Birds are generally believed to have evolved from certain feathered theropod dinosaurs, and there is no real dividing line between birds and dinosaurs, except of course 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 Aves sensu lato.[1] 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 change 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.
Contents
- 1 Taxonomic list of fossil prehistoric birds
- 2 Basal Avialae (extinct)
- 3 Basal Pygostylia (extinct)
- 4 Enantiornithes (extinct)
- 5 Basal Euornithes (extinct)
- 6 Basal Ornithurae (extinct)
- 7 Neornithes
- 7.1 Struthioniformes
- 7.2 Lithornithiformes (extinct)
- 7.3 Tinamiformes
- 7.4 Anseriformes
- 7.5 Galliformes
- 7.6 Charadriiformes
- 7.7 Gastornithiformes (extinct)
- 7.8 Gruiformes
- 7.9 Phoenicopteriformes
- 7.10 Podicipediformes
- 7.11 Ciconiiformes
- 7.12 Pelecaniformes
- 7.13 Procellariiformes
- 7.14 Gaviiformes
- 7.15 Sphenisciformes
- 7.16 Pteroclidiformes
- 7.17 Columbiformes
- 7.18 Psittaciformes
- 7.19 Opisthocomiformes
- 7.20 Cuculiformes
- 7.21 Falconiformes
- 7.22 Caprimulgiformes
- 7.23 Aegotheliformes
- 7.24 Apodiformes
- 7.25 Coliiformes
- 7.26 Strigiformes
- 7.27 Coraciiformes
- 7.28 Trogoniformes
- 7.29 Piciformes
- 7.30 Passeriformes
- 8 Avialans incertae sedis
- 9 See also
- 10 Footnotes
- 11 References
- 12 External links
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,[2] updated and expanded to incorporate recent research.[3] 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.
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).
- †Scansoriopterygidae
- †Epidexipteryx (Late Jurassic)
- †Scansoriopteryx (Late Jurassic)
- †Yandangithiformes Cai & Zhao 1999
- †Yandangornithidae Cai & Zhao 1999
- †Yandangornis Cai & Zhao 1999 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Yandangornithidae Cai & Zhao 1999
- †Archaeopterygiformes
- †Archaeopterygidae Huxley 1871
- †Jurapteryx recurva (Howgate 1984) Howgate 1985 [Archaeopteryx recurva Howgate 1984]
- †Protarchaeopteryx robusta Ji & Ji 1997
- †Wellnhoferia grandis Elzanowski 2001 (Late Jurassic) – probably synonym of Archaeopteryx
- †Xiaotingia zhengi Xu et al. 2011
- †Archaeopteryx Meyer 1861 (Late Jurassic)
- †A. bavarica Wellnhofer 1993
- †A. siemensii Dames 1897 [Archaeornis siemensii (Dames 1897) Peteronievics 1917]
- †A. lithographica Meyer 1861
- †Archaeopterygidae Huxley 1871
- †Jeholornithiformes Zhou & Zhang 2006
- †Jeholornithidae Zhou & Zhang 2006
- †Dalianraptor cuhe Gao & Liu 2005
- †Jeholornis Zhou & Zhang 2002b [Jixiangornis Ji et al. 2002; Shenzhouraptor Ji et al. 2002] (Early Cretaceous)
- †J. curvipes Lefèvre et al. 2014
- †J. palmapensis O’Connor et al. 2012
- †J. prima Zhou & Zhang 2002b [Jixiangornis orientalis Ji et al. 2002; Shenzhouraptor sinensis Ji et al. 2002]
- †Jeholornithidae Zhou & Zhang 2006
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.[4]
- †Confuciusornithiformes Hou et al. 1995
- †Proornis coreae Lim 1993 (nomen nudum)
- †Zhongornis haoae Gao et al. 2008 - confuciusornithid?
- †Confuciusornithidae Hou et al. 1995
- †Changchengornis hengdaoziensis Ji, Chiappe & Ji 1999 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Eoconfuciusornis zhengi Zhang, Zhou & Benton 2008 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Evgenavis nobilis O’Connor, Averianov & Zelenkov 2014
- †Confuciusornis Hou et al. 1995 [Jinzhouornis Hou et al. 2002] (Early Cretaceous)
- †C. sanctus Hou et al. 1995 [Confuciusorins chuonzhous Hou 1997; Confuciusorins meidus Hou 1997 (sic); Confuciusorins suniae Hou 1997; Confuciusorins shuzhi Hou 1997 (sic); Jinzhouornis yixianensis Hou et al. 2002; Jinzhouornis zhangjiyingia Hou et al. 2002]
- †C. dui Hou et al. 1999
- †C. feducciai Zhang et al. 2009
- †C. jianchangensis Li, Wang & Hou 2010
- †Omnivoropterygiformes Czerkas & Ji 2002
- †Omnivoropterygidae Czerkas & Ji 2002
- †Omnivoropteryx sinousaorum Czerkas & Qiang Ji 2002 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Sapeornis chaoyangensis Zhou & Zhang 2002a [Didactylornis jii Yuan 2008; Sapeornis angustis Provini, Zhou & Zhang 2009; Shenshiornis primita Hu et al. 2010] (Early Cretaceous)
- †Omnivoropterygidae Czerkas & Ji 2002
Enantiornithes (extinct)
The taxonomic list of enantiornithine groups presented here follows a summary published by Thomas R. Holz, Jr. in 2011.[5]
†Enantiornithes
- †Concornithidae Kuročkin 1996
- †Concornis lacustris Sanz & Buscalioni 1992 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Qiliania graffini Ji et al. 2011 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Noguerornis gonzalezi Lasaca-Ruiz 1989 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Avisauridae Brett-Surman & Paul 1985
- †Avisaurus Brett-Surman & Paul 1985 (Late Cretaceous)
- †A. archibaldi Brett-Surman & Paul 1985
- †A. gloriae Varricchio & Chiappe 1995
- †Bauxitornis mindszentyae [6] (Late Cretaceous)
- †Enantiophoenix electrophyla Cau & Arduini 2008 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Halimornis thompsonae Chiappe, Lamb & Ericson 2002 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Intiornis inexpectatus[7] (Late Cretaceous)
- †Mystiornis cyrili Kuročkin et al. 2011 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Neuquenornis volans Chiappe & Calvo 1994 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Soroavisaurus australis Chiappe 1993 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Avisaurus Brett-Surman & Paul 1985 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Gobipterygidae Elzanowski 1974
- †Gobipipus reshetovi Kuročkin, Chatterjee & Mikhailov 2013
- †Gobipteryx minuta Elzanowski 1974 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Vescornis hebeiensis Zhang, Ericson & Zhou 2004 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Longipterygidae Zhang et al. 2001
- †Boluochia zhengi Zhou 1995 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Camptodontus yangi[8] (Early Cretaceous)
- †Longipteryx chaoyangensis Zhang et al. 2001 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Longirostravis hani Hou et al. 2004 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Otogornis genghisi Hou 1994 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Rapaxavis pani Morschhauser et al. 2009 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Shanweiniao cooperorum O’Connor et al. 2009 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Shengjingornis yangi Li et al. 2012 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Protopterygidae Zhou & Zhang 2006
- †Jibeinia luanhera Hou 2000 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Protopteryx fengningensis Zhang & Zhou 2000 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Hebeiornis fengningensis Yan 1999
- †Pengornithidae Wang et al. 2014
- †Eopengornis martini Wang et al. 2014
- †Pengornis houi Zhou, Clarke & Zhang 2008 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Eoenantiornithidae Hou et al. 1999
- †Dapingfangornis sentisorhinus Li et al. 2006 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Eoenantiornis buhleri Hou et al. 1999
- †Bohaiornithidae Wang et al. 2014
- †Sulcavis geeorum O’Connor et al. 2013 (Early Cretaceous)[9]
- †Shenqiornis mengi Wang et al. 2010 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Zhouornis hani Zhang et al. 2013
- †Longusunguis kurochkini Wang et al. 2014
- †Bohaiornis guoi Hu et al. 2011
- †Parabohaiornis martini Wang et al. 2014
- †Alethoalaornithidae Li et al. 2007
- †Alethoalaornis agitornis Li et al. 2007 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Cathyornithidae Zhou, Jin & Zhang 1992
- †Gracilornis jiufotangensis Li & Hou 2011 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Longchengornis sanyanensis Hou 1997 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Sinornis santensis Sereno & Rao 1992 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Cathayornis Zhou, Jin & Zhang 1992 (Early Cretaceous)
- †C. aberransis Hou et al. 2002
- †C. yandica Zhou, Jin & Zhang 1992
- †C. chabuensis Li et al. 2008
- †Enantiornithidae Walker 1981
- †Enantiornis leali Walker 1981 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Gurilynia nessovi Kuročkin 1999 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Wyleyia valdensis Harrison & Walker 1973 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Nanantius Molnar 1986 (Early-?Late Cretaceous)
- †N. eos Molnar 1986
- †N. valifanovi Kuročkin 1996
- †Alexornithidae Brodkorb 1976
- †Abavornis bonaparti Panteleyev 1998 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Alexornis antecedens Brodkorb 1976 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Explorornis Panteleyev 1998 (Late Cretaceous)
- †E. walkeri (Nesov & Panteleyev 1993) Panteleyev 1998 [Enantiornis walkeri Nesov & Panteleyev 1993]
- †E. nessovi Panteleyev 1998
- †Incolornis Panteleyev 1998 (Late Cretaceous)
- †I. martini (Nesov & Panteleyev 1993) Panteleyev 1998 [Enantiornis martini Nesov & Panteleyev 1993]
- †I. silvae Panteleyev 1998
- †Kizylkumavis cretacea Nesov 1984 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Lenesornis maltschevskyi (Nesov 1986) Kuročkin 1996 [Ichthyornis maltschevskyi Nesov 1986 non Marsh 1872] (Late Cretaceous)
- †Sazavis prisca Nesov & Jarkov 1989 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Zhyraornis Nesov 1984 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Z. kashkarovi Nesov 1984
- †Z. logunovi Nesov 1992
