  • {{extinct}}Plesiocathartes {{small|Gaillard 1908}} (Late Eocene–? Early Miocene of SW Europe) - cathartid, leptosomid?
  • {{extinct}}P. europaeus {{small|Gaillard 1908}}
  • {{extinct}}P. gaillardi
  • {{extinct}}P. wyomingensis {{small|Weidig 2006}}
  • {{extinct}}P. major {{small|Weidig 2006}}
  • {{extinct}}P. geiselensis {{small|Mayr 2002}}
  • {{extinct}}P. kelleri {{small|Mayr 2002}}
  • {{extinct}}Botauroides parvus {{small|Shufeldt 1915}} (Eocene of Wyoming, US) – coliiform?
  • {{extinct}}Aminornis excavatus {{small|Ameghino 1899}} (Deseado Early Oligocene of Rio Deseado, Argentina) – gruiform (aramid)?
  • {{extinct}}Ciconiopsis antarctica {{small|Ameghino 1899}} (Deseado Early Oligocene of Patagonia, Argentina) – ciconiiform (ciconiid)?
  • {{extinct}}Climacarthrus incompletus {{small|Ameghino 1899}} (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina) – falconiform (accipitrid)? A nomen dubium
  • {{extinct}}Cruschedula revola {{small|Ameghino 1899}} (Deseado Early Oligocene of Golfo San Jorge, Argentina) Aves incertae sedis; A nomen dubium
  • {{extinct}}Dolichopterus viator {{small|Milne-Edwards 1867}} [Dolicopterus {{small|Aymard 1856 nomen nudum}}; Camaskelus {{small|Aymard 1856 nomen nudum}}; Camaskelus {{small|Milne-Edwards 1867}}; Dolicopterus viator {{small|Aymard 1856 nomen nudum}}; Camaskelus palustris {{small|Aymard 1856 nomen nudum}}; Camaskelus palustris {{small|Milne-Edwards 1867}}] (Early Oligocene of Ronzon, France) – charadriiform (charadriid)? Not Dolicopterus as sometimes claimed
  • {{extinct}}Loncornis erectus {{small|Ameghino 1899}} (Deseado Early Oligocene of Rio Deseado, Argentina)– gruiform (aramid)?
  • {{extinct}}Loxornis clivus {{small|Ameghino 1894}}– anatid? (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina)
  • {{extinct}}Manu antiquus {{small|Marples 1946}} (Early Oligocene) – pelagornithid? procellariiform (diomedeid)?
  • {{extinct}}Palaeocrex rex {{small|Wetmore 1927}} (Early Oligocene of Trigonias Quarry, US) – gruiform (rallid)?
  • {{extinct}}Palaeopapia eous {{small|>(Harrison & Walker 1976) Harrison & Walker 1979}} [Howardia {{small|Harrison & Walker 1976 non Berlese & Leonardi 1896}}; Howardia eous {{small|Harrison & Walker 1976}}] (Hampstead Early Oligocene of Isle of Wight, England) – anseriform?
  • {{extinct}}Paracygnopterus scotti {{small|Harrison & Walker 1979}} (Early Oligocene of Belgium and England) – anseriform (anatid)?
  • {{extinct}}"Pararallus" hassenkampi {{small|Martini 1967 }}(Sieblos Dysodil Early Oligocene of Sieblos, Germany)
  • {{extinct}}Riacama caliginea {{small|Ameghino 1899}} (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina) – gruiform?
  • {{extinct}}Smiliornis penetrans {{small|Ameghino 1899}} (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina)– gruiform?
  • {{extinct}}Teracus littoralis {{small|Milne-Edwards 1871}} [leracus Aymard 1856 {{small|nomen nudum}}; leracus littoralis {{small|Aymard 1856 nomen nudum}}] (Early Oligocene of France)
  • {{extinct}}Teleornis impressus {{small|Ameghino 1899}} (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina)– anatid?
  • {{extinct}}Pseudolarus guaraniticus {{small|Ameghino 1899}} (Deseado Early Oligocene – Miocene of Argentina) – gruiform?
  • Neornithes incerta sedis BMNH PAL 4989 (Hampstead Early Oligocene of Isle of Wight, England) – formerly "Ptenornis" and included in Headonornis; anseriform?
  • {{extinct}}"Anas" creccoides {{small|van Beneden 1871}} (Early-mid Oligocene of Belgium) – anseriform?
  • {{extinct}}"Charadrius" sheppardianus {{small|Cope 1881}} (Florissant middle Oligocene of Florissant, US) – charadriiform (charadriid?)
  • {{extinct}}Megagallinula harundinea {{small|Kuročkin 1968}} (Indricotherium middle Oligocene of Chelkar-Teniz, Kazakhstan)
  • {{extinct}}"Palaeorallus" alienus {{small|Kuročkin 1968}} (middle Oligocene of Tatal-Gol, Mongolia)– galliform?
  • {{extinct}}"Vanellus" selysii {{small|van Beneden 1871}} (middle Oligocene of Rupelmonde, Belgium) – charadriiform (charadriid)?
  • {{extinct}}Anserpica kiliani {{small|Mourer-Chauviré, Berthet & Hugueney 2004}} (Late Oligocene of France) – gruiform (gruid?) or anseriform (anseranatid?)?
  • {{extinct}}Gnotornis {{small|Wetmore 1942}} (Brule Late Oligocene of Shannon County, US) – gruiform (aramid)?
  • {{extinct}}G. aramiellus {{small|Wetmore 1942}}
  • {{extinct}}G. roardeola
  • {{extinct}}G. walkeri
  • {{extinct}}Guguschia nailiae {{small|Aslanova & Burčak-Abramovič 1968}} (Late Oligocene of Pirəkəşkül, Azerbaijan) – anseriform (anserine)? pelagornithid (same as Caspiodontornis)?
  • {{extinct}}Tiliornis senex {{small|Ameghino 1899}} (Late? Oligocene of Argentina)– phoenicopteriform? A nomen dubium
  • Neornithes incerta sedis QM F40203 (Late Oligocene of Riversleigh, Australia)– gruiform (rallid)?
  • {{extinct}}Gaviella pusilla {{small|Shufeldt 1915}} (Oligocene? of Wyoming, US)– gaviiform? plotopterid?
  • {{extinct}}"Anas" skalicensis {{small|Bayer 1882}} (Early Miocene of "Skalitz", Czech Republic) - anseriform?
  • {{extinct}}Chenornis graculoides {{small|Portis 1884}} (Early Miocene) - Anseriformes (Anatidae) or Pelecaniformes (Phalacrocoracidae)?
  • {{extinct}}"Propelargus" olseni {{small|Brodkorb 1963}} (Hawthorne Early Miocene of Tallahassee, US) – ciconiiform?
  • Neornithes incerta sedis MNHN SA 1259-1263 (Early/Middle Miocene of Sansan, France) – passeriform?
  • {{extinct}}Anisolornis excavatus {{small|Ameghino 1891}} (Santa Cruz Middle Miocene of Karaihen, Argentina) – gruiform, galliform, tinamiform?
  • {{extinct}}"Ardea" perplexa {{small|Milne-Edwards 1869}} (Middle Miocene of Sansan, France) – ardeid? strigiform?
  • {{extinct}}"Cygnus herrenthalsi" {{small|van Beneden 1871}} (Middle Miocene of Belgium)
  • {{extinct}}"Anas" risgoviensis {{small|Ammon 1918}} (Late Miocene of Bavaria, Germany) – anseriform?
  • {{extinct}}"Ardea" aureliensis (Late Miocene of France) – ardeid?
  • {{extinct}}Eoneornis australis {{small|Ameghino 1895 nomen dubium}} (Miocene of Argentina) – anatid? A nomen dubium
  • {{extinct}}Eutelornis patagonica {{small|Ameghino 1895}} (Miocene of Argentina) – anatid?
  • {{extinct}}Protibis cnemialis {{small|Ameghino 1891}} (Miocene of Argentina) – ciconiiform (threskiornithid)?
  • {{extinct}}"Limnatornis" paludicola {{small|Milne-Edwards 1871}} (Miocene of France) – coliid? phoeniculid?
  • {{extinct}}"Picus" gaudryi (Miocene of France) – piciform?
  • {{extinct}}"Ardea" lignitum {{small|Giebel 1860}} (Late Pliocene of Germany) – ardeid? strigid (genus Bubo)?
  • {{extinct}}Bathoceleus hyphalus {{small|Brodkorb 1959}} (Pliocene of New Providence, Bahamas) – picid?
