bird families
     
The taxonomy for birds used on this website is based on Frank Gill, Minturn Wright and David Donsker's "IOC World Bird Names" list. For those who might be interested, additional information on this list can be found at www.worldbirdnames.org. Whilst I have tried to stay in line with this list as far as possible, there are a few minor amendments which I have made based on information gleaned from elsewhere.

This website is regularly updated with new photos (both improvements on existing species as well as additional species not featured before) and, where there have been updates, an indication will be given next to the link below.

Currently, the birds section is made up of 149 families (out of a possible 230 families) comprising a total of 1507 species and an additional 293 subspecies. (1800 taxa in total)

     
     

Tinamidae  -  Tinamous
(1 species - 1 taxon)

     

Struthionidae  -  Ostriches
(1 species - 2 taxa)

     
 

Rheidae  -  Rheas
(2 species - 2 taxa)
     
 

Megapodiidae  -  Megapodes
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     
 

Cracidae  Chachalacas, Curassows and Guans
(2 species - 2 taxa)
     
 

Numididae  -  Guineafowl
(3 species - 5 taxa)
     

Phasianidae   -  Pheasants, Fowl and Allies
(19 species - 21 taxa)
     
 

Anseranatidae  -  Magpie Goose
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     

Anatidae  -  Ducks, Geese and Swans
(57 species - 62 taxa)
     

Spheniscidae  -  Penguins
(10 species - 11 taxa)
     
 

Diomedeidae  -  Albatrosses
(10 species - 10 taxa)
     
 

Procellariidae  -  Petrels and Shearwaters
(23 species - 24 taxa)
     

Hydrobatidae  -  Storm Petrels
(3 species - 4 taxa)
     

Pelecanoididae  -  Diving Petrels
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     

Podicipedidae  -  Grebes
(8 species - 9 taxa)
     
 

Phoenicopteridae  -  Flamingos
(4 species - 4 taxa)
     
 

Phaethontidae   -  Tropicbirds
(2 species - 3 taxa)
     
 

Ciconiidae   -  Storks
(10 species - 11 taxa)
     

Threskiornithidae  -  Ibises and Spoonbills
(17 species - 18 taxa)
     

Ardeidae   -  Herons and Bitterns
(30 species - 37 taxa)
     
 

Fregatidae   -  Frigatebirds
(3 species - 3 taxa)
     
 

Scopidae   -  Hamerkop
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     

Pelecanidae   -  Pelicans
(4 species - 4 taxa)
     

Sulidae   -  Gannets and Boobies
(5 species - 6 taxa)
     

Phalacrocoracidae   -  Cormorants and Shags
(14 species - 15 taxa)
     
 

Anhingidae   -  Anhingas and Darters
(2 species - 2 taxa)
     
 

Cathartidae   -  New World Vultures
(4 species - 5 taxa)
     
 

Sagittariidae   -  Secretarybird
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     

Pandionidae   -  Ospreys
(1 species - 2 taxa)
     

Accipitridae   -  Hawks, Eagles and Kites
(74 species - 82 taxa)
     

Falconidae   -  Falcons and Caracaras
(22 species - 26 taxa)
     

Otididae   -  Bustards
(13 species - 15 taxa)
     
 

Sarothruridae  -  Flufftails
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     
 

Heliornithidae   -  Finfoots
(2 species - 2 taxa)
     
 

Rallidae   -  Rails, Crakes and Coots
(22 species - 24 taxa)
     
 

Gruidae   -  Cranes
(3 species - 3 taxa)
     

Aramidae   -  Limpkin
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     

Burhinidae   -  Stone-curlews and Thick-knees
(4 species - 4 taxa)
     
 

Chionididae   -  Sheathbills
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     

Haemotopodidae   -  Oystercatchers
(7 species - 7 taxa)
     
 

Dromadidae   -  Crab Plover
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     

Recurvirostridae   -  Stilts and Avocets
(5 species - 5 taxa)
     
 

Charadriidae   -  Plovers
(28 species - 32 taxa)
     

Rostratulidae   -  Painted Snipes
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     
 

Jacanidae   -  Jacanas
(4 species - 4 taxa)
     
 

Thinocoridae   -  Seedsnipes
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     
 