- Basal Enantiornithes and Enantiornithes incerta sedis
- †Cuspirostrisornis houi Hou 1997 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Cerebavis cenomanica (Late Cretaceous)[10]
- †Dalingheornis liweii Zhang et al. 2006 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Dunhuangia cuii Wang et al. 2015
- †Elsornis keni Chiappe et al. 2007 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Eoalulavis hoyasi Sanz et al. 1996 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Fortunguavis xiaotaizicus Wang, O’Connor & Zhou 2014
- †Houornis caudatus (Hou 1997) Wang & Liu 2015 [Cathayornis caudatus Hou 1997]
- †Iberomesornis romerali Sanz & Bonaparte 1992 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Liaoningornis longidigitris Hou 1997
- †Paraprotopteryx gracilis Zheng, Zhang & Hou 2007 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Parvavis chuxiongensis Wang, Zhou & Xu 2014
- †Xiangornis shenmi Hu et al. 2012 (Jiufotang Early Cretaceous of Liaoning)
- †Yuanjiawaornis viriosus Hu et al. 2015
- †Euenantiornithes
- †Catenoleimus anachoretus Panteleyev 1999 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Elbretornis bonapartei Walker & Dyke 2009 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Eocathayornis walkeri Zhou 2002 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Flexomornis howei Tykoski & Fiorillo 2010 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Grabauornis lingyuanensis Dalsatt, Erickson & Zhou 2014
- †Huoshanornis huji Wang et al. 2010 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Kuszholia mengi Nesov 1992 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Largirostrornis sexdentoris Hou 1997 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Lectavis bretincola Chiappe 1993 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Liaoxiornis delicatus Hou & Chen 1999 [Lingyuanornis parvus Ji & Ji 1999] (Late Cretaceous)
- †Martinavis Walker, Buffetaut & Dyke 2007 (Late Cretaceous)
- †M. cruzyensis Walker, Buffetaut & Dyke 2007
- †M. vincei Walker, Buffetaut & Dyke 2007
- †M. minor Walker & Dyke 2009
- †M. saltariensis Walker & Dyke 2009
- †M. whetstonei Walker & Dyke 2009
- †Yungavolucris brevipedalis Chiappe 1993 (Late Cretaceous)
Note that Holtz (2011) also included Zhyraornis in his classification of euenantiornithines, though this genus is more often classified as an ornithuran.[11] Holtz also placed Liaoningornis as an ornithuromorph, though more recent studies have placed it as a close relative of Eoalulavis.[12]
Basal Euornithes (extinct)
Also called "basal Ornithuromorpha".[13] 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).[5]
- †Archaeorhynchus spathula Zhou & Zhang 2006
- †Changmaornis houi Wang et al. 2013
- †Gargantuavis philoinos Buffetaut & Le Loeuff 1998
- †Horezmavis eocretaceous Nesov 1983
- †Hulsanpes perlei Osmólska 1982 (?Troodontidae)
- †Iteravis huchzermeyeri Zhou, O'Connor & Wang 2014
- †Jianchangornis microdonta Zhou, Zhang & Li 2009
- †Jiuquanornis niui Wang et al. 2013
- †Juehuaornis zhangi Wang, Wang & Hu 2015
- †Palaeopteryx thomsoni Jensen 1981 (dinosaur)
- †Platanavis nana Nesov 1992
- †Samrukia nessovi Naish et al. 2012
- †Schizooura lii Zhou, Zhou & O'Connor 2012
- †Vorona berivotrensis Forster et al. 1996
- †Xinghaiornis lini Wang et al. 2013
- †Yumenornis huangi Wang et al. 2013
- †Zhongjianornis yangi Zhou, Zhang & Li 2009
- †Patagopterygidae Alvarenga & Bonaparte 1992
- †Alamitornis minutus Agnolin & Martinelli 2009
- †Patagopteryx deferrariisi Alvarenga & Bonaparte 1992
- †Hongshanornithidae O’Connor, Gao & Chiappe 2010
- ?†Archaeornithura meemannae Wang et al. 2015
- †Hongshanornis longicresta Zhou & Zhang 2005 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Longicrusavis houi O’Connor, Gao & Chiappe 2010 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Parahongshanornis chaoyangensis Li, Wang & Hou 2011 (Early Cretaceous)– ornithurine?
- †Tianyuornis cheni Zheng et al. 2014
- †Chaoyangiiformes Hou 1997
- †Chaoyangiidae Hou 1997
- †Chaoyangia beishanensis Hou & Zhang 1993
- †Songlingornithidae Hou 1997
- †Hollanda luceria Bell et al. 2009 [Hollandornis birdus Bell et al. 2009 (nomen nudum)]
- †Piscivoravis lii Zhou et al. 2013
- †Songlingornis linghensis Hou 1997 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Yixianornis grabaui Zhou & Zhang 2001 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Yanornis Zhou & Zhang 2001 [Archaeoraptor Sloan 1999 (nomen nudum); Archaeovolans Czerkas & Xu 2002; Aberratiodontus Gong, Hou & Wang 2004] (Early Cretaceous)
- †Y. martini Zhou & Zhang 2001 [Archaeoraptor liaoningensis Sloan 1999 (nomen nudum); Archaeovolans repatriatus Czerkas & Xu 2002; Aberratiodontus wui Gong, Hou & Wang 2004]
- †Y. guozhangi Wang et al. 2013
- †Y. chaoyangensis
- †Chaoyangiidae Hou 1997
Note that Holtz also included the genera Eurolimnornis, Holbotia, Palaeocursornis and Piksi as euornitheans, though they have since been re-identified as pterosaurs.[14]
Basal Ornithurae (extinct)
- †Ambiortiformes Kuročkin 1982
- †Ambiortidae Kuročkin 1982
- †Ambiortus dementjevi Kuročkin 1982 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Ambiortidae Kuročkin 1982
- †Apsaraviformes Kuročkin 1982
- †Apsaravidae
- †Apsaravis ukhaana Norell & Clarke 2001 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Apsaravidae
- †Gansuiformes Hou & Liu 1984
- †Gansuidae Hou & Liu 1984
- †Gansus Hou & Liu 1984 (Early Cretaceous)
- †G. yumensis Hou & Liu 1984
- †G. zheni Liu et al. 2014
- †Gansus Hou & Liu 1984 (Early Cretaceous)
- †Gansuidae Hou & Liu 1984
- †Ichthyornithiformes Marsh 1873
- †Apatornithidae Fürbringer 1888
- †Apatornis celer (Marsh 1873) Marsh 1873 [Ichthyornis celer Marsh 1873]
- †Guildavis tener (Marsh 1880) Clarke 2004 [Ichthyornis tener Marsh 1880]
- †Iaceornis marshi Clarke 2004 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Ichthyornithidae Marsh 1873
- Ichthyornis Marsh 1872 [Angelinornis Kashin 1972; Colonosaurus Marsh 1872; Graculavus Marsh 1873 non Marsh 1872; Plegadornis Wetmore 1962 non Brehm 1855] (Late Cretaceous)
- †I. dispar Marsh 1872 [Colonosaurus mudgei Marsh 1872; Graculavus anceps Marsh 1872a; Ichthyornis anceps (Marsh 1872a) Marsh 1872b; Graculavus agilis Marsh 1873; Ichthyornis agilis (Marsh 1873) Marsh 1880; Ichthyornis victor Marsh 1876; Ichthyornis validus Marsh 1880; Ichthyornis anceps (Marsh 1872)]
- †I. antecessor (Wetmore 1962) Olson 1975 [Plegadornis antecessor Wetmore 1962; Angelinornis antecessor (Wetmore 1962)]
- †I. maltschevskyii Nesov 1986
- Ichthyornis Marsh 1872 [Angelinornis Kashin 1972; Colonosaurus Marsh 1872; Graculavus Marsh 1873 non Marsh 1872; Plegadornis Wetmore 1962 non Brehm 1855] (Late Cretaceous)
- †Apatornithidae Fürbringer 1888
- Limenavis patagonica Clarke & Chiappe 2001 (Late Cretaceous)– paleognath?
- Palintropidae
- Palintropus retusus (Marsh 1892) Brodkorb 1970 [Cimolopteryx retusa Marsh 1892; Apatornis retusus (Marsh 1892) Brodkorb 1962] (Late Cretaceous) (?Galliformes: Quercymegapodiidae)
†Hesperornithes
Large, toothed, loon-like diving birds.
- †Baptornis advenus Marsh 1877 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Potamornis skutchi Elzanowski, Paul & Stidham 2000
- †Pasquiaornis Tokaryk, Cumbaa & Storer 1997 (Late Cretaceous)
- †P. hardiei Tokaryk, Cumbaa & Storer 1997
- †P. tankei Tokaryk, Cumbaa & Storer 1997
- †Brodavidae Martin, Kuročkin & Tokaryk 2012
- Brodavis Martin, Kuročkin & Tokaryk 2012 (Late Cretaceous)
- †B. americanus Martin, Kuročkin & Tokaryk 2012
- †B. baileyi Martin, Kuročkin & Tokaryk 2012
- †B. mongoliensis Martin, Kuročkin & Tokaryk 2012
- †B. varneri (Martin & Cordes-Person 2004) Martin, Kuročkin & Tokaryk 2012 [Baptornis varneri Martin & Cordes-Person 2007]
- Brodavis Martin, Kuročkin & Tokaryk 2012 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Enaliornithidae Fürbringer 1888
- †Enaliornis Seeley 1876 [Palaeocolymbus Seeley 1869; Pelagornis Seeley 1866 nomen nudum non Lartet 1857] (Early Cretaceous)
- †E. seeleyi Galton & Martin 2002
- †E. barretti (Seeley 1866) Seeley 1876 [Palaeocolymbus barretti Seeley 1869; Pelagornis barretti Seeley 1866]
- †E. sedgwicki (Seeley 1864) Seeley 1876 [Pelagornis sedgwicki Seeley 1864]
- †Enaliornis Seeley 1876 [Palaeocolymbus Seeley 1869; Pelagornis Seeley 1866 nomen nudum non Lartet 1857] (Early Cretaceous)
- †Judinornithidae Nesov 1983
- †Judinornis nogontsavensis Nesov & Borkin 1983 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Hesperornithidae
- †Asiahesperornis bazhanovi Nesov & Prizemlin 1991 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Parascaniornis stenisoei Lambrecht 1933 [Baptornis stensioi (Lambrecht 1933) Rees & Lindgren 2005] (Late Cretaceous)
- †Parahesperornis alexi Martin 1980 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Canadaga arctica Hou 1999 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Coniornis altus Marsh 1893 [Hesperornis altus (Marsh 1893); Hesperornis montana Shufeldt 1915] (Late Cretaceous)
- †Hesperornis Marsh 1872 [Lestornis Marsh 1876; Hargeria Lucas 1903] (Late Cretaceous)
- †H. regalis Marsh 1872
- †H. crassipes (Marsh 1876) Brodkorb 1963 [Lestornis crassipes Marsh 1876]
- †H. gracilis Marsh 1876 [Hargeria gracilis (Marsh 1876) Lucas 1903]
- †H. chowi Martin & Lim 2002
- †H. bairdi Martin & Lim 2002
- †H. mengeli Martin & Lim 2002
- †H. macdonaldi Martin & Lim 2002
- †H. rossicus Nesov & Yarkov 1993
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.