  • {{extinct}}"Homalopus" {{small|Milne-Edwards 1870 non Chevrolat 1837}}– piciform? Preoccupied by a subgenus of Cryptocephalus leaf beetles described in 1835.
  • {{extinct}}"Liptornis hesternus" {{small|Ameghino 1894}} [Liptornis cuvierii] – pelecaniform (pelecanid)? A nomen dubium
  • {{extinct}}Proceriavis martini {{small|Harrison & Walker 1979}} – pelagornithid?
  • {{extinct}}Protopelicanus cuvieri {{small|Reichenbach 1852}} – pelecaniform (pelecanid)? pelagornithid?
  • {{extinct}}Eurofluvioviridavis robustipes {{small|Mayr 2005a}} (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany)
  • {{extinct}}Archaeotrogonidae {{small|Wetmore 1926}} – basal Cypselomorphae?
  • {{extinct}}Archaeotrogonidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early Eocene)
  • {{extinct}}Hassiavis laticauda {{small|Mayr 1998}}
  • {{extinct}}Archaeotrogon {{small|Milne-Edwards 1892}} (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene)
  • {{extinct}}Cimolopterygidae {{small|Brodkorb 1963}} – charadriiform?
  • {{extinct}}Cimolopteryx {{small|Marsh 1892}} (Late Cretaceous)
  • {{extinct}}C. rara {{small|Marsh 1890}}
  • {{extinct}}C. maxima {{small|Brodkorb 1963}}
  • {{extinct}}Lamarqueavis {{small|Agnolin 2010}} (Late Cretaceous)
  • {{extinct}}L. australis {{small|Agnolin 2010}}
  • {{extinct}}L. minima {{small|(Brodkorb 1963) Agnolin 2010}} [Cimolopteryx minima {{small|Brodkorb 1963}}]
  • {{extinct}}L. petra {{small|(Hope 2002) Agnolin 2010}} [Cimolopteryx petra {{small|Hope 2002}}]
  • {{extinct}}Cladornithidae Wetmore 1930 [Cladornithes {{small|Wetmore 1960}}; Cladornidae {{small|Ameghino 1895}}] (pelecaniform?
  • {{extinct}}Cladornis pachypus {{small|Ameghino 1895}} (Deseado Early Oligocene of Patagonia, Argentina)
  • {{extinct}}Eremopezidae {{small|Rothschild 1911}} – pelecaniform? ratite?
  • {{extinct}}Eremopezus eocaenus {{small|Andrews 1904}} (Late Eocene) - includes Stromeria fajumensis {{small|Lambrecht 1929}}
  • {{extinct}}Gracilitarsidae {{small|Mayr 2001}} – close to Sylphornithidae?
  • Eutreptodactylus itaboraiensis {{small|Baird & Vickers-Rich 1997}} (Late Paleocene of Brazil) - a nomen dubium
  • Gracilitarsus mirabilis {{small|Mayr 1998}} (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany)
  • Halcyornithidae {{small|Harrison & Walker 1972}} – psittaciform (= Pseudasturidae?), coraciiform?
  • {{extinct}}Halcyornis toliapicus {{small|(Koenig 1825) Owen 1846}} (London Clay Early Eocene of England)
  • {{extinct}}Cyrilavis {{small|Martin 2010}} (Green River Early Eocene of C US) - psittaciform (halcyornithid or psittacid)?
  • {{extinct}}C. olsoni {{small|(Feduccia & Martin 1976) Martin 2010}} [Primobucco olsoni {{small|Feduccia & Martin 1976}}]
  • {{extinct}}C. colburnorum {{small|Ksepka, Clarke & Grande 2011}}
  • {{extinct}}Juncitarsidae {{small|Peters 1987}}
  • {{extinct}}Kashinia magnum {{small|(Harrison & Walker 1976) Harrison & Walker 1979}} [Tenuicrus {{small|Harrison & Walker 1976 non Womersley 1940}}; Tenuicrus magnum {{small|Harrison & Walker 1976}}] – phoenicopteriform?
  • {{extinct}}Juncitarsus {{small|Olson & Feduccia 1980}} – phoenicopteriform?
  • Laornithidae {{small|Cracraft 1973}} – charadriiform? gruiform? pelagornithid?
  • Laornis edvardsianus {{small|Marsh 1870}} [Laopteryx (sic) {{small|Kuročkin 1995}}] (Late Cretaceous?)
  • {{extinct}}Lonchodytidae {{small|Brodkorb 1963}}
  • {{extinct}}Lonchodytes estesi {{small|Brodkorb 1963}} (Late Cretaceous/?Early Palaeocene) – gaviiform/pelecaniform? procellariiform?
  • {{extinct}}Palaeospizidae – passeriform? coraciiform? coliiform?
  • {{extinct}}Palaeospiza bella {{small|Allen 1878}} (Late Eocene of Florissant Fossil Beds, US)
  • {{extinct}}Parvicuculidae {{small|Harrison 1982}} – cypselomorph, cuculiform, coraciiform (primobucconid)?
  • {{extinct}}Parvicuculus minor {{small|Harrison & Walker 1977}} (Early Eocene of NW Europe)
  • {{extinct}}Remiornithidae {{small|Martin 1992}} (Paleocene of France) – palaeognath?
  • {{extinct}}Remiornis heberti {{small|Lemoine 1881}} [Remiornis minor {{small|Lydekker 1891}}]
  • {{extinct}}Sylphornithidae {{small|Mourer-Chauviré 1988}} – cuculiform? coraciiform? close to Gracilitarsidae?
  • {{extinct}}Sylphornis bretouensis {{small|Mourer-Chauvire 1988}} (middle Eocene of France)
  • {{extinct}}Oligosylphe mourerchauvireae {{small|Mayr & Smith 2002}} (Borgloon Early Oligocene of Hoogbutsel, Belgium)
  • {{extinct}}Tytthostonychidae {{small|Olson & Parris 1987}} – procellariiform, pelecaniform?
  • {{extinct}}Tytthostonyx glauconiticus {{small|Olson & Parris 1987}} (Late Cretaceous/Early Palaeocene)
  • {{extinct}}Zygodactylidae {{small|Brodkorb 1971}} [Primoscenidae {{small|Harrison 1977}}]– near passerine
  • {{extinct}}Eozygodactylus americanus {{small|Weidig 2010}}
  • {{extinct}}Zygodactylus {{small|Ballmann 1969}} (Early Oligocene – Middle? Miocene of C Europe)
  • {{extinct}}Z. ignotus {{small|Ballmann 1969}}
  • {{extinct}}Z. luberonensis {{small|Mayr 2008}}
  • {{extinct}}Z. grivensis {{small|Ballmann 1969}}
  • {{extinct}}Primoscens minutus {{small|Harrison & Walker 1977}}
  • {{extinct}}Primozygodactylus {{small|Mayr 1998}}
  • {{extinct}}P. ballmanni {{small|Mayr 1998}}
  • {{extinct}}P. danielsi {{small|Mayr 1998}}
  • {{extinct}}P. major {{small|Mayr 1998}}
  • {{extinct}}P. eunjooae {{small|Mayr & Zelenkov 2009}}
  • {{extinct}}"Graculavidae" {{small|Fürbringer 1888}} [Dakotornithidae Erickson 1975; Scaniornithidae; Telmatornithidae Cracraft 1972] – a paraphyletic form taxon, the "transitional shorebirds"
  • {{extinct}}Limosavis {{small|Shufeldt 1915}} [Graculavus {{small|Marsh 1872 non Marsh 1973}}] (Late Cretaceous –? Early Palaeocene) – charadriiform?
  • {{extinct}}L. velox {{small|(Marsh 1872) Lambrecht 1933}} [Graculavus velox {{small|Marsh 1872}}]
  • {{extinct}}L. augustus {{small|(Hope 1999)}} [Graculavus augustus {{small|Hope 1999}}]
  • {{extinct}}Palaeotringa {{small|Marsh 1870}} (Late Cretaceous/Early Palaeocene) – charadriiform?
  • {{extinct}}Telmatornis priscus {{small|Marsh 1870}} [Telmatornis affinis {{small|Marsh 1870}}; Graculavus pumilis {{small|Marsh 1872}}; Palaeotringa vetus {{small|Marsh 1870}}] (Late Cretaceous?) – charadriiform? gruiform? podicipediform?
  • {{extinct}}Zhylgaia aestiflua {{small|Nesov 1988}} (Early Paleocene) – presbyornithid?
  • {{extinct}}Scaniornis lundgreni {{small|Dames 1890}} (Early/Middle Paleocene) – phoenicopteriform?
  • {{extinct}}Dakotornis cooperi {{small|Erickson 1975}} (Paleocene of North Dakota, US)
  • {{extinct}}Placement unresolved
  • "Graculavidae" gen. et sp. indet. (Gloucester County, US)