Scolopacidae   -  Sandpipers and Snipes
(32 species - 36 taxa)
     

Glareolidae   -  Coursers and Pratincoles
(9 species - 12 taxa)
     

Laridae   -  Gulls, Terns and Skimmers
(44 species - 52 taxa)
     
 

Stercorariidae   -  Skuas
(6 species - 7 taxa)
     
 

Alcidae   -  Auks
(3 species - 3 taxa)
     
 

Pteroclidae   -  Sandgrouse
(3 species - 4 taxa)
     
 

Columbidae   -  Pigeons and Doves
(41 species - 52 taxa)
     
 

Cacatuidae   -  Cockatoos
(2 species - 2 taxa)
     
 

Psittacidae   -  Parrots
(24 species - 24 taxa)
     
 

Opisthocomidae   -  Hoatzin
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     
 

Musophagidae   -  Turacos
(7 species - 9 taxa)
     

Cuculidae   -  Cuckoos
(25 species - 25 taxa)
     
 

Tytonidae   -  Barn Owls
(2 species - 2 taxa)
     

Strigidae   -  Owls
(18 species - 19 taxa)
     
 

Nyctibiidae   -  Potoos
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     
 

Caprimulgidae   -  Nightjars
(10 species - 10 taxa)
     

Hemiprocnidae   -  Treeswifts
(2 species - 2 taxa)
     

Apodidae   -  Swifts
(15 species - 19 taxa)
     
 

Trochilidae   -  Hummingbirds
(14 species - 14 taxa)
     

Coliidae   -  Mousebirds
(4 species - 8 taxa)
     
 

Trogonidae   -  Trogons
(4 species - 4 taxa)
     

Coraciidae   -  Rollers
(7 species - 9 taxa)
     

Alcedinidae   -  Kingfishers
(17 species - 22 taxa)
     
 

Meropidae   -  Bee-eaters
(12 species - 15 taxa)
     
 

Upupidae   -  Hoopoes
(2 species - 2 taxa)
     
 

Phoeniculidae   -  Wood-hoopoes
(6 species - 9 taxa)
     

Bucerotidae   -  Hornbills
(14 species - 17 taxa)
     
 

Bucorvidae   -  Ground Hornbills
(2 species - 2 taxa)
     
 

Gabulidae   -  Jacamars
(4 species - 4 taxa)
     
 

Bucconidae   -  Puffbirds
(2 species - 2 taxa)
     

Rhamphastidae   -  New World Barbets and Toucans
(6 species - 6 taxa)
     

Megalaimidae   -  Asian Barbets
(3 species - 3 taxa)
     

Lybiidae   -  African Barbets
(12 species - 14 taxa)
     
 

Indicatoridae   -  Honeyguides
(2 species - 3 taxa)
     
 

Picidae   -  Woodpeckers
(24 species - 32 taxa)
     
 

Funariidae   -  Ovenbirds
(20 species - 22 taxa)
     
 

Thamnophilidae   -  Antbirds
(4 species - 4 taxa)
     
 

Formicaridae   -  Antthrushes
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     
 

Rhinocryptidae   -  Tapaculos
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     
 

Tyrannidae   -  Tyrant Flycatchers
(32 species - 38 taxa)
     
 

Cotingidae   -  Cotingas
(3 species - 3 taxa)
     
 

Pipridae   -  Manakins
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     
 

Ptilonorhynchidae   -  Bowerbirds
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     
 

Meliphagidae   -  Honeyeaters
(4 species - 4 taxa)
     
 

Acanthizidae   -  Australasian Warblers
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     
 

Notiomystidae   -  Stitchbird
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     

Platysteiridae   -  Wattle-eyes and Batises
(6 species - 7 taxa)
     

Tephrodornithdae   -  Woodshrikes and Allies
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     

Prionopidae   -  Helmet-shrikes
(2 species - 2 taxa)
     

Malaconotidae   -  Bush-shrikes
(17 species - 24 taxa)
     
 

Cracticidae   -  Butcherbirds
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     
 

Artamidae   -  Woodswallows
(2 species - 2 taxa)
     
 

Campephagidae   -  Cuckoo-shrikes
(9 species - 9 taxa)
     