- †Australornis lovei Mayr & Scofield 2014 (late early Paleocene)
- †Gallornis straeleni Lambrecht 1931 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Ceramornis major Brodkorb 1963 (Late Cretaceous) – charadriiform?
- †"Presbyornithidae" gen. et sp. indet. (Barun Goyot Late Cretaceous of Udan Sayr, Mongolia) - anseriform (presbyornithid)?
- †Teviornis gobiensis Kuročkin, Dyke & Karhu 2002 (Late Cretaceous) – presbyornithid?
- †Torotix clemensi Brodkorb 1963 (Late Cretaceous) – pelecaniform, charadriiform, procellariiform or phoenicopteriform
- Neornithes incerta sedis "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?
- †"Lonchodytes" pterygius Brodkorb 1963 (Late Cretaceous/?Early Palaeocene) – charadriiform?
- †Novacaesareala hungerfordi Parris & Hope 2002 (Late Cretaceous/Early Palaeocene) – related to Torotix?
- †"Palaeotringa" vetus Marsh 1870 (Lance Late Cretaceous of Wyoming – Hornerstown Late Cretaceous/?Early Palaeocene of New Jersey, US) - gruiform? anseriform (presbyornithid)?
- †Volgavis marina Nessov & Jarkow 1989 (Early Palaeocene of Volgograd, Russia) – charadriiform? phalacrocoraciform?
- †Eopuffinus kazachstanensis Nessov 1986 (Late Paleocene of Zhylga, Kazakhstan) – procellariiform (procellariid)?
- †Tshulia litorea Nessov 1988 (Late Paleocene of Zhylga, Kazakhstan)
- †Eupterornis remensis Lemoine 1878 (Paleocene of Cernay, France) – charadriiform (larid?)? gaviiform?
- †Gradiornis walbeckensis Mayr 2007 (Paleocene of Walbeck, Germany) – cariamid?
- †"Messelornis" russelli (Paleocene of Cernay, France) – messelornithid?
- †Walbeckornis creber Mayr 2007 (Paleocene of Walbeck, Germany) – charadriiform? messelornithid?
- Neornithes incerta sedis (Late Paleocene/Early Eocene of Ouled Abdoun Basin, Morocco) – charadriiform, ciconiiform, gruiform?
- †Argillipes Harrison & Walker 1977 (London Clay Early Eocene of England) – galliform?
- †A. aurorum Harrison & Walker 1977
- †A. magnus Harrison & Walker 1979
- †A. paralectoris Harrison & Walker 1977
- †Coturnipes cooperi Harrison & Walker 1977 (Early Eocene of England, and Virginia, US?)– galliform, falconiform?
- †Fluviatitavis antunesi Harrison 1983 (Early Eocene of Silveirinha, Portugal)– charadriiform?
- †Mopsitta tanta Waterhouse et al. 2008 (Early Eocene) – threskiornithid (may belong in Rhynchaeites), psittacid?
- †Neanis schucherti Shufeldt 1913 (Early Eocene)– coraciiform (primobucconid), piciform?
- †Paleophasianus meleagroides Wetmore 1940 (Willwood Early Eocene of Bighorn County, US)– galliform (tetraonine or cracid) or gruiform (aramid)?
- †Paracathartes howardae Harrison 1979 (Early Eocene of WC US) – lithornithiform?
- †Parvigyps praecox Harrison & Walker 1977 (London Clay Early Eocene of England) – falconiform?
- †Pediorallus Harrison 1984 (London Clay Early Eocene of England) – lithornithiform or galliform?
- †P. nasi Harrison 1984
- †P. hookeri Harrison 1984
- †Percolinus (London Clay Early Eocene of England)– galliform?
- †P. venablesi Harrison & Walker 1977
- †P. proudlocki Harrison & Walker 1979
- †Precursor parvus (Early Eocene)– several species? psittaciform (pseudasturid or psittacid) + charadriiform (glareolid)?
- †"Precursor" litorum Harrison & Walker 1977
- †"Precursor" magnus Harrison & Walker 1977
- †Procuculus minutus Harrison & Walker 1977 (Early Eocene of Bognor Regis, England)– cuculiform (parvicuculid), coraciiform (primobucconid), close to Primapus?
- †Pulchrapollia Dyke & Cooper 2000 (Early Eocene) – psittaciform (pseudasturid or psittacid)?
- †P. gracilis Dyke & Cooper 2000
- †P. olsoni (Feduccia & Martin 1976) [Primobucco olsoni Feduccia & Martin 1976]
- Neornithes incerta sedis USNM 496384 (Nanjemoy Early Eocene of Virginia, US)– parvicuculid? aegithalornithid?
- †Palaeopsittacus georgei Harrison 1982b (Early – middle Eocene of NW Europe) – caprimulgiform (podargid?) or quercypsittid?
- †Amitabha urbsinterdictensis Gulas-Wroblewski & Wroblewski 2003 (Bridger middle Eocene of Forbidden City, US) - galliform (phasianid) or gruiform (rallid?)?
- †Eocathartes robustus Lambrecht 1935 (middle Eocene of Germany) – cathartid? Synonym of Strigogyps?
- †Eocathartes grallator Wetmore 1944 [Bathornis grallator (Wetmore 1944) Olson 1985]
- †Eociconia sangequanensis Hou 1989 (middle Eocene of China)– ciconiiform (ciconiid)?
- †Geiseloceros robustus Lambrecht 1935 (middle Eocene of Germany) – coraciiform? Synonym of Strigogyps?
- †Hassiavis laticauda Mayr 1998 (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany) – archaeotrogonid, piciform?
- †Protocypselomorphus manfredkelleri Mayr 2005 (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany)– caprimulgiform, apodiform or ancestral to both
- †Pumiliornis tessellatus Mayr 1999 (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany)
- †Eobalearica tugarinovi Gureev 1949 (Ferghana Late? Eocene of Ferghana, Uzbekistan)– gruiform (gruid)?
- †Ludiortyx hoffmanni (Gervais 1852) Brodkorb 1964 (Late Eocene) – rallid, quercymegapodid? [Includes Tringa hoffmanni Gervais 1852; Palaeortyx blanchardi Milne-Edwards 1869; Palaeortyx hoffmanni (Gervais 1852); Ludiortyx blanchardi (Milne-Edwards 1869); Eortyx hoffmanni (Gervais 1852)]
- †Minggangia changgouensis Hou 1982 (Late Eocene of China) – rallid, threskiornithid?
- Petropluvialis (Late Eocene of England)– may be same as Palaeopapia; anseriform?
- †"Phasianus" alfhildae Shufeldt 1915 (Washakie B Late Eocene of Haystack Butte, US)– gruiform, ciconiiform, phoenicopteriform?
- †Talantatos Reichenbach 1852 (Late Eocene of Paris Bain, France) – gruiform (cariamid, idiornithid?)? Might include Elaphrocnemus and Filholornis
- †Telecrex grangeri 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)?
- †Zheroia kurochkini Nesov 1988 (Late Eocene of Kazakhstan) – gruiform? pelagornithid?
- †"Falco" falconellus Shufeldt 1915 (or falconella; Eocene of Wyoming, US) – falconiform (falconid)?
- †Filholornis Milne-Edwards (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene of France) – musophagid, cracid, carimid, idiornithid? Possibly belongs in Talantatos
- †Geranopsis|Geranopsis hastingsiae Lydekker 1871 (Hordwell Late Eocene– Early Oligocene of England)– gruiform (gruid?) or anseriform (anseranatid?)?
- Elaphrocnemus Milne-Edwards 1892 (Quercy Phosphorites Late Eocene–? middle Oligocene of Quercy, France) - idiornithid? Possibly belongs in Talantatos
- †E. phasianus Milne-Edwards 1892 [Filholornis debilis Milne-Edwards; Filholornis paradoxa Milne-Edwards]
- †E. crex
- †E. bordkorbi Mourer-Chauviré 1983 [Talantatos brodkorbi (Mourer-Chauviré 1983)]
- †Agnopterus Milne-Edwards 1868 (Late Eocene– Late Oligocene of Europe)– phoenicopteriform or anseriform
- †A. laurillardi Milne-Edwards 1868
- †A. sicki de Alvarenga 1990
- †A. turgaiensis Tugarinov 1940 [Cygnopterus lambrechti Kuročkin 1968]
- †Plesiocathartes Gaillard 1908 (Late Eocene–? Early Miocene of SW Europe) - cathartid, leptosomid?
- †P. europaeus Gaillard 1908
- †P. gaillardi
- †P. wyomingensis Weidig 2006
- †P. major Weidig 2006
- †P. geiselensis Mayr 2002
- †P. kelleri Mayr 2002
- †Botauroides parvus Shufeldt 1915 (Eocene of Wyoming, US) – coliiform?
- †Aminornis excavatus Ameghino 1899 (Deseado Early Oligocene of Rio Deseado, Argentina) – gruiform (aramid)?
- †Ciconiopsis antarctica Ameghino 1899 (Deseado Early Oligocene of Patagonia, Argentina) – ciconiiform (ciconiid)?
- †Climacarthrus incompletus Ameghino 1899 (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina) – falconiform (accipitrid)? A nomen dubium
- †Cruschedula revola Ameghino 1899 (Deseado Early Oligocene of Golfo San Jorge, Argentina) Aves incertae sedis; A nomen dubium
- †Dolicopterus (Early Oligocene of Ronzon, France) – charadriiform (charadriid)? Not Dolichopterus as sometimes claimed
- †Loncornis erectus Ameghino 1899 (Deseado Early Oligocene of Rio Deseado, Argentina)– gruiform (aramid)?
- †Loxornis clivus Ameghino 1894– anatid? (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina)
- †Manu antiquus Marples 1946 (Early Oligocene) – pelagornithid? procellariiform (diomedeid)?
- †Palaeocrex rex Wetmore 1927 (Early Oligocene of Trigonias Quarry, US) – gruiform (rallid)?
- †Palaeopapia Harrison & Walker 1979 [Howardia Harrison & Walker 1976 non Berlese & Leonardi 1896] (Hampstead Early Oligocene of Isle of Wight, England) – anseriform?
- †P. eous (Harrison & Walker 1976) Harrison & Walker 1979 [Howardia eous Harrison & Walker 1976]
- †P. hamsteadiensis Harrison & Walker 1979
- †Paracygnopterus (Early Oligocene of Belgium and England) – anseriform (anatid)?