===Struthioniformes===

Ostrich and related ratites.

=[[Casuariiformes]]=

Cassowaries, emus and related ratites.

  • Casuariidae Kaup 1847 [Dromaiidae Huxley 1868; Dramaiinae Gray 1870; Dramiceiidae Richmond 1908; Dramaeidae Newton 1896] (emus and cassowaries)
  • {{extinct}}Diogenornis fragilis {{small|Alvarenga 1983}} (Early Eocene) – possible casuariiform
  • {{extinct}}Emuarius {{small|Boles 1992}} (emuwaries) (Late Oligocene – Late Miocene)
  • Prehistoric species of extant genera
  • Dromaius {{small|Vieillot 1816}} [Tachea {{small|Fleming 1822}}; Emou {{small|Griffith & Pidgeon 1829}}; Peronista {{small|Mathews 1912}}; Metapteryx {{small|De Vis 1892}}] (emus) (Middle Miocene – Recent)
  • Casuarius {{small|Brisson 1760}} [Cela {{small|Moehring 1752 [Oken1816] non Reichenbach 1853 non Illiger 1826}}; Cela {{small|Moehring 1752 nom. rej.}}; Rhea {{small|Lacépède 1800 non Latham 1790}}; Chelarga {{small|Billberg 1828}}; Oxyporus {{small|Brookes 1828 non (Bourdot & Galzin 1925) Donk 1933}}; Thrasys {{small|Billberg 1828}}; Cassowara {{small|Perry 1811}}; Hippalectryo {{small|Gloger 1842}}]

=[[Rheiformes]]=

Rheas and related ratites.

  • {{extinct}}Opisthodactylidae {{small|Ameghino 1895}}
  • {{extinct}}Opisthodactylus {{small|Ameghino 1895}} (Miocene) – rheid?
  • Rheidae {{small|(Bonaparte 1853)}} [Rheinae {{small|Bonaparte 1853}}] (rheas)
  • {{extinct}}Heterorhea dabbenei {{small|Rovereto 1914}} (Pliocene)
  • {{extinct}}Hinasuri nehuensis {{small|Tambussi 1995}}
  • Prehistoric species of extant genera
  • Rhea {{small|Brisson 1760}} [Rhea {{small|Moehring 1758 nomen dubium}}; Pterocnemia {{small|Gray 1870}}; Toujou {{small|Lacépède 1801}}; Tujus {{small|Rafinesque 1815}}]

={{extinct}}[[Dinornithiformes]]=

Moas.

