Orders of the world - BIRDS plus info

PASSERIFORMES

ORDER PASSERIFORMESPerching birds (cont) Taxonomic notes: Relationships, sequence & limits of families under debate Two big subgroups within the passerines: Suboscines(suborder Tyranni) Oscines (suborder Passeres) Differ in the complexity of the structure of the song apparatus (syrinx), and possibly on the role of instinct versus learning in song acquisitionlConservation Status: 45 extinct,568 threatened (11%)

Opisthocomiformes

Behavior: tree dwelling; poor fliers; Live in family groups and small aggregations (up to 40 birds) and are social throughout the year During breeding birds occupy densely packed exclusive territories, sometimes up to 28 nests in one tree Noisy and often vocalize in unison with a collection of hoarse cries, grunts, growls and hisses.lTaxonomic notes: Only bird ruminant (enlarged cervical crop to ferment and digest leaves) Very odd, monotypic species of uncertain affinities Often considered one of the most primitive of birds Conservation Status: 0 extinct, 0 threatened (0%)

PROCELLARIIFORMES

Behavior: all lay a single eggand have extremely longincubation and nestling periods; monogamous with biparentalcare; chicks fed a rich stomach oilregurgitated by the parent; they also squirt it at predatorsin self defenselNorth American Families: DIOMEDEIDAE: albatrosses (large; 12' wingspan) PROCELLARIIDAE: shearwaters (medium) HYDROBATIDAE: storm petrels (tiny; 6" wingspan)lConservation Status: 2 extinct, 60 threatened (48%)

Charadriiformes

Behavior: mainly ground or cliff nesters; most monogamous; biparentalcare, but interesting diversity of mating system and parental care patterns in sandpiper family Other notes: Skimmers (slice water with knife-like beak to catch fish)lNorth American Families: CHARADRIIDAE - Plovers HAEMATOPODIDAE - Oystercatchers RECURVIROSTRIDAE - Avocets & Stilts SCOLOPACIDAE - Sandpipers LARIDAE -Gulls STERCORARIIDAE - Skuasand Jaegers ALCIDAE - Auks JACANIDAE -Jacanas Conservation Status: 4 extinct, 37 threatened (12%)

Otidifomres

Bustards

Anseriformes

Dense waterproof feathers with layer of down in all species Some species (steamer ducks) are flightless Other notes: Screamers have two knife-like spurs on leading edge of each wing, also very extensiveair sacs that crackle when pressed, soar high into air and call (hence name) North American Family: ANATIDAE - True WaterfowllConservation Status: 6 extinct, 27 threatened (20%)

Gaviiformes

Loons

Mesitornithiformes

Mesites

FALCONIFORMES

Other notes: Peregrine Falcons can stoop at 200 mph, taking birds as large as ducks out of mid-air. Captive-rearing programs for Peregrine Falcons have successfully boosted wild populations, and some have learned to live in metropolitan areas, preying on pigeons from tall building perches. North American Families: FALCONIDAE - Falcons

ACCIPTRIFORMES

Other notes: Pesticides have had a devastating effect on birds of prey due to bioaccumulation; DDT in 1960's led to eggshell thinning (Rachel Carson). Ospreys can rotate their talons to carry fish head-first to reduce wind resistance.lNorth American Families: ACCIPITRIDAE - Hawks, Eagles, Old World Vultures, Kites PANDIONIDAE - Osprey

PICIFORMES

Other notes: Woodpeckers are important to forest ecosystems -eat large numbers of wood-boring insects; as they forage, insects are disturbed that are then eaten by other insectivorous birds like nuthatches and tits. Woodpecker nest holes are used by other animals such as owls, marten, mice, even cavity-nesting waterfowl Honey guides may lead humans and other animals (honey badgers) to bee-hives North American Families: PICIDAE- Woodpeckers Conservation Status: 0 extinct,15 threatened (4%)

PELECANIFORMES

Other notes: Herons have well-developed powder down feathers; comb-like middle clawthat is used to scratch out the powder down; modification of vertebrae in neck provides spearing mechanism & allows neck to fold in S-shapelNorth American Families: THRESKIORNITHIDAE - Spoonbills ARDEIDAE - Herons, egrets PELECANIDAE - Pelicans

Gruiformes

Other notes: Flightlessness has arisen many independent times; big radiation of flightless predatory South American gruiids (biggest 10 feet) High representation of extinct or endangered species; 6 of 15 Gruidaeare threatened or endangered; 15 Rallidaehave gone extinct in past centurylNorth American Families: RALLIDAE - Rails GRUIDAE - Cranes ARAMIDAE - Limpkin Conservation Status: 23 extinct, 55 threatened (34%)

Phoenicopteriformes

Taxonomic notes: Old, distinct group of birds (fossils of modern genera date back 50 MYA) Other notes:Pink color due to diet - crustaceans with carotenoid pigments Captive birds turn white if not fed enough shrimp-like food with carotenoids North American Families: PHOENICOPTERIDAE - Flamingoes Conservation Status: 1 threatened (20%)

Caprimulgiformes

Taxonomic notes: Paraphyletic; may be split into severalorders: Steatornithiformes(Oilbird); Nyctibiformes(Potoos); Podargiformes(Frogmouths); Other notes: Frogmouths of Australian thesize of big owls! Malesof some African and South American species have long tail streamers or long racquets off their wings Receivedit's name from goat-herders who heard the "jarring"calls at night and attributed the failure of their goats to give milk to activity of these birds Somespecies may echolocate like bats lNorth American Families: CAPRIMULGIDAE - Nightjars & GoatsuckerslConservation Status: 0 extinct, 8 threatened (7%)

CHARADRIIFORMES

shore birds