- †"Pararallus" hassenkampi Martini 1967 (Sieblos Dysodil Early Oligocene of Sieblos, Germany)
- †Riacama caliginea Ameghino 1899 (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina) – gruiform?
- †Smiliornis penetrans Ameghino 1899 (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina) – gruiform?
- †Teracus Milne-Edwards 1871 (Early Oligocene of France)
- †Teleornis Ameghino 1899 (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina) – anatid?
- †Pseudolarus guaraniticus 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?
- †"Anas" creccoides van Beneden 1871 (Early-mid Oligocene of Belgium) – anseriform?
- †"Charadrius" sheppardianus (Florissant middle Oligocene of Florissant, US) – charadriiform (charadriid?)
- †Megagallinula harundinea Kuročkin 1968 (Indricotherium middle Oligocene of Chelkar-Teniz, Kazakhstan)
- †"Palaeorallus" alienus Kuročkin 1968 (middle Oligocene of Tatal-Gol, Mongolia) – galliform?
- †"Vanellus" selysii van Beneden 1871 (middle Oligocene of Rupelmonde, Belgium) – charadriiform (charadriid)?
- †Anserpica kiliani Mourer-Chauviré, Berthet & Hugueney 2004 (Late Oligocene of France) – gruiform (gruid?) or anseriform (anseranatid?)?
- †Gnotornis Wetmore 1942 (Brule Late Oligocene of Shannon County, US) – gruiform (aramid)?
- †G. aramiellus Wetmore 1942
- †G. roardeola
- †G. walkeri
- †Guguschia nailiae Aslanova & Burčak-Abramovič 1968 (Late Oligocene of Pirəkəşkül, Azerbaijan) – anseriform (anserine)? pelagornithid (same as Caspiodontornis)?
- †Tiliornis (Late? Oligocene of Argentina) – phoenicopteriform? A nomen dubium
- Neornithes incerta sedis QM F40203 (Late Oligocene of Riversleigh, Australia) – gruiform (rallid)?
- †Gaviella pusilla Shufeldt 1915 (Oligocene? of Wyoming, US)– gaviiform? plotopterid?
- †"Anas" skalicensis Bayer 1882 (Early Miocene of "Skalitz", Czechia) - anseriform?
- †Chenornis graculoides Portis 1884 (Early Miocene) - Anseriformes (Anatidae) or Pelecaniformes (Phalacrocoracidae)?
- †"Propelargus" olseni Brodkorb 1963 (Hawthorne Early Miocene of Tallahassee, US) – ciconiiform?
- Neornithes incerta sedis MNHN SA 1259-1263 (Early/Middle Miocene of Sansan, France) – passeriform?
- †Anisolornis excavatus Ameghino 1891 (Santa Cruz Middle Miocene of Karaihen, Argentina) – gruiform, galliform, tinamiform?
- †"Ardea" perplexa Milne-Edwards 1869 (Middle Miocene of Sansan, France) – ardeid? strigiform?
- †"Cygnus herrenthalsi" van Beneden 1871 (Middle Miocene of Belgium)
- †"Anas" risgoviensis Ammon 1918 (Late Miocene of Bavaria, Germany) – anseriform?
- †"Ardea" aureliensis (Late Miocene of France) – ardeid?
- †Eoneornis (Miocene of Argentina) – anatid? A nomen dubium
- †Eutelornis (Miocene of Argentina) – anatid?
- †Protibis cnemialis Ameghino 1891 (Miocene of Argentina) – ciconiiform (threskiornithid)?
- †"Limnatornis" paludicola Milne-Edwards 1871 (Miocene of France) – coliid? phoeniculid?
- †"Picus" gaudryi (Miocene of France) – piciform?
- †"Ardea" lignitum (Late Pliocene of Germany) – ardeid? strigid (genus Bubo)?
- †Bathoceleus hyphalus Brodkorb 1959 (Pliocene of New Providence, Bahamas) – picid?
- †"Homalopus" – piciform? Preoccupied by a subgenus of Cryptocephalus leaf beetles described in 1835.
- †"Liptornis hesternus" Ameghino 1894 [Liptornis cuvierii] – pelecaniform (pelecanid)? A nomen dubium
- †Proceriavis martini Harrison & Walker 1979 – pelagornithid?
- †Protopelicanus cuvieri Reichenbach 1852 – pelecaniform (pelecanid)? pelagornithid?
- †Pseudocrypturus cercanaxius Houde 1988 (Green River Early/middle Eocene of C US) – lithornithiform?
- †Archaeotrogonidae Wetmore 1926 – basal Cypselomorphae?
- †Archaeotrogonidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early Eocene)
- †Archaeotrogon Milne-Edwards 1892 (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene)
- †A. nocturnus Mlíkovský 2002
- †A. venustus Milne-Edwards 1892
- †A. zitteli Gaillard 1908
- †A. cayluxensis Gaillard 1908
- †A. hoffstetteri Mourer-Chauviré 1980
- †Cimolopterygidae Brodkorb 1963 – charadriiform?
- †Cimolopteryx Marsh 1892 (Late Cretaceous)
- †Lamarqueavis Agnolin 2010 (Late Cretaceous)
- †L. australis Agnolin 2010
- †L. minima (Brodkorb 1963) Agnolin 2010
- †L. petra (Hope 2002) Agnolin 2010
- †Cladornithidae – pelecaniform?
- †Cladornis pachypus Ameghino 1895 (Deseado Early Oligocene of Patagonia, Argentina)
- †Eocypselidae Harrison 1984 – apodiform (hemiprocnid?)? caprimulgiform? basal Cypselomorphae?
- †Eocypselus Harrison 1984 (Late Paleocene ?- Early Eocene of NC Europe)
- †E. vincenti Harrison 1984
- †E. rowei Ksepka et al. 2013
- †Eocypselus Harrison 1984 (Late Paleocene ?- Early Eocene of NC Europe)
- †Eremopezidae Rothschild 1911 – pelecaniform? ratite?
- †Eremopezus eocaenus Andrews 1904 (Late Eocene) - includes Stromeria fajumensis Lambrecht 1929
- †Foratidae Olson 1992 – cuculiform?
- †Foro panarium (Early Eocene)
- †Fluvioviridavidae Mayr 2005
- †Fluvioviridavis platyrhamphus Mayr & Daniels 2001 (Green River Early Eocene of N America)
- †Eurofluvioviridavis robustipes Mayr 2005a (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany)
- †Gracilitarsidae Mayr 2001 – close to Sylphornithidae?
- Eutreptodactylus itaboraiensis Baird & Vickers-Rich 1997 (Late Paleocene of Brazil) - a nomen dubium
- Gracilitarsus mirabilis Mayr 1998 (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany)
- Halcyornithidae Harrison & Walker 1972 – psittaciform (= Pseudasturidae?), coraciiform?
- †Halcyornis toliapicus (Koenig 1825) Owen 1846 (London Clay Early Eocene of England)
- †Cyrilavis Martin 2010 (Green River Early Eocene of C US) - psittaciform (halcyornithid or psittacid)?
- †C. olsoni (Feduccia & Martin 1976) Martin 2010 [Primobucco olsoni Feduccia & Martin 1976]
- †C. colburnorum Ksepka, Clarke & Grande 2011
- †Juncitarsidae Peters 1987
- †Kashinia magnum (Harrison & Walker 1976) Harrison & Walker 1979 [Tenuicrus Harrison & Walker 1976 non Womersley 1940; Tenuicrus magnum Harrison & Walker 1976] – phoenicopteriform?
- †Juncitarsus Olson & Feduccia 1980 – phoenicopteriform?
- †J. gracillimus Olson & Feduccia 1980
- †J. merkeli Peters 1987
- Laornithidae Cracraft 1973 – charadriiform? gruiform? pelagornithid?
- Laornis edvardsianus Marsh 1870 [Laopteryx (sic) Kuročkin 1995] (Late Cretaceous?)
- †Lonchodytidae Brodkorb 1963
- †Lonchodytes estesi Brodkorb 1963 (Late Cretaceous/?Early Palaeocene) – gaviiform/pelecaniform? procellariiform?
- Messelasturidae Mayr 2005 – accipitrid? basal to Strigiformes? psittaciform?
- Tynskya eocaena Mayr 2000 (Early Eocene of N America and England)
- Messelastur gratulator Peters 1994 (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany)
- †Onychopterygidae Cracraft 1971
- †Onychopteryx simpsoni Cracraft 1971 (Early Eocene of Argentina) – falconid? A nomen dubium
- †Palaeospizidae – passeriform? coraciiform? coliiform?
- †Palaeospiza bella Allen 1878 (Late Eocene of Florissant Fossil Beds, US)
- †Parvicuculidae Harrison 1982 – cypselomorph, cuculiform, coraciiform (primobucconid)?
- †Parvicuculus minor Harrison & Walker 1977 (Early Eocene of NW Europe)
- †Remiornithidae Martin 1992 (Paleocene of France) – palaeognath?
- †Sylphornithidae Mourer-Chauviré 1988 – cuculiform? coraciiform? close to Gracilitarsidae?
- †Sylphornis bretouensis Mourer-Chauvire 1988 (middle Eocene of France)
- †Oligosylphe mourerchauvireae Mayr & Smith 2002 (Borgloon Early Oligocene of Hoogbutsel, Belgium)
- †Tytthostonychidae Olson & Parris 1987 – procellariiform, pelecaniform?
- †Tytthostonyx glauconiticus Olson & Parris 1987 (Late Cretaceous/Early Palaeocene)
- †Zygodactylidae Brodkorb 1971 – near passerine, includes Primoscenidae Harrison 1977
- †Eozygodactylus americanus Weidig 2010
- †Zygodactylus Ballmann 1969 (Early Oligocene – Middle? Miocene of C Europe)
- †Z. ignotus Ballmann 1969
- †Z. luberonensis Mayr 2008
- †Z. grivensis Ballmann 1969
- †Primoscens minutus Harrison & Walker 1977
- †Primozygodactylus Mayr 1998
- †P. ballmanni Mayr 1998
- †P. danielsi Mayr 1998
- †P. major Mayr 1998
- †P. eunjooae Mayr & Zelenkov 2009
- †"Graculavidae" Fürbringer 1888 [Dakotornithidae; Scaniornithidae] – a paraphyletic form taxon, the "transitional shorebirds"
- †Limosavis Shufeldt 1915 [Graculavus Marsh 1872 non Marsh 1973] (Late Cretaceous –? Early Palaeocene) – charadriiform?
- †L. velox (Marsh 1872) Lambrecht 1933 [Graculavus velox Marsh 1872]
- †L. augustus (Hope 1999) [Graculavus augustus Hope 1999]
- †Palaeotringa Marsh 1870 (Late Cretaceous/Early Palaeocene) – charadriiform?