Two unnamed Saint Bathans Fauna species.{{cite journal | last1 = Tennyson | first1 = A.J.D. | last2 = Worthy | first2 = T.H. | last3 = Jones | first3 = C.M. | last4 = Scofield | first4 = R.P. | last5 = Hand | first5 = S.J. | year = 2010 | title = Moa's Ark: Miocene fossils reveal the great antiquity of moa (Aves: Dinornithiformes) in Zealandia | journal = Records of the Australian Museum | volume = 62 | pages = 105–114 | doi = 10.3853/j.0067-1975.62.2010.1546 | doi-access = free }}

=[[Apterygiformes]]=

==={{extinct}}Lithornithiformes {{small|Houde 1988}}===

=[[Tinamiformes]]=

  • Tinamidae {{small|Gray 1840}} [Crypturidae {{small|Bonaparte 1831}}; Tinamotidae {{small|Bonaparte 1854}}; Eudromiidae {{small|Bonaparte 1854}}; Rhynchotidae {{small|von Boetticher 1934}}] (tinamous)
  • {{extinct}}Querandiornis romani {{small|Rusconi 1958}} (Ensenada Early/Middle Pleistocene of Argentina)
  • {{extinct}}Roveretornis {{small|Brodkorb 1961}}
  • Tinamidae gen. et sp. indet. MACN-SC Fleagle Collection (Early – Middle Miocene of S Argentina) - at least 2 species
  • Prehistoric species of extant genera
  • Eudromia [non Eudromias {{small|Boie 1832}}; Calodromas {{small|Sclater & Salvin 1873 non}} Calodromus {{small|Guein 1832}}; Calopezus {{small|Ridgway 1884}}; Tinamisornis {{small|Rovereto 1914}}; Roveretornis {{small|Brodkorb 1961}}]
  • Nothura {{small|Wagler 1827}} [{{extinct}}Cayetanornis {{small|Brodkorb 1963}}]
  • Crypturellus {{small|Brabourne & Chubb 1914}} [Microcrypturus {{small|Chubb 1917}}; Crypturornis {{small|Oberholser 1922}}; Orthocrypturus {{small|Miranda-Ribeiro 1937}}]

=[[Vegaviiformes]]=

===Anseriformes===

File:Dromornis BW.jpg]]

File:Genyornis BW.jpg]]

The group that includes modern ducks and geese.

=[[Galliformes]]=

The group that includes domestic chickens and their relatives.

=[[Charadriiformes]]=

Gulls, auks, shorebirds

  • Basal and unresolved taxa
  • Charadriiformes gen. et sp. indet. (Late Cretaceous) – burhinid? basal?
  • "Morsoravis" (Late Paleocene/Early Eocene) – a nomen nudum?
  • Jiliniornis (middle Eocene) – charadriid?
  • Boutersema (Early Oligocene) – glareolid?
  • Turnipax (Early Oligocene) – turnicid?
  • Elorius (Early Miocene)
  • "Larus desnoyersii (Early Miocene of SE France) – larid? stercorarid?
  • "Larus pristinus (John Day Early Miocene of Willow Creek, US) – larid?
  • Charadriiformes gen. et spp. indet. (Early/Middle Miocene) – several species, 1 probably larid
  • Charadriiformes gen. et sp. indet. (Middle Miocene)
  • "Totanus" teruelensis (Late Miocene of Los Mansuetos, Spain) – scolopacid? larid?
  • "Actitis" balcanica (Late Pliocene of Varshets, Bulgaria) – scolopacid? charadriid?
  • Scolopacidae – waders and snipes
  • Paractitis (Early Oligocene)
  • Mirolia (Middle Miocene)
  • Placement unresolved
  • Scolopacidae gen. et sp. indet. (Middle – Late Miocene)
  • Scolopacidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early Pliocene)
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Limosa (Late Eocene? – Recent)
  • Tringa (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene? – Recent) – includes Totanus
  • Gallinago (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene – Recent)
  • Scolopax (Early/Middle Pliocene? – Recent)
  • Phalaropus (Middle Pliocene – Recent)
  • Actitis (Late Pliocene – Recent)
  • Numenius (Late Pleistocene – Recent) – includes Palnumenius
  • Jacanidae – jacanas
  • Nupharanassa (Early Oligocene)
  • Janipes
  • Prehistoric species of extant genera
  • Jacana farrandi
  • Laridae – gulls
  • Laridae gen. et sp. indet. (Early Oligocene)
  • Laricola (Late Oligocene/Early Miocene) – larid? Formerly "Larus" elegans and "L." totanoides
  • Gaviota {{small|Miller & Sibley 1941 non Fischer 1983}} (Middle/Late Miocene)
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Larus (Middle Miocene – Recent)
  • Alcidae – auks
  • Hydrotherikornis (Late Eocene)
  • Pseudocepphus (Middle – Late Miocene)
  • Petralca (Early –? Late Oligocene)
  • Miocepphus (Middle Miocene)
  • Alcodes (Late Miocene)
  • Praemancalla (Late Miocene – Early Pliocene)
  • Mancalla (Late Miocene – Early Pleistocene)
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Cepphus (Late Miocene – Recent)
  • Cerorhinca (Late Miocene – Recent)
  • Uria (Late Miocene – Recent)
  • Aethia (Late Miocene – Recent)
  • Alca (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene – Recent)
  • Synthliboramphus (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene – Recent)
  • Fratercula (Early Pliocene – Recent)
  • Pinguinus (Early Pliocene – Recent)
  • Brachyramphus (Late Pliocene – Recent)
  • Ptychoramphus (Late Pliocene – Recent)
  • Stercorariidae – skuas and jaegers
  • Prehistoric species of extant genera
  • Stercorarius sp. (Middle Miocene)
  • Stercorarius shufeldti (Fossil Lake Middle Pleistocene of WC US)
  • Prehistoric subspecies of extant species
  • Stercorarius pomarinus philippi
  • Glareolidae – pratincoles
  • Paractiornis (Agate Fossil Beds Early Miocene of Sioux County, US)
  • Mioglareola (Early Miocene of Czech Republic) - formerly "Larus" dolnicensis
  • Prehistoric species of extant genera
  • Glareola neogena
  • Burhinidae – thick-knees
  • Prehistoric species of extant genera
  • Burhinus lucorum (Early Miocene)
  • Burhinus aquilonaris
  • Burhinus sp. (Cuba, West Indies)
  • Burhinus sp. (Late Pleistocene of Las Higueruelas, Spain)
  • Prehistoric subspecies of extant species
  • Burhinus bistriatus nanus (Bahamas, West Indies)
  • Charadriidae – plovers
  • Limicolavis (John Day Early Miocene of Malheur County, US)
  • Viator (Late Pleistocene of Talara, Peru) – may be synonym of Vanellus (or Belanopteryx if valid)
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Vanellus (Middle/Late Pleistocene – Recent) – includes Belanopteryx
  • Additional prehistoric species of extant genera
  • Oreopholus orcesi
  • Recurvirostridae – avocets
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Himantopus (Late Miocene – Recent)
  • Additional prehistoric species of extant genera
  • Recurvirostra sanctaeneboulae

={{extinct}}[[Gastornithiformes]] (extinct)=

The diatrymas, a group of huge flightless Paleogene birds of unclear affinities. Traditionally placed within the Gruiformes, they are usually considered a distinct order nowadays and appear closer to the Anseriformes.

=[[Gruiformes]]=

The group that includes modern rails and cranes. Probably paraphyletic.

=[[Eurypygiformes]]=

=[[Cariamiformes]]=

File:Paraphysornis BW.jpg]]

=[[Otidiformes]]=

===Phoenicopteriformes===

===Podicipediformes===

=[[Phaethontiformes]]=

=[[Ciconiiformes]]=

The diverse group that includes storks, herons and New World vultures. Paraphyletic as listed here.