Laniidae   -  Shrikes
(12 species - 17 taxa)
     
 

Oriolidae   -  Figbirds and Orioles
(5 species - 7 taxa)
     
 

Dicruridae   -  Drongos
(4 species - 7 taxa)
     
 

Rhipiduridae   -  Fantails
(3 species - 4 taxa)
     
 

Monarchidae   -  Monarchs
(3 species - 5 taxa)
     
 

Corvidae   -  Crows and Jays
(17 species - 19 taxa)
     
 

Paradisaeidae   -  Birds of Paradise
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     
 

Chaetopidae   -  Rockjumpers
(2 species - 2 taxa)
     
 

Stenostiridae   -  Fairy Flycatchers
(2 species - 3 taxa)
     

Paridae   -  Tits and Chickadees
(12 species - 15 taxa)
     

Remizidae   -  Penduline Tits
(2 species - 4 taxa)
     

Panuridae   -  Bearded Reedling
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     
 

Nicatoridae   -  Nicators
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     

Alaudidae   -  Larks
(35 species - 54 taxa)
     

Pycnonotidae   -  Bulbuls
(22 species - 28 taxa)
     

Hirundinidae   -  Swallow and Martins
(29 species - 31 taxa)
     

Aegithalidae   -  Bushtits
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     

Phylloscopidae   -  Leaf Warblers and Allies
(7 species - 7 taxa)
     

Acrocephalidae   -  Reed Warblers and Allies
(5 species - 7 taxa)
     

Megaluridae   -  Grassbirds and Allies
(5 species - 5 taxa)
     
 

Donacobiidae   -  Black-capped Donacobius
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     

Cisticolidae   -  Cisticolas and Allies
(38 species - 61 taxa)
     

Incertae Sedis   -  Family uncertain
(6 species - 11 taxa)
     
 

Timaliidae   -  Babblers and Parrotbills
(23 species - 24 taxa)
     

Sylviidae   -  Sylviid Babblers
(5 species - 8 taxa)
     

Zosteropidae   -  White-eyes
(5 species - 7 taxa)
     
 

Promeropidae   -  Sugarbirds
(2 species - 2 taxa)
     
 

Irenidae   -  Fairy-bluebirds
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     
 

Troglodytidae   -  Wrens
(3 species - 4 taxa)
     
 

Polioptilidae   -  Gnatcatchers
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     
 

Sittidae   -  Nuthatches
(2 species - 2 taxa)
     
 

Mimidae   -  Mockingbirds and Thrashers
(4 species - 4 taxa)
     

Sturnidae   -  Starlings and Allies
(25 species - 28 taxa)
     

Buphagidae   -  Oxpeckers
(2 species - 2 taxa)
     

Turdidae   -  Thrushes
(16 species - 22 taxa)
     

Muscicapidae   -  Old World Flycatchers and Chats
(58 species - 78 taxa)
     

Cinclidae   -  Dippers
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     

Chloropseidae   -  Leafbirds
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     

Nectariniidae   -  Sunbirds
(23 species - 27 taxa)
     

Passeridae   -  Old World Sparrows and Allies
(15 species - 22 taxa)
     

Ploceidae   -  Weavers and Widowbirds
(30 species - 38 taxa)
     

Estrildidae   -  Waxbills, Munias and Allies
(24 species - 28 taxa)
     

Viduidae   -  Indigobirds and Whydahs
(7 species - 7 taxa)
     

Prunellidae   -  Accentors
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     

Motacillidae   -  Wagtails and Pipits
(28 species - 38 taxa)
     

Fringillidae   -  Finches and Allies
(28 species - 34 taxa)
     
 

Parulidae   -  New World Warblers
(4 species - 4 taxa)
     
 

Icteridae   -  Oropendolas, Orioles and Blackbirds
(14 species - 15 taxa)
     
 

Coerebidae   -  Bananaquit
(1 species - 1 taxon)
     
 

Emberizidae   -  Buntings, New World Sparrows and Allies
(13 species - 21 taxa)
     
 

Thraupidae   -  Tanagers and Allies
(38 species - 39 taxa)
     
 

Cardinalidae   -  Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Saltators and Allies
(2 species - 2 taxa)