- †P. littoralis Marsh 1870
- †P. vagans Marsh 1872
- †Telmatornis priscus Marsh 1870 [Telmatornis affinis Marsh 1870; Graculavus pumilis Marsh 1872; Palaeotringa vetus Marsh 1870] (Late Cretaceous?) – charadriiform? gruiform? podicipediform?
- †Zhylgaia aestiflua Nesov 1988 (Early Paleocene) – presbyornithid?
- †Scaniornis lundgreni Dames 1890 (Early/Middle Paleocene) – phoenicopteriform?
- †Dakotornis cooperi Erickson 1975 (Paleocene of North Dakota, US)
- †Placement unresolved
- "Graculavidae" gen. et sp. indet. (Gloucester County, US)
- †Limosavis Shufeldt 1915 [Graculavus Marsh 1872 non Marsh 1973] (Late Cretaceous –? Early Palaeocene) – charadriiform?
Struthioniformes
- Placement unresolved
- Diogenornis (Late Paleocene) – rheid?
- Opisthodactylus (Miocene) – rheid?
- Casuariidae – emus and cassowaries
- Rheidae – rheas
- Heterorhea (Pliocene)
- Hinasuri
- Aepyornithidae – elephant birds
- Struthionidae – ostriches
Lithornithiformes (extinct)
- Lithornithidae – lithornithids
- Promusophaga (Early Eocene)
- Lithornis (Paleocene – Early Eocene)
Tinamiformes
- Tinamidae – tinamous
- Querandiornis (Ensenada Early/Middle Pleistocene of Argentina)
- Placement unresolved
- 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 sp. (Late Miocene of La Pampa Province, Argentina)
- Eudromia olsoni (Late Pliocene of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina)
- Nothura parvula (Late Pliocene of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina) – formerly Cayeornis
- Eudromia intermedia (Pliocene of Argentina) – formerly Tinamisornis
- Nothura paludosa (Pleistocene of Argentina)
Anseriformes
The group that includes modern ducks and geese.
- Basal and unresolved forms
- Vegavis (Late Cretaceous) – closer to Presbyornithidae and Anatidae than to Anseranatidae
- Anatalavis (Late Cretaceous/Early Paleocene – Early Eocene) – anseranatid or basal. Includes "Telmatornis" rex.
- Romainvillia (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene) – anseranatide or anatide
- Proherodius (Early Eocene) – presbyornithid?
- Paranyroca (Early Miocene) – anatide or own family?
- Anhimidae – screamers
- Dromornithidae – Australian mihirungs or "demon ducks". The youngest genus (Genyornis) was encountered by humans.
- Barawertornis (Late Oligocene – Early Miocene)
- Bullockornis (Middle Miocene)
- Ilbandornis (Late Miocene)
- Dromornis (Late Miocene – Pliocene)
- Anseranatidae – magpie-geese
- Anseranatidae gen. et sp. nov (Late Oligocene)
- Presbyornithidae
- Presbyornis (Paleocene – Early Oligocene)
- Headonornis – only BMNH PAL 30325 belongs to this bird, may belong to Presbyornis.
- Telmabates
- Anatidae – ducks, geese and swans
- Eonessa (Middle Eocene)
- Cygnavus (Early Oligocene – Early Miocene)
- Cygnopterus (middle Oligocene – Early Miocene) – sometimes included in Cygnavus
- Mionetta (Late Oligocene – Early Miocene) – includes "Anas" blanchardi, "A." consobrina, "A." natator
- Australotadorna (Late Oligocene – Early Miocene)
- Pinpanetta (Late Oligocene – Early Miocene)
- Dunstanetta (Early/Middle Miocene)
- Manuherikia (Early/Middle Miocene)
- Matanas (Early/Middle Miocene)
- Miotadorna (Early/Middle Miocene)
- Megalodytes (Middle Miocene)
- Sinanas (Middle Miocene)
- Anserobranta (Late Miocene) – includes "Anas" robusta, validity doubtful
- Dendrochen (Late Miocene) – includes "Anas" integra
- Presbychen (Late Miocene)
- Afrocygnus (Late Miocene – Early Pliocene)
- Balcanas (Early Pliocene) – may belong in Tadorna
- Wasonaka (Middle Pliocene)
- Paracygnus (Late Pliocene)
- Anabernicula (Late Pliocene? – Late Pleistocene)
- Eremochen (Pliocene)
- Tirarinetta (Pliocene)
- Brantadorna (Middle Pleistocene)
- Nannonetta (Late Pleistocene)
- Aldabranas (Late Pleistocene)
- Placement unresolved
- "Anas" luederitzensis (Early Miocene)
- "Oxyura" doksana (Early Miocene)
- Anatidae gen. et sp. indet. MNZ S42797 (Early/Middle Miocene)
- "Aythya" chauvirae (Middle Miocene) – 2 species
- "cf. Megalodytes" (Middle Miocene)
- Anatidae gen. et spp. indet. (Middle Miocene)
- "Anas" meyerii (Middle Miocene)
- "Anas" velox (Middle – Late? Miocene) – may include "A." meyerii
- "Anas" albae (Late Miocene) – formerly in Mergus
- "Anas" isarensis (Late Miocene)
- "Anser" scaldii (Late Miocene)
- Anatidae gen. et spp. indet. (Late Miocene)
- "Anas" eppelsheimensis (Early Pliocene)
- "Chenopis" nanus (Pleistocene) – at least 2 taxa, may be living species
- Extant and recently extinct genera present in the fossil record
- Somateria (middle Oligocene? – Recent)
- Bucephala (Middle Miocene – Recent)
- Clangula (Middle Miocene – Recent)
- Cygnus (Late Miocene – Recent)
- Histrionicus (Middle Miocene – Recent) – includes Ocyplonessa
- Mergus (Middle Miocene – Recent)
- Anas (Late Miocene – Recent)
- Anser (Late Miocene – Recent) – includes Heterochen
- Aythya (Late Miocene – Recent)
- Branta (Late Miocene – Recent)
- Oxyura (Late Pliocene/Early Pleistocene – Recent)
- Chendytes (Early Pleistocene – Holocene)
- Lophodytes (Late Pleistocene – Recent)
- Neochen (Late Pleistocene – Recent)
Galliformes
The group that includes domestic chickens and their relatives.
- Placement unresolved
- Austinornis (Late Cretaceous) - tentatively placed here; formerly Graculavus/Ichthyornis/Pedioecetes lentus
- Procrax (middle Eocene? - Early Oligocene) - cracid? gallinuloidid?
- Palaeortyx (middle Eocene -? Early Pliocene) - phasianid or odontophorid
- Palaeonossax (Late Oligocene) - cracid?
- Taoperdix (Late Oligocene) - gallinuloidid? Includes "Tetrao" pessieti
- Archaealectrornis (Oligocene) - phasianid?
- Galliformes gen. et sp. indet. MCZ 342506 (Oligocene) - formerly in Gallinuloides; phasianid?
- Archaeophasianus (Oligocene? - Late Miocene) - tetraonid or phasianid
- Palaealectoris (Early Miocene) - tetraonid?
- Linquornis (middle Miocene)
- Palaeoalectoris (middle Miocene)
- Shandongornis (middle Miocene)
- "Cyrtonyx" tedfordi (Late Miocene)
- Gallinuloididae
- Gallinuloides (Early/middle Eocene)
- Paraortygoides (London Clay Early Eocene of Walton-on-the-Naze, England – middle Eocene of Messel, Germany)
- Paraortygidae
- Quercymegapodiidae
- Quercymegapodius (middle Eocene – Early Oligocene)
- Taubacrex (Late Oligocene/Early Miocene of Brazil)
- Ameripodius (Late Oligocene – Early Miocene of Brazil and France)
- Megapodidae – megapodes
- Ngawupodius
- Prehistoric species of extant genera
- Leipoa gallinacea – formerly Chosornis, Palaeopelargus, Progura
- Cracidae – guans and curassows
- Boreortalis (Early Miocene) – may be same as Ortalis
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Ortalis (Early Miocene – Recent)
- Odontophoridae – New World quails
- Nanortyx (Cypress Hills Early Oligocene of North Calf Creek, Canada)
- Miortyx (Rosebud Early Miocene of Flint Hill, US)
- Neortyx (Early Pleistocene of Reddick, US)
- Placement unresolved
- Odontophoridae gen. et sp. indet. KUVP 9393 (White River Early/middle Oligocene of Logan County, US)
- Prehistoric species of extant genera
- Cyrtonyx cooki (Late Miocene? of Upper Sheep Creek, US)
- Callipepla? shotwelli (Middle Pliocene of McKay Reservoir, US) - formerly Lophortyx
- Colinus hibbardi (Rexroad Late Pliocene of Rexroad, US)
- Colinus sp. (Late Pliocene of Benson, US)
- Colinus suilium (Early Pleistocene of SE US)
- Dendrortyx? sp. (Late Pleistocene of San Josecito Cavern, Mexico)
- Phasianidae – pheasants, quails, partridges, grouse and turkeys
- Schaubortyx (middle Eocene – Early Oligocene)
- Rhegminornis (Early Miocene of Bell, US)
- Tologuica (Middle Miocene of Sharga, Mongolia)
- Proagriocharis (Kimball Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of Lime Creek, US)
- Megalocoturnix (Early Pliocene of Layna, Spain)
- Chauvireria (Late Pliocene of Varshets, Bulgaria)
- Palaeocryptonyx (Late Pliocene of SW Europe) - including "Francolinus" minor, "F." subfrancolinus
- Miogallus
- Miophasianus
- Palaeoperdix
- Pliogallus
- Plioperdix
- Placement unresolved
- "Tympanchus" stirtoni (Early Miocene of South Dakota)
- Tetraoninae gen. et sp. indet. (Sajóvölgyi Middle Miocene of Mátraszõlõs, Hungary)
- Meleagridae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene of Westmoreland County, US)
- "Tympanuchus" lulli (Pleistocene? of New Jersey)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Coturnix (Late Oligocene – Recent)
- Bambusicola (Late Miocene – Recent)
- Phasianus (Late Miocene)
- Gallus (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene – Recent)
- Lagopus (Early? Pliocene – Recent)
- Meleagris (Early Pliocene – Recent)
- Pavo (Early Pliocene – Recent)
- Tetrao (Early Pliocene – Recent)
- Francolinus (Late Pliocene – Recent)
- Perdix (Early Pleistocene – Recent)
- Bonasa (Early/Middle Pleistocene – Recent)
- Dendragapus (Late Pleistocene – Recent)
- Alectoris
Charadriiformes
- 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
- Laridae – gulls
- 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
- Prehistoric species of extant genera
- Glareolidae – pratincoles
- Paractiornis (Agate Fossil Beds Early Miocene of Sioux County, US)
- Mioglareola (Early Miocene of Czechia) - formerly "Larus" dolnicensis
- Prehistoric species of extant genera
- 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)
- Prehistoric species of extant genera
- 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
- Recurvirostridae – avocets
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Himantopus (Late Miocene – Recent)
- Additional prehistoric species of extant genera
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
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.