=[[Pelecaniformes]]=

The group that includes modern pelicans and cormorants. As presented here paraphyletic; the tropicbird lineage is not part of this group and relationships with Procellariiformes and Sphenisciformes require more research. Also, as the pelicans are at least as close to the Ciconiiformes as to cormorants, the latter group is being recognized as Phalacrocoraciiformes by some recent authors and the core Pelecaniformes are occasionally merged into the Ciconiiformes.

File:Copepteryx hexeris.jpg]]

File:Osteodontornis BW.jpg]]

=[[Procellariiformes]]=

The group that includes modern albatrosses, petrels and storm-petrels.

=[[Gaviiformes]]=

===Sphenisciformes===

File:Waimanu BW.jpg]]

File:Icadyptes BW.jpg]]

=[[Pterocliformes]]=

=[[Columbiformes]]=

  • Columbidae – doves and pigeons
  • Arenicolumba (Early Miocene) – doubtfully distinct from Patagioenas
  • Rupephaps (Early Miocene)
  • Placement unresolved
  • Columbidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early/Middle Miocene)
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Columba (Early Pliocene – Recent)
  • Patagioenas (Early Pliocene – Recent)

===Psittaciformes===

Unresolved and basal fossil parrots:

=[[Opisthocomiformes]]=

Hoatzins

=[[Musophagiformes]]=

===Cuculiformes===

Cuckoos, turacos and allies.

  • Placement unresolved
  • Cuculiformes gen. et sp. indet. (Early Eocene)
  • Cuculidae – cuckoos
  • Eocuculus (Late Eocene)
  • Dynamopterus (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene)
  • Neococcyx (Early Oligocene)
  • Cursoricoccyx (Early Miocene)
  • Placement unresolved
  • Cuculidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early Pliocene)

=[[Accipitriformes]]=

File:Teratornis BW.jpg]]

  • {{extinct}}Teratornithidae {{small|Miller 1909}}– teratorns
  • {{extinct}}Argentavis magnificens {{small|Campbell & Tonni 1980}} (Late Miocene)
  • {{extinct}}Aiolornis incredibilis {{small|(Howard 1952) Campbell, Scott & Springer 1999}} [Teratornis incredibilis {{small|Howard 1952}}] (Early Pliocene – Late Pleistocene)
  • {{extinct}}Oscaravis olsoni {{small|(Arredondo & Arredondo 2002) Suarez & Olson 2009}} [Teratornis olsoni {{small|Arredondo & Arredondo 2002}}] (Cuban teratorn)(Pleistocene)
  • {{extinct}}Cathartornis gracilis {{small|Miller 1910}}
  • {{extinct}}Taubatornis campbelli {{small|Olson & Alvarenga 2002}}
  • {{extinct}}Teratornis {{small|Miller 1909}} (Early Pleistocene – Late Pleistocene)
  • {{extinct}}T. woodburnensis {{small|Campbell & Stenger 2002}}
  • {{extinct}}T. merriami {{small|Miller 1909}} (Merriam's teratorn)
  • Cathartidae – New World vultures
  • {{extinct}}Brasilogyps faustoi {{small|Alvarenga 1985}} (Late Oligocene – Early Miocene)
  • {{extinct}}Kuntur cardenasi {{small|Stucchi et al. 2015}}
  • {{extinct}}Pleistovultur nevesi {{small|Alvarenga et al. 2008}}
  • {{extinct}}Tapinopus ellioti {{small|Milne-Edwards 1891}}
  • {{extinct}}Diatropornis ellioti (European vulture) (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene –? middle Oligocene)
  • {{extinct}}Phasmagyps patritus {{small|Wetmore 1927}} (Early Oligocene)
  • {{extinct}}Hadrogyps aigialeus {{small|Emslie 1988}} (American dwarf vulture) (Middle Miocene)
  • {{extinct}}Pliogyps {{small|Becker 1986}} (Miocene vulture) (Late Miocene – Late Pliocene)
  • {{extinct}}P. charon {{small|Becker 1986}}
  • {{extinct}}P. fisheri {{small|Tordoff 1959}}
  • {{extinct}}Perugyps diazi {{small|Stucchi & Emslie 2005}} (Peruvian vulture) (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene)
  • {{extinct}}Dryornis (Argentinean vulture) {{small|Moreno & Mercerat, 1891}} (Early Miocene – Late Pliocene) – similar to the extant genus Vultur
  • {{extinct}}D. pampeanus {{small|Moreno & Mercerat, 1891}}
  • {{extinct}}D. hatcheri {{small|Degrange 2022}}
  • {{extinct}}Aizenogyps toomeyae {{small|Emslie 1998}} (South American vulture) (Late Pliocene)
  • {{extinct}}Breagyps clarki {{small|Miller 1938}} (long-legged vulture) (Late Pleistocene)
  • {{extinct}}Geronogyps reliquus {{small|Campbell 1979}} (Late Pleistocene)
  • {{extinct}}Wingegyps cartellei {{small|Alvarenga & Olson 2004}} (Amazonian vulture) (Late Pleistocene)
  • {{extinct}}Parasarcoramphus milneedwardsi {{small|Mourer-Chauviré 2002}}
  • Placement unresolved
  • Cathartidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Oligocene of Mongolia)
  • Cathartidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of Lee Creek Mine, US)
  • Cathartidae gen. et sp. indet. (Middle Pliocene of Argentina)
  • Cathartidae gen. et sp. indet. (Cuba)
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Sarcoramphus (Middle Pliocene –? Recent)
  • {{extinct}}S. kernense' (Kern vulture)
  • {{extinct}}S. fischeri {{small|Campbell 1979}}
  • Gymnogyps (Early Pleistocene – Recent)
  • {{extinct}}G. howardae' {{small|Campbell 1979}}
  • {{extinct}}G. kofordi' {{small|Emslie 1988}}
  • Vultur (Pliocene – Recent)– distinctiveness disputed
  • {{extinct}}V. fossilis {{small|Moreno & Mercerat 1891}} [Cathartes fossilis; Sarcoramphus fossilis]
  • {{extinct}}Horusornithidae {{small|Mourer-Chauviré 1991}}
  • {{extinct}}Horusornis vianeyliaudae {{small|Mourer-Chauviré 1991}} (Late Eocene)
  • Pandionidae – ospreys
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Pandion (Early Oligocene – Recent)
  • {{extinct}}P. lovensis {{small|Becker 1985}}
  • {{extinct}}P. homalopteron {{small|Warter 1976}}
  • Sagittariidae – secretarybirds
  • {{extinct}}Amanuensis pickfordi {{small|Mourer-Chauviré 2003}}
  • {{extinct}}Pelargopappus {{small|Stejneger 1885}}(Late Eocene/Early Oligocene – Late Oligocene/Early Miocene of France) – formerly Amphiserpentarius/Amynoptilon/Pelargopsis
  • {{extinct}}P. schlosseri
  • {{extinct}}P. magnus
  • Accipitridae – hawks, eagles and Old World vultures
  • Milvoides (Late Eocene)
  • Aquilavus (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene – Early Miocene)
  • Palaeocircus (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene)
  • Palaeastur (Early Miocene)
  • Pengana (Early Miocene)
  • Promilio (Early Miocene)
  • Proictinia (Early – Late Miocene/Early Pliocene)
  • Neophrontops (Early/middle Miocene – Late Pleistocene) – formerly in Neophron
  • Mioaegypius (middle Miocene)
  • Apatosagittarius (Late Miocene)
  • Gansugyps (Late Miocene)
  • Palaeoborus (Miocene)
  • Qiluornis (Miocene)
  • Thegornis (Miocene)
  • Garganoaetus (Early Pliocene)
  • Amplibuteo (Late Pliocene of Peru – Late Pleistocene) – Belongs to the extant genus Buteogallus{{Cite journal|doi = 10.25226/bboc.v141i3.2021.a3|title = A new fossil raptor (Accipitridae: Buteogallus) from Quaternary cave deposits in Cuba and Hispaniola, West Indies|year = 2021|last1 = Suárez|first1 = William|last2 = Olson|first2 = Storrs L.|journal = Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club|volume = 141|issue = 3|s2cid = 237456822|doi-access = free}}
  • Cryptogyps (Middle – Late Pleistocene)
  • Neogyps (Late Pleistocene)
  • Palaeohierax – includes "Aquila" gervaisii
  • Placement unresolved
  • Accipitridae gen. et sp. indet. AMNH FR 7434 (Early Eocene)
  • Accipitridae gen. et sp. indet. (Early Oligocene)
  • Accipitridae gen. et sp. indet. (Early/Middle Miocene)
  • Accipitridae gen. et sp. indet. MPEF-PV-2523 (Late Miocene)
  • Accipitridae gen. et sp. indet. (Early/Middle Pliocene) – Parabuteo?
  • Accipitridae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Pliocene/Early Pleistocene) – Buteo?
  • Accipitridae gen. et sp. indet. (Egypt)
  • "Aquila" danana (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene) – formerly also Geranoaetus or Buteo
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Haliaeetus (Early Oligocene – Recent)
  • Buteo (middle Oligocene – Recent)
  • Aquila (Middle Miocene – Recent)
  • Buteogallus (Middle Miocene – Recent) – might include Harpyhaliaetus
  • "Hieraaetus" (Middle Miocene – Recent) – doubtfully distinct from Aquila
  • Milvus (Early Pleistocene – Recent)
  • Gyps (Middle Pleistocene – Recent)
  • Aegypius (Middle Pleistocene – Recent)
  • Additional prehistoric species of extant genera
  • Spizaetus grinnelli (Rancho La Brea Late Pleistocene of California, US) – formerly Geranoaetus or Buteo
  • Spizaetus pliogryps – formerly Aquila
  • Gypaetus georgii (Late Miocene)
  • Neophron lolis (Late Miocene)