- Gastornithidae
- Gastornis (Late Paleocene – middle Eocene) – includes Diatryma
- Gasthornithidae gen. et sp. indet. (Paleocene) – possibly Gastornis
- Gasthornithidae gen. et sp. indet. YPM PU 13258 (Early Eocene) – possibly juvenile Gastornis giganteus
- "Diatryma" cotei (middle-Late Eocene)
- Zhongyuanus
Gruiformes
The group that includes modern rails and cranes. Probably paraphyletic.
- Placement unresolved
- Propelargus (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene) – cariamid or idiornithid
- Rupelrallus (Early Oligocene) – rallid? parvigruid?
- Badistornis (middle Oligocene) – aramid?
- Probalearica (Late Oligocene? – Middle Pliocene) – gruid? A nomen dubium?
- "Gruiformes" gen. et sp. indet. MNZ S42623 (Early/Middle Miocene) – Aptornithidae?
- Aramornis (Middle Miocene) – gruid? aramid?
- Euryonotus (Pleistocene) – rallid?
- Occitaniavis – cariamid or idiornithid, includes Geranopsis elatus
- Parvigruidae
- Parvigrus (Early Oligocene of Pichovet, France)
- Songziidae – possibly a nomen nudum
- Songzia (Eocene) – possibly a nomen nudum
- Rallidae – rails
- Eocrex (Early Eocene)
- Palaeorallus (Early Eocene)
- Parvirallus (Early – middle Eocene)
- Aletornis (middle Eocene) – includes Protogrus
- Fulicaletornis (middle Eocene)
- Latipons (middle Eocene)
- Ibidopsis (Late Eocene)
- Quercyrallus (Late Eocene –? Late Oligocene)
- Belgirallus (Early Oligocene)
- Rallicrex (Middle/Late Oligocene)
- Palaeoaramides (Late Oligocene/Early Miocene – Late Miocene)
- Paraortygometra (Late Oligocene/?Early Miocene –? Middle Miocene)
- Pararallus (Late Oligocene? – Late Miocene) – possibly belongs into Palaeoaramides
- Miofulica (Middle Miocene)
- Youngornis (Middle Miocene)
- Miorallus (Middle – Late Miocene)
- Creccoides (Late Pliocene/Early Pleistocene)
- Placement unresolved
- Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Oligocene)
- Rallidae gen. et spp. indet. (Early/Middle Miocene) – several species
- Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. (Middle Miocene)
- Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene)
- Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. UMMP V55013/-14; UMMP V55012/V45750/V45746 (Late Pliocene)
- Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. UMMP V29080 (Late Pliocene)
- Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. (Bermuda, West Atlantic)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Additional prehistoric species of extant genera
- Aramus paludigrus (Middle Miocene of La Venta, Colombia) – Aramid
- Coturnicops avita (Glenns Ferry Late Pliocene of Hagerman, US)
- Laterallus insignis (Rexroad Late Pliocene of Rexroad, US)
- Laterallus sp. (Late Pliocene of Macasphalt Shell Pit, US)
- Eogruidae
- Ergilornithidae – may belong in Eogruidae
- Ergilornis (Early/middle Oligocene of Ergil-Obo, Mongolia)
- Proergilornis (Early/middle Oligocene of Ergil-Obo, Mongolia)
- Amphipelargus
- Urmiornis – may belong into Amphipelargus
- Gruidae – cranes
- Palaeogrus (middle Eocene of Germany and Italy – Middle Miocene of France)
- Camusia (Late Miocene of Menorca, Mediterranean)
- Pliogrus (Early Pliocene of Eppelsheim, Germany)
- Placement unresolved
- Gruidae gen. et sp. indet. – formerly Grus conferta (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of Contra Costa County, US)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Messelornithidae – Messel-birds
- Salmilidae
- Ameghinornithidae
- Strigogyps – probably includes Aenigmavis and Ameghinornis
- Geranoididae
- Eogeranoides (Willwood Early Eocene of Foster Gulch, US)
- Geranoides (Willwood Early Eocene of South Elk Creek, US)
- Palaeophasianus (Willwood Early Eocene of Bighorn County, US)
- Paragrus (Early Eocene of WC US)
- Geranodornis (Bridger middle Eocene of Church Buttes, US)
- Bathornithidae
- Eutreptornis (Uinta Late Eocene of Ouray Agency, US)
- Neocathartes (Late Eocene)
- Palaeogyps (Early Oligocene of WC North America)
- Bathornithidae gen. nov. (Early – middle Oligocene of C US) – formerly Bathornis celeripes and B. cursor
- Paracrax (Early/middle Oligocene of Gerry's Ranch, US – Brule Late Oligocene of South Dakota, US) – includes Oligocorax|Oligocorax/Phalacrocorax mediterraneus
- Bathornis (Early Oligocene – Early Miocene of C US)
- Idiornithidae
- Phorusrhacidae – Terror birds
- Paleopsilopterus (Middle Paleocene)
- Andrewsornis (middle – Late Oligocene)
- Physornis (middle – Late Oligocene)
- Eleutherornis (Late Eocene)
- Psilopterus (middle Oligocene – Late Miocene)
- Paraphysornis (Late Oligocene/Early Miocene)
- Brontornis (Early – Middle Miocene)
- Patagornis (Early – Middle Miocene)
- Phorusrhacos (Early – Middle Miocene)
- Andalgalornis (Late Miocene – Early Pliocene)
- Devincenzia (Late Miocene – Early Pliocene)
- Procariama (Late Miocene – Early Pliocene)
- Mesembriornis (Late Miocene – Late Pliocene)
- Titanis (Early – Late Pliocene)
- Kelenken (Early – Late Pliocene)
- Cariamidae – seriemas
- Prehistoric species of extant genera
- Otididae – bustards
- Gryzaja
- Prehistoric species of extant genera
- Otis khosatzkii (Late Pliocene of Varshets, Bulgaria)
- Chlamydotis affinis
Phoenicopteriformes
- Placement unresolved
- Phoeniconotius (Etadunna Late Oligocene/Early Miocene of Lake Pitikanta, Australia)
- Palaelodidae – Swimming-flamingos
- Adelalopus (Borgloon Early Oligocene of Hoogbutsel, Belgium)
- Palaelodus (middle Oligocene –? Middle Pleistocene)
- Megapaloelodus (Late Oligocene – Early Pliocene)
- Phoenicopteridae – flamingos
- Elornis (Middle? Eocene – Early Oligocene) – includes Actiornis
- Placement unresolved
- Phoenicopteridae gen. et sp. indet. (Middle? – Late Miocene)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Phoenicopterus (middle Oligocene – Recent)
Podicipediformes
- Podicipedidae – grebes
- Miobaptus (Early Miocene)
- Thiornis (Late Miocene –? Early Pliocene)
- Pliolymbus (Late Pliocene – Early? Pleistocene)
- Placement unresolved
- Podicipedidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Pliocene) – formerly included in Podiceps parvus
- Podicipedidae gen. et sp. indet. UMMP 49592, 52261, 51848, 52276, KUVP 4484 (Late Pliocene)
- Podicipedidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Pliocene/Early Pleistocene)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Podiceps (Late Oligocene/Early Miocene – Recent)
- Aechmophorus (Late Pliocene – Recent)
- Podilymbus (Late Pliocene – Recent)
Ciconiiformes
The diverse group that includes storks, herons and New World vultures. Paraphyletic as listed here.
- Placement unresolved
- Proplegadis (London Clay Early Eocene of England) – Threskiornithidae?
- "Teratornis olsoni – Teratornithidae?
- Ardeidae – herons
- Calcardea (Paleocene)
- Proardea (Late Eocene –? Late Oligocene)
- Xenerodiops (Early Oligocene)
- Zeltornis (Early Miocene)
- Ardeagradis
- Proardeola – possibly same as Proardea
- Placement unresolved
- Anas basaltica (Late Oligocene)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Nycticorax (Early Oligocene – Recent)
- Ardea (Middle Miocene – Recent)
- Egretta (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene – Recent)
- Butorides (Early Pleistocene – Recent)
- Botaurus
- Scopidae – hammerkop
- Prehistoric species of extant genera
- Threskiornithidae – ibises
- Threskiornithidae gen. et sp. indet. NMMP-KU 1301 (Pondaung middle Eocene of Paukkaung, Myanmar) – Threskiornithinae?
- Rhynchaeites (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany) – including Plumumida, may include Mopsitta
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Geronticus (Middle Miocene – Recent)
- Additional prehistoric species of extant genera
- Platalea tiangangensis (Xiacaowan Middle Miocene of Sihong, China)
- Plegadis paganus (Late Oligocene/Early Miocene of France) - formerly Eudocimus, including Milnea
- Plegadis gracilis (Late Pliocene of WC US)
- Plegadis pharangites (Late Pliocene of WC US)
- Theristicus wetmorei (Late Pleistocene of Peru)
- Eudocimus leiseyi (Early Pleistocene of Florida)
- Eudocimus peruvianus (Late Pleistocene of Peru; may be living species)
- Eudocimus sp. (Middle Pliocene of Florida)
- Teratornithidae – teratorns
- Argentavis (Late Miocene)
- Aiolornis (Early Pliocene – Late Pleistocene)
- Teratornis (Early Pleistocene – Late Pleistocene)
- Oscaravis (Pleistocene)
- Cathartornis
- Cathartidae – New World vultures
- Diatropornis (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene –? middle Oligocene)
- Phasmagyps (Early Oligocene)
- Brasilogyps (Late Oligocene – Early Miocene)
- Hadrogyps (Middle Miocene)
- Pliogyps (Late Miocene – Late Pliocene)
- Perugyps (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene)
- Dryornis (Early – Late? Pliocene) – may belong to modern genus Vultur
- Aizenogyps (Late Pliocene)
- Breagyps (Late Pleistocene)
- Geronogyps (Late Pleistocene)
- Wingegyps (Late Pleistocene)
- Parasarcoramphus
- 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)
- Gymnogyps (Early Pleistocene – Recent)
- Vultur (Pliocene – Recent) – distinctiveness disputed
- Balaenicipitidae – shoebills
- Ciconiidae – storks
- Palaeoephippiorhynchus (Early Oligocene)
- Grallavis (Early Miocene) – may be same as Prociconia
- Pelargosteon (Early Pleistocene)
- Prociconia (Late Pleistocene) – may belong to modern genus Jabiru or Ciconia
- Placement unresolved
- Ciconiidae gen. et sp. indet. – formerly Aquilavus/Cygnus bilinicus (Early Miocene)
- Ciconiidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene)
- cf. Leptoptilos gen. et sp. indet. – formerly L. siwalicensis (Late Miocene? - Late Pliocene)
- Ciconiidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Pleistocene) – Ciconia or Mycteria?
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Ciconia (Early Miocene? – Recent) – includes Xenorhynchus
- Mycteria (Middle Miocene – Recent)
- Ephippiorhynchus (Late Miocene – Recent)
- Leptoptilos (Late Miocene – Recent) – includes Cryptociconia
- Jabiru (Early Pliocene – Recent)
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.
- Basal and unresolved forms
- Piscator (Late Eocene of England) – basal phalacrococacoid?
- "Sula ronzoni (Early Oligocene of Ronzon, France) – formerly Mergus and Prophalacrocorax
- "Pelecaniformes" gen. et sp. indet. (Jebel Qatrani Early Oligocene of Fayum, Egypt) basal phalacrococacoid (similar to Piscator?)?
- Borvocarbo (Late Oligocene of C Europe) – phalacrocoracid? basal phalacrococacoid?
- Prophaethontidae
- Lithoptila (Late Paleocene – Early Eocene of Ouled Abdoun Basin, Morocco) – including Abdounornis
- Prophaethon (Late Paleocene ?– Early Eocene)
- Phaethontidae – tropicbirds
- Phaethusavis (Early Eocene of Ouled Abdoun Basin, Morocco)
- Heliadornis (Miocene of North America and Europe)
- Fregatidae – frigatebirds
- Limnofregata (Early Eocene)
- Sulidae – gannets and boobies
- Masillastega (middle Eocene)
- Eostega (Middle/Late Eocene)
- Empheresula (Late Oligocene – Middle Miocene)
- Microsula (Late Oligocene – Middle Miocene)
- Sarmatosula (Middle Miocene)
- Miosula (Late Miocene)
- Palaeosula (?Early Pliocene)
- Rhamphastosula (Early Pliocene)
- Placement unresolved
- Sulidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Oligocene)
- Sulidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Pliocene)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Phalacrocoracidae – cormorants and shags
- Limicorallus (middle Oligocene)
- Nectornis (Late Oligocene?/Early Miocene – Middle Miocene) – includes Oligocorax miocaenus
- "Valenticarbo" (Late Pliocene/Early Pleistocene) – a nomen dubium
- Placement unresolved
- Phalacrocoracidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Eocene ?–? mid-Oligocene)
- "Oligocorax" sp. (Late Oligocene of Enspel, Germany)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Phalacrocorax (Oligocene –? Recent) – may be several genera. Includes Australocorax, Miocorax, Pliocarbo
- Plotopteridae – diving-"boobies"
- Protoplotidae
- Protoplotus (Paleocene? – middle Eocene of Sumatra)
- Anhingidae – darters
- Meganhinga (Early Miocene)
- Macranhinga (Middle/Late Miocene –? Early Pliocene)
- "Paranavis" (Middle/Late Miocene) – a nomen nudum
- Giganhinga (Late Pliocene/Early Pleistocene)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Anhinga (Early Miocene – Recent)
- Pelagornithidae – pseudotooth birds
- Pseudodontornis (Late Paleocene – London Clay Early Eocene of England)
- Dasornis (London Clay Early Eocene of England) – including Argillornis, "Lithornis" emuinus and "Neptuniavis" miranda
- Macrodontopteryx (London Clay Early Eocene of England)
- Odontopteryx (London Clay Early Eocene of England) – including "Neptuniavis" minor
- Gigantornis (middle Eocene of Nigeria)
- Cyphornis (Eocene of Vancouver, Canada)
- Osteodontornis (Early Oligocene – Pliocene)
- Pelagornis (Middle Miocene of France – Late Pliocene of Morocco)
- Caspiodontornis
- Palaeochenoides
- Tympanoneisiotes
- Placement unresolved
- ?Pelagornithidae gen. et sp. indet. (middle Eocene)
- Pelecanidae – pelicans
- Miopelecanus
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Pelecanus (Late Pliocene – Recent)
Procellariiformes
The group that includes modern albatrosses, petrels and storm-petrels.
- Placement unresolved
- Primodroma (Early Eocene)
- †Diomedeoididae
- Rupelornis (Early Oligocene of Belgium)
- Diomedeoides (Early Oligocene – Early Miocene of C Europe and Iran) – includes Frigidafons, may be synonym of Rupelornis
- Diomedeidae – albatrosses
- Murunkus (middle Eocene)
- Plotornis (Early – Middle Miocene) – includes "Puffinus" arvernensis
- Tydea (Early Oligocene of the North Sea basin)
- Placement unresolved
- Diomedeidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Oligocene of South Carolina)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Diomedea (Middle Miocene – Recent)
- Phoebastria (Middle Miocene – Recent)
- Thalassarche (Late Miocene – Recent)
- Hydrobatidae – storm-petrels
- Prehistoric species of extant genera
- Oceanodroma hubbsi (Capistrano Middle/Late Miocene of Orange County, US)
- Oceanodroma sp.
- Pelagodroma sp. 1
- Pelagodroma sp. 2
- Prehistoric species of extant genera
- Procellariidae – petrels
- Argyrodyptes (San Julián Late Eocene/Early Oligocene of Chubut, Argentina)
- Pterodromoides
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Puffinus (Early Oligocene – Recent) – includes "Larus" raemdonckii
- Fulmarus (Middle Miocene – Recent)
- Pachyptila (Late Miocene – Recent)
- Calonectris (Early Pliocene – Recent)
- "Pterodroma" (Pleistocene – Recent)
- Procellaria
- Pelecanoididae – diving-petrels
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Pelecanoides (Early/Middle Miocene – Recent)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
Gaviiformes
- †Neogaeornis (Late Cretaceous)
- †Polarornis (Late Cretaceous)
- Gaviidae – loons
- Colymboides (Late Eocene – Early Miocene) – includes Dyspetornis and Hydrornis; paraphyletic?
- Placement unresolved
- "Gavia" portisi (Late Pliocene of Orciano Pisano, Italy) – rentatively placed here. A nomen dubium?
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Gavia (Early Miocene – Recent)
Sphenisciformes
- Unresolved and basal forms
- Waimanu (Early – Late Palaeocene)
- Perudyptes – basal? (middle Eocene)
- Sphenisciformes gen. et sp. indet. CADIC P 21 (middle Eocene)
- Spheniscidae – penguins
- Crossvallia (Late Paleocene)
- Perudyptes (mid-Eocene)
- Anthropornis (mid-Eocene –? Early Oligocene)
- Archaeospheniscus (mid-/Late Eocene – Late Oligocene)
- Delphinornis (mid-/Late Eocene –? Early Oligocene)
- Palaeeudyptes (mid-/Late Eocene – Late Oligocene)
- Icadyptes (Late Eocene)
- Inkayacu (Late Eocene)
- Pachydyptes (Late Eocene)
- Marambiornis (Late Eocene –? Early Oligocene)
- Mesetaornis (Late Eocene –? Early Oligocene)
- Tonniornis (Late Eocene –? Early Oligocene)
- Wimanornis (Late Eocene –? Early Oligocene)
- Arthrodytes (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene – Early Miocene)
- Duntroonornis (Late Oligocene)
- Kairuku (Late Oligocene)
- Korora (Late Oligocene)
- Platydyptes (Late Oligocene)
- Chubutodyptes (Early Miocene)
- Eretiscus (Patagonia Early Miocene)
- Paraptenodytes (Early – Late Miocene/Early Pliocene)
- Palaeospheniscus (Early? – Late Miocene/Early Pliocene)
- Anthropodyptes (Middle Miocene)
- Madrynornis (Late Miocene)
- Pseudaptenodytes (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene)
- Dege (Early Pliocene)
- Marplesornis (Early Pliocene)
- Nucleornis (Early Pliocene)
- Inguza (Late Pliocene) – formerly Spheniscus predemersus
- Placement unresolved
- Spheniscidae gen. et sp. indet (Late Oligocene/Early Miocene of Hakataramea, New Zealand)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Pygoscelis (Middle/Late Miocene – Recent)
- Spheniscus (Middle/Late Miocene – Recent)
- Aptenodytes (Early? Pliocene – Recent)
Pteroclidiformes
- Pteroclididae – sandgrouse
- Gerandia (Early Miocene)
- Archaeoganga
- Leptoganga
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:
- Psittacopes (Early/middle Eocene)
- Serudaptus – pseudasturid or psittacid?
- Pseudasturidae (= Halcyornithidae?)
- Pseudasturidae FU 125 gen. et sp. indet. (Early Eocene)
- Pseudasturides – formerly Pseudastur
- Vastanavidae
- Vastanavis (Early Eocene of Vastan, India)
- Quercypsittidae
- Quercypsitta (Late Eocene)
- Cacatuidae
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Cacatua (Early Miocene – Recent)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Psittacidae – parrots, parakeets and lories
- Archaeopsittacus (Late Oligocene/Early Miocene)
- Xenopsitta (Early Miocene)
- Psittacidae gen. et spp. indet. (Early/Middle Miocene) – several species
- Bavaripsitta (Middle Miocene)
- Psittacidae gen. et sp. indet. (Middle Miocene) – erroneously placed in Pararallus dispar, includes "Psittacus lartetianus
- Extant and recently extinct genera present in the fossil record
- Conuropsis (Early? Miocene – Holocene)
- Nandayus (Late Pliocene – Recent)
- Cyanoliseus (Middle Pleistocene – Recent)
- Aratinga (Late Pleistocene – Recent)
- Rhynchopsitta (Late Pleistocene – Recent)
Opisthocomiformes
Hoatzins
- Opisthocomidae
- Namibiavis (Late Oligocene of Namibia)
- Hoazinavis (Miocene of Brazil)
- Hoazinoides (Late Miocene of Colombia)
Cuculiformes
Cuckoos, turacos and allies.
- Placement unresolved
- Cuculiformes gen. et sp. indet. (Early Eocene)
- Musophagidae – turacos
- Veflintornis (Middle Miocene) – formerly Apopempsis
- Placement unresolved
- Musophagidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Oligocene – Middle Miocene of WC Europe)
- "Apopempsis africanus (Early Miocene) – formerly Musophaga, might belong in Veflintornis
- Musophagidae gen. et sp. indet. (Egypt)
- 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)
Falconiformes
Birds of prey. Possibly polyphyletic or paraphyletic.