=[[Falconiformes]]=

=[[Steatornithiformes]]=

=[[Podargiformes]]=

=[[Caprimulgiformes]]=

=[[Aegotheliformes]]=

Owlet-nightjars

===Apodiformes===

Swifts and hummingbirds.

===Coliiformes===

Mousebirds and relatives

  • Unresolved and basal forms
  • {{extinct}}Botauroides parvus {{small|Shufeldt 1915}} (Eocene of Wyoming, US)
  • {{extinct}}Eobucco brodkorbi {{small|Feduccia & Martin 1976}} - sandcoleid?
  • {{extinct}}Eocolius walkeri {{small|Dyke & Waterhouse 2001}} (London Clay Early Eocene of Walton-on-the-Naze, England) - sandcoleid or coliid
  • {{extinct}}Limnatornis {{small|Milne-Edwards 1871}} (Early Miocene of Saint-Gérand-le-Puy, France) - coliid? (Urocolius?)
  • {{extinct}}Coliiformes gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene of Kohfidisch, Austria)Similar to Urocolius and Limnatornis (if distinct): Mlíkovský (2002)
  • {{extinct}}Uintornis {{small|Marsh 1872}} - sandcoleid?
  • Family {{extinct}}Chascacocoliidae {{small|Zelenkov & Dyke 2008}}
  • Genus {{extinct}}Chascacocolius {{small|Houde & Olson 1992}} (Late Paleocene ?- Early Eocene) - basal? sandcoleid?
  • Family {{extinct}}Selmeidae {{small|Zelenkov & Dyke 2008}}
  • {{extinct}}Selmes absurdipes {{small|Peters 1999}} (Middle Eocene ?-Late Oligocene of C Europe) - coliid? (synonym of Primocolius?)
  • Family {{extinct}}Sandcoleidae {{small|Houde & Olson 1992 sensu Mayr & Mourer-Chauviré 2004}}
  • {{extinct}}Sandcoleus copiosus {{small|Houde & Olson 1992}} (Paleocene)
  • {{extinct}}Anneavis anneae {{small|Houde & Olson 1992}}
  • {{extinct}}Eoglaucidium pallas {{small|Fischer 1987}}
  • Family Coliidae {{small|Swainson 1837 sensu Mayr & Mourer-Chauviré 2004}}
  • {{extinct}}Primocolius {{small|Mourer-Chauviré 1988}} (Late Eocene/Oligocene of Quercy, France)
  • {{extinct}}Oligocolius {{small|Mayr 2000}} (Early Oligocene of Frauenweiler, Germany)
  • {{extinct}}Masillacolius brevidactylus {{small|Mayr & Peters 1998}} (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany)
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Colius [Necrornis {{small|Milne-Edwards 1871}}]

={{extinct}}[[Zealandornithidae]]=

===Strigiformes===

Owls and barn owls

  • Unresolved and basal forms
  • Berruornis (Late Paleocene) – basal? Sophornithidae?
  • Strigiformes gen. et sp. indet. (Late Paleocene)
  • Palaeoglaux (middle – Late Eocene) – own family Palaeoglaucidae or Strigidae?
  • Palaeobyas (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene) – Tytonidae? Sophiornithidae?
  • Palaeotyto (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene) – Tytonidae?
  • Strigiformes gen. et spp. indet. (Early Oligocene)
  • Ogygoptyngidae
  • Ogygoptynx (Middle/Late Paleocene)
  • Protostrigidae
  • Eostrix (Early – middle Eocene)
  • Minerva (middle – Late Eocene) – formerly Protostrix, includes "Aquila" ferox, "Aquila" lydekkeri, and "Bubo" leptosteus
  • Oligostrix (middle Oligocene)
  • Sophiornithidae
  • Sophiornis
  • Strigidae – typical owls
  • Mioglaux (Late Oligocene? – Early Miocene) – includes "Bubo" poirreiri
  • Intulula (Early/Middle –? Late Miocene) – includes "Strix/Ninox" brevis
  • Alasio (Middle Miocene) – includes "Strix" collongensis
  • Oraristrix (Late Pleistocene)
  • Miosurnia (Late Miocene)
  • Placement unresolved
  • "Otus" wintershofensis (Early/Middle Miocene) – may be close to extant genus Ninox
  • "Strix" edwardsi (Middle/Late? Miocene)
  • "Asio" pygmaeus (Early Pliocene)
  • Strigidae gen. et sp. indet. UMMP V31030 (Late Pliocene) – Strix/Bubo?
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Strix (Early Miocene – Recent)
  • Bubo (Late Miocene? – Recent)
  • Asio (Late Pliocene – Recent)
  • Athene (Late Pliocene – Recent)
  • Glaucidium (Late Pliocene – Recent)
  • Surnia (Late Pliocene – Recent)
  • Pulsatrix (Late Pleistocene – Recent)
  • Tytonidae – barn owls
  • Nocturnavis (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene)
  • Selenornis (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene)
  • Necrobyas (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene – Early Miocene)
  • Prosybris (Early Oligocene? – Early Miocene)
  • Placement unresolved
  • Tytonidae gen. et sp. indet. TMT 164 (Middle Miocene)
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Tyto (Late Miocene – Recent)

===Coraciiformes===

Rollers and allies. Probably paraphyletic.

  • Basal and unresolved forms
  • {{extinct}}Quasisyndactylus longibrachis {{small|Mayr 1998}} (middle Eocene) – alcediniform, basal?
  • {{extinct}}Paracoracias occidentalis {{small|Clarke et al. 2009}}
  • {{extinct}}Cryptornis antiquus {{small|Gervais 1848–52 [nomen nudum]}} (Late Eocene) – bucerotid? geranopterid?
  • {{extinct}}Protornis glarniensis {{small|von Meyer 1856}} (Oligocene) – basal to motmotids and meropids?
  • {{extinct}} Coraciiformes gen. et spp. indet. PQ 1216, QU 15640 (Late Eocene) – 2 species
  • {{extinct}}Geranopteridae {{small|Mayr & Mourer-Chauviré 2000}}
  • {{extinct}}Geranopterus {{small|Milne-Edvards 1892}} (Late Eocene – Early Miocene)
  • {{extinct}}G. alatus {{small|(Mayr & Mourer-Chauvire 2000)}}
  • {{extinct}}G. bohemicus {{small|(Mlikovsky 1999) Mourer-Chauvire 1999}} [Nupharanassa bohemica {{small|Mlikovsky 1999}}]
  • {{extinct}}G. milneendwardsi {{small|Mayr & Mourer-Chauvire 2000}}
  • {{extinct}}Eocoraciidae {{small|Mayr & Mourer-Chauviré 2000}}
  • {{extinct}}Eocoracias brachyptera {{small|Mayr & Mourer-Chauviré 2000}} (middle Eocene)
  • {{extinct}}Primobucconidae {{small|Feduccia & Martin 1976 sensu Mayr, Mourer-Chauviré & Weidig 2004}}
  • {{extinct}}Primobucco {{small|Brodkorb 1970}} [Neanis {{small|Brodkorb 1965 non Gistl 1848}}] (Early – middle Eocene)
  • {{extinct}}P. kestneri {{small| Feduccia 1973}} [Neanis kestneri {{small|(Feduccia 1973) Feduaccia 1976}}]
  • {{extinct}}P. frugilegus {{small|Mayr, Mourer-Chauviré & Weidig 2004}}
  • {{extinct}}P. mcgrewi {{small|Brodkorb 1970}}
  • {{extinct}}P. perneri {{small|Mayr, Mourer-Chauviré & Weidig 2004}}
  • Todidae – todies
  • {{extinct}}Palaeotodus Olson 1976 (Late Eocene of France – Early Oligocene of WC Europe and Wyoming)
  • {{extinct}}P. emryi {{small|Olson 1976}}
  • {{extinct}}P. escampsiensis {{small|Mourer-Chauviré 1985}}
  • {{extinct}}P. itardiensis {{small|Mourer-Chauviré 1985}}
  • Motmotidae – motmots
  • Placement unresolved
  • Momotidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene)
  • Coraciidae
  • {{extinct}}Miocoracias chenevali {{small|Mourer-Chauviré, Peyrouse & Hugueney 2013}}
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Eurystomus
  • {{extinct}}E. beremedensis {{small|Kessler 2010}}

=[[Bucerotiformes]]=

=[[Trogoniformes]]=

=[[Piciformes]]=

  • Placement unresolved
  • Piciformes gen. et sp. indet. IRScNB Av 65 (Early Oligocene)
  • Rupelramphastoides (Early Oligocene) – ramphastid?
  • Piciformes gen. et sp. indet. SMF Av 429 (Late Oligocene)
  • Capitonides (Early – Middle Miocene) – ramphastid? "capitonid" (Lybiidae, Megalaimidae)? own family Capitonididae?
  • Pici gen. et sp. indet. (Middle Miocene) – "capitonid" (Lybiidae, Megalaimidae?)
  • Miopiconidae
  • Miopico
  • Lybiidae – African barbets
  • Lybiidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene) – extant genus Pogoniulus?
  • Galbulidae
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Galbula hylochoreutes (Middle Miocene of La Venta, Colombia)
  • Picavidae
  • Picavus
  • Picidae – woodpeckers
  • Palaeopicus (Late Oligocene)
  • Palaeonerpes (Early Pliocene)
  • Pliopicus (Early Pliocene)
  • Placement unresolved
  • Picidae gen. et sp. indet. (Middle Miocene)
  • Picidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene)
  • cf. Colaptes DMNH 1262 (Early Pliocene of Ainsworth, US)
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Campephilus (Late Pleistocene – Recent)
  • Colaptes
  • Dendrocopos
  • Additional prehistoric subspecies of extant species
  • Melanerpes superciliaris ssp. (Little Exuma, Bahamas)
  • Melanerpes superciliaris ssp. (New Providence, Bahamas)