- Unresolved and basal forms
- Masillaraptor (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany) – basal?
- Horusornithidae
- Horusornis (Late Eocene)
- Pandionidae – ospreys
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Pandion (Early Oligocene – Recent)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Sagittariidae – secretarybirds
- Pelargopappus (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene – Late Oligocene/Early Miocene of France) – formerly Amphiserpentarius/Amynoptilon/Pelargopsis
- 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) – may belong to extant genus Harpyhaliaetus (or Buteogallus)
- Neogyps
- 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
- Falconidae – falcons
- Parvulivenator (Early Eocene)
- Stintonornis (Early Eocene)
- Badiostes (Early Miocene)
- Pediohierax (Middle Miocene) – formerly Falco ramenta
- Placement unresolved
- Falconidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene)
- "Sushkinia" pliocaena (Early Pliocene) – belongs into Falco?
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
Caprimulgiformes
Nightjars, potoos and allies. Apparently paraphyletic.
- Placement unresolved
- Paraprefica (Early Eocene?) – Steatornithidae or Nyctibiidae
- Steatornithidae – oilbirds
- Prefica
- Prehistoric species of extant genera
- Steatornis sp.
- Podargidae – frogmouths
- Nyctibiidae – potoos
- Caprimulgidae – nightjars
Aegotheliformes
Owlet-nightjars
- Aegothelidae
- Quipollornis (Early/Middle Miocene)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Aegotheles (Early/Middle Miocene – Recent)
Apodiformes
Swifts and hummingbirds.
- Basal and unresolved forms
- Primapus (Early Eocene) – aegialornithid or apodid
- Parargornis (middle Eocene) – jungornithid, trochilid, basal as Argornis?
- Argornis (Late Eocene) – basal to Jungornithidae and Trochilidae
- Cypselavus (Late Eocene – Early Oligocene) – aegialornithid or hemiprocnid
- Aegialornithidae
- Aegialornis (Early? – Late Eocene)
- Jungornithidae
- Jungornis (Early Oligocene of N Caucasus, Russia)
- Palescyvus
- Laputavis
- Trochilidae – hummingbirds
- Eurotrochilus (Early Oligocene)
- Placement unresolved
- Trochilidae sp. et gen. indet. (Bahamas, West Indies)
- Trochilidae sp. et gen. indet. (Brazil)
- Apodidae – swifts
- Scaniacypselus (Early – middle Eocene)
- Procypseloides (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene – Early Miocene)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Collocalia (Early Miocene – Recent)
- Apus (Middle/Late Miocene – Recent)
- Chaetura (Late Miocene – Recent)
- Tachornis (Late Pleistocene – Recent)
Coliiformes
Mousebirds and relatives
- Unresolved and basal forms
- Chascacocolius (Late Paleocene? – middle Eocene) – basal? sandcoleid?
- Eocolius (Early Eocene) – sandcoleid or coliid
- Selmes (middle Eocene? – Late Oligocene) – coliid?, possibly synonym of Primocolius
- Limnatornis (Early Miocene) – coliid? (Urocolius?) Includes "Picus" consobrinus
- "Picus" archiaci (Early Miocene) – Limnatornis? coliid? (Urocolius?)
- Necrornis (Middle Miocene) – coliid? (Colius?)
- Coliiformes gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene) – coliid? (Colius, Urocolius?)
- Eobucco – sandcoleid?
- Uintornis – sandcoleid?
- †Sandcoleidae
- Sandcoleus (Paleocene)
- Anneavis
- Eoglaucidium
- Coliidae – mousebirds
- Primocolius (Late Eocene/Oligocene)
- Oligocolius (Early Oligocene)
- Masillacolius (middle Eocene)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Colius (Miocene? – Recent)
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
- 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)
- 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
- 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
- Quasisyndactylus (middle Eocene) – alcediniform, basal?
- Cryptornis (Late Eocene) – bucerotid? geranopterid?
- Coraciiformes gen. et spp. indet. PQ 1216, QU 15640 (Late Eocene) – 2 species
- Protornis (Oligocene) – basal to motmotids and meropids?
- Geranopteridae
- Geranopterus (Late Eocene – Early Miocene) – includes "Nupharanassa" bohemica
- Eocoraciidae
- Eocoracias (middle Eocene)
- Primobucconidae
- Primobucco (Early – middle Eocene)
- Todidae – todies
- Palaeotodus (Late Eocene of France – Early Oligocene of WC Europe and Wyoming)
- Motmotidae – motmots
- Placement unresolved
- Momotidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene)
- Placement unresolved
- Messelirrisoridae
- Messelirrisor (middle Eocene)
- Bucerotidae – hornbills
Trogoniformes
- Trogonidae – trogons
- Septentrogon (Fur Late Paleocene/Early Eocene of Ejerslev, Denmark)
- Primotrogon (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany? - Early Oligocene of France)
- Paratrogon (Early Miocene of France)
- Placement unresolved
- Trogonidae gen. et sp. indet. 1 (NW Europe)
- Trogonidae gen. et sp. indet. 2 (NW Europe)
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)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Picavidae
- 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)
- Placement unresolved
- Palaeoscinidae
- Paleoscinis (Late Miocene)
- Furnariidae – ovenbirds
- Pseudoseisuropsis
- Pseudoseisuropsis nehuen (Early/Middle Pleistocene of Argentina)
- Pseudoseisuropsis cuelloi (Late Pleistocene of Uruguay)
- Prehistoric species of extant genera
- Pseudoseisura cursor (Ensenada Early/Middle Pleistocene of Anchorena, Argentina)
- Cinclodes major (Middle Pleistocene of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina)
- Pseudoseisuropsis
- Menuridae – lyretails
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Menura (Early Miocene – Recent)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- 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
- Placement unresolved
- Orthonychidae – logrunners
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Orthonyx (Middle/Late Miocene – Recent)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Oriolidae – Old World orioles
- Longimornis (Early Miocene of Riversleigh, Australia)
- Artamidae – woodswallows, butcherbirds, currawongs and Australian magpie
- Placement unresolved
- Artamidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early/Middle Miocene) – cracticine
- Placement unresolved
- 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)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Regulidae – kinglets
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Regulus (Late Pliocene – Recent)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Hirundinidae – swallows and martins
- Placement unresolved
- Hirundinidae gen. et spp. indet. (Early Pliocene of Langebaanweg, South Africa) – 2 species
- Placement unresolved
- Megaluridae – grass-warblers and allies
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- ?Locustella (Late Miocene – Recent)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Acrocephalidae – marsh- and tree-warblers
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- ?Acrocephalus (Late Miocene – Recent)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Muscicapidae – Old World flycatchers and chats
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Luscinia (Late Miocene – Recent)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Turdidae – thrushes
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- ?Turdus (Middle? Miocene – Recent)
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- Alaudidae – larks
- Eremarida (Late Miocene of Hrabarsko, Bulgaria)
- Motacillidae – wagtails
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- 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
- Extant genera present in the fossil record
- 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)
- Placement unresolved
- 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.
- †Apatornis (Late Cretaceous) – neornithine (anseriform)?
- †"Ichthyornis" minusculus Nesov 1990 (Bissekty Late Cretaceous of Kyzyl Kum, Uzbekistan) – enantiornithine?
- †Potamornis skutchi Elzanowski, Paul & Stidham 2000 (Late Cretaceous) – hesperornithid? baptornithid? enaliornithid?
- †Guildavis (Cretaceous of Wallace County, US) – neornithine or basal ornithurine
- †Qinornis paleocenica Xue 1995 (Early/Middle Paleocene) – enantiornithine? neornithine?
- †"Cathayornis" aberransis
- †"Cathayornis" caudatus
- †"Ichthyornis" maltshevskyi?
See also
- Bird ichnology
- Dominant group (extinction)
- List of extinct birds
- Feathered dinosaurs
- Flightless birds
- Late Quaternary prehistoric birds
- Origin of birds
- Prehistoric life
Footnotes
- ^ Sereno (2005)
- ^ Chiappe (2001, 2002)
- ^ See e.g. Mortimer (2004), Sereno (2005)
- ^ Clarke et al. (2006)
- ^ a b Holtz, T.R. (2012) Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; name "Holtz2008" defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ Gareth J. Dyke, Attila Ősi (2010). "A review of Late Cretaceous fossil birds from Hungary". Geological Journal 45 (4): 434–444. doi:10.1002/gj.1209.
- ^ Fernando Emilio Novas, Federico Lisandro Agnolín and Carlos Agustín Scanferla (2010). "New enantiornithine bird (Aves, Ornithothoraces) from the Late Cretaceous of NW Argentina". Comptes Rendus Palevol 9 (8): 499–503. doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2010.09.005.
- ^ Li Li, En-pu Gong, Li-dong Zhang, Ya-jun Yang and Lian-hai Hou (2010). "A new enantiornithine bird (aves) from the Early Cretaceous of Liaoning, China". Acta Palaeontologica Sinica 49 (4): 524–531.
- ^ O’Connor, J. K.; Zhang, Y.; Chiappe, L. M.; Meng, Q.; Quanguo, L.; Di, L. (2013). "A new enantiornithine from the Yixian Formation with the first recognized avian enamel specialization". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 33: 1. doi:10.1080/02724634.2012.719176.
- ^ Kurochkin, E.N. et al. (2006)
- ^ Kurochkin (2006)
- ^ O’Connor, J.K. (2012)
- ^ Fide Chiappe (2002)
- ^ Federico L. Agnolin and David Varricchio (2012). "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". Geodiversitas 34 (4): 883–894. doi:10.5252/g2012n4a10.
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.
- Clarke, Julia A.; Zhou, Zhonghe & Zhang, Fucheng (2006): Insight into the evolution of avian flight from a new clade of Early Cretaceous ornithurines from China and the morphology of Yixianornis grabaui. Journal of Anatomy 208 (3):287-308. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2006.00534.x PMID 16533313 PDF fulltext 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: 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; PDF fulltext
- Sereno, Paul Callistus (2005): TaxonSearch: Stem Archosauria. Version 1.0, November 7, 2005. Retrieved 2007-APR-30.
External links
- Aves Translation and Pronunciation Guide by Ben Creisler. Version of 2003-JUL-7. Retrieved 2007-SEP-1.
- Ingersoll, Ernest (1920). "Birds, Fossil". Encyclopedia Americana.
- "Bird, Fossil". New International Encyclopedia. 1905.