===Passeriformes===

  • Placement unresolved
  • Passeriformes gen. et spp. indet. (Early Eocene) – several species, oscine?
  • Resoviaornis (Early Oligocene)
  • Wieslochia (Early Oligocene)
  • Passeriformes gen. et spp. indet. (Late Oligocene) – several suboscine and oscine species
  • Certhiops (Early Miocene of Germany) – basal Certhioidea
  • Passeriformes gen. et sp. indet. (Early/Middle Miocene) – suboscine?
  • Passeriformes gen. et spp. indet. (Early/Middle Miocene) – several species, oscine?
  • Passeriformes gen. et spp. indet. (Middle Miocene) – several species, basal?
  • Passeriformes gen. et spp. indet. (Middle Miocene) – several species, oscine?
  • Passeriformes gen. et spp. indet. (Late Miocene) – Sylvioidea
  • "Palaeostruthus" eurius (Pliocene)
  • Eurylaimidae – broadbills
  • Placement unresolved
  • Eurylaimidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early Miocene)
  • Palaeoscinidae
  • Palaeoscinis (Late Miocene)
  • Furnariidae – ovenbirds
  • {{extinct}}Pseudoseisuropsis
  • {{extinct}}P. nehuen (Early Pleistocene of Argentina)
  • {{extinct}}P. cuelloi (Late Pleistocene of Uruguay)
  • {{extinct}}P. wintu (Early Pleistocene of Argentina)
  • Prehistoric species of extant genera
  • Pseudoseisura cursor (Ensenada Early/Middle Pleistocene of Anchorena, Argentina)
  • Cinclodes major (Middle Pleistocene of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina)
  • Menuridae – lyretails
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Menura (Early Miocene – Recent)
  • Meliphagidae – honeyeaters
  • Placement unresolved
  • Meliphagidae gen. et spp. indet. (Middle/Late Miocene – Pliocene of Riversleigh, Australia) – at least 7 spp., some may be from extant genera
  • Orthonychidae – logrunners
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Orthonyx (Middle/Late Miocene – Recent)
  • Oriolidae – Old World orioles
  • Longmornis (Early Miocene of Riversleigh, Australia)
  • Artamidae – woodswallows, butcherbirds, currawongs and Australian magpie
  • Placement unresolved
  • Artamidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early/Middle Miocene) – cracticine
  • Corvidae – crows, ravens, jays and magpies
  • Miocorvus (Middle Miocene)
  • Miopica (Middle Miocene)
  • Miocitta (Late Miocene)
  • Protocitta (Early Pleistocene)
  • Henocitta (Middle Pleistocene)
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Corvus (Late Miocene — Recent)
  • Pica (Late Pliocene/Early Pleistocene – Recent)
  • Pyrrhocorax
  • Placement unresolved
  • Corvidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early Pliocene)
  • Corvidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early/Middle Pleistocene) – probably belongs in extant genus
  • Laniidae – shrikes
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Lanius (Early Miocene – Recent)
  • Regulidae – kinglets
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Regulus (Late Pliocene – Recent)
  • Hirundinidae – swallows and martins
  • Placement unresolved
  • Hirundinidae gen. et spp. indet. (Early Pliocene of Langebaanweg, South Africa) – 2 species
  • Megaluridae – grass-warblers and allies
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • ?Locustella (Late Miocene – Recent)
  • Acrocephalidae – marsh- and tree-warblers
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • ?Acrocephalus (Late Miocene – Recent)
  • Muscicapidae – Old World flycatchers and chats
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Luscinia (Late Miocene – Recent)
  • Turdidae – thrushes
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • ?Turdus (Middle? Miocene – Recent)
  • Alaudidae – larks
  • Eremarida (Late Miocene of Hrabarsko, Bulgaria)
  • Motacillidae – wagtails
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Motacilla
  • Fringillidae – finches
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Loxia (Late Pliocene – Recent)
  • Additional prehistoric species of extant genera
  • Coccothraustes simeonovi (Late Pliocene of Varshets, Bulgaria)
  • Coccothraustes balcanicus
  • Icteridae – grackles and New World orioles
  • Pandanaris (Pleistocene)
  • Pyelorhamphus (Pleistocene)
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Euphagus (Late Pleistocene – Recent)
  • Cardinalidae – cardinals
  • Placement unresolved
  • Passerina sp. (Early Pliocene of Yepómera, Mexico)
  • Emberizidae – buntings and New World sparrows
  • Pampaemberiza (Middle Pleistocene of Necochea, Argentina)
  • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Ammodramus (Late Miocene – Recent) – including Palaeostruthus
  • Additional prehistoric species of extant genera
  • Pipilo angelensis (Pleistocene of Rancho La Brea, US)

Avialans ''[[incertae sedis]]''

These fossil taxa cannot be assigned to any major group with reasonable certainty. The "proto-birds" above are of some indeterminate basal position in the entire avialan (and paravian) radiation, but known from such diagnostic material that their relationships at the family level are known. In contrast, the taxa here have a hypodigm that is usually just sufficient for giving them a valid scientific name, but not for phylogenetic purposes beyond classing them as pygostylians or more modern birds. Some, however, are known from such fragmentary remains that the possibility that they are non-avian "reptiles" such as dinosaurs cannot be ruled out at present.

  • {{extinct}}"Ichthyornis" minusculus Nesov 1990 (Bissekty Late Cretaceous of Kyzyl Kum, Uzbekistan) – enantiornithine?
  • {{extinct}}Qinornis paleocenica Xue 1995 (Early/Middle Paleocene) – enantiornithine? neornithine?

See also

Footnotes

{{Reflist}}

References

  • Chiappe, Luis M. (2001): The rise of birds. In: Briggs, Derek E.G. & Crowther, P.R. (eds.): Palaeobiology II: A Synthesis: 102-106. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
  • Chiappe, Luis M. (2002): Basal bird phylogeny: problems and solutions. In: Chiappe, L.M. and Witmer, L.M. (eds.): Mesozoic Birds: Above the Heads of Dinosaurs: 448-472. University of California Press, Berkeley, US.
  • {{cite journal | last1 = Clarke | first1 = Julia A. | last2 = Zhou | first2 = Zhonghe | last3 = Zhang | first3 = Fucheng | year = 2006 | title = Insight into the evolution of avian flight from a new clade of Early Cretaceous ornithurines from China and the morphology of Yixianornis grabaui | journal = Journal of Anatomy | volume = 208 | issue = 3| pages = 287–308 | doi = 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2006.00534.x | pmid = 16533313 | pmc = 2100246 }} [https://www.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7580.2006.00534.x Electronic Appendix]
  • Gauthier, Jacques A. & de Queiroz, Kevin (2001): Feathered dinosaurs, flying dinosaurs, crown dinosaurs, and the name "Aves". In: Gauthier, Jacques & Gall, L.F. (eds.): New Perspectives on the Origin and Early Evolution of Birds: Proceedings of the International Symposium in Honor of John H. Ostrom: 7-41. Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
  • Mortimer, Michael (2004): The Theropod Database: [https://web.archive.org/web/20130516175802/http://archosaur.us/theropoddatabase/Phylogeny%20of%20Taxa.html Phylogeny of taxa]. Retrieved 2013-MAR-02.
  • Olson, Storrs L. (1985): The fossil record of birds. In: Farner, D.S.; King, J.R. & Parkes, Kenneth C. (eds.): Avian Biology 8: 79-238. Academic Press, New York. Not in copyright; [http://si-pddr.si.edu/dspace/bitstream/10088/6553/1/VZ_167_Fossil_Record_of_Birds.pdf PDF fulltext]
  • Sereno, Paul Callistus (2005): [https://web.archive.org/web/20070219102659/http://www.taxonsearch.org/dev/file_home.php TaxonSearch: Stem Archosauria]. Version 1.0, November 7, 2005. Retrieved 2007-APR-30.