How to Identify Birds

The more you get into birding the more you will notice that your fellow birders have a particular way of classifying birds. We have listed below the general way to classify living organisims.

Check out our list of birds for easy identification tips and pictures.. Just click on the common name of the bird.

All living organisms are divided into 5 Kingdoms: Plants, Fungi, Animals, Protoctista and Bacteria (the last two have to be seen through a microscope). The living members of the Animal (Animalia) Kingdom is divided into smaller groups called Phyla (singular) or Phylum (plural) which means a direct line of descent within a group and then its further divided into smaller groups called Classes. Classes are divided into even smaller (though still fairly large) groups called Orders. After categorizing the Orders, we have Families and sometimes Subfamilies. Within each Family/Subfamily, there are are number of Genera (plural for Genus) and within each Genus are a number of Species.

ORDER	FAMILY	COMMON NAME
» Gaviiformes	» Gaviidae	» Common Loon
» Podicipediformes	» Podicipedidae	» Grebes
» Procellariiformes	» Diomedeidae	» Albatross
	» Procellariidae	» Shearwaters/Petrels
	» Hydrobatidae	» Storm Petrels
» Ciconiformes	» Ardeidae	» Herons/Bitterns
	» Threskiornithidae	» Ibises
	» Ciconiidae	» Storks
» Phoenicopteridae	» Phoenicopteridae	» Flamingos
» Anseriformes	» Anatidae	» Waterfowl
» Falconiformes	» Cathartidae	» Vultures
	» Pandionidae	» Ospreys
	» Accipitridae	» Hawks
	» Falconidae	» Falcons
» Galliformes	» Cracidae	» Curassow
	» Phasianidae	» Pheasants
	» Odontophoridae	» Quail
» Gruiformes	» Rallidae	» Rails
	» Aramidae	» Limpkins
	» Gruidae	» Cranes
» Charadriiformes	» Charadriidae	» Plovers
	» Haematopodidae	» Oystercatchers
	» Recurvirostridae	» Stilts/Avocets
	» Scolopacidae	» Sandpiper/Phalarope
	» Laridae	» Gulls/Terns
	» Alcidae	» Auks/Alcids
» Columbiformes	» Columbidae	» Pigeons/Doves
» Psittaciformes	» Psittacidae	» Parrots
» Cuculiformes	» Cuculidae	» Cuckoos
» Cuculiformes	» Cuculidae	» Roadrunners
» Strigiformes	» Tytonidae	» Barn Owls
	» Strigidae	» Typical Owls
» Caprimulgiformes	» Caprimulgidae	» Goatsuckers
» Apodiformes	» Apodidae	» Swifts
	» Trochilidae	» Hummingbirds
» Piciformes	» Alcedinidae	» Kingfishers
» Coraciiformes	» Picidae	» Woodpeckers
» Passeriformes Part I	» Tyrannidae	» Flycatchers
	» Alauidae	» Larks
	» Hirundinidae	» Swallows
	» Corvidae	» Jays
	» Corvidae	» Crows
	» Paridae	» Chickadees
	» Paridae	» Titmice
	» Sittidae	» Nuthatches
	» Certhiidae	» Creepers
	» Troglodytidae	» Wrens
	» Muscicapidae	» Kinglets
	» Muscicapidae	» Thrushes
» Passeriformes Part II	» Mimidae	» Mockingbirds
	» Motacillidae	» Pipits
	» Motacillidae	» Wagtails
	» Bombycillidae	» Waxwings
	» Ptilogonatidae	» Silky-Flycatchers
	» Laniidae	» Shrikes
	» Sturnidae	» Starlings
	» Vireonidae	» Vireos
	» Coerebidae	» Bananaquits
	» Pycnonotidae	» Bulbuls
» Passeriformes Part III	» Emberizidae	» Warblers
	» Emberizidae	» Sparrows
	» Fringillidae	» Finches
	» Passeridae	» Weaver Finches

Bird rescue & bird adoption; parrot refuge/rescue & placement for unwanted birds.

Check out our list of local birds broken down by your state and different types of species.

Migrating birds stay on track because of chemical reactions in their bodies that are influenced by the Earth's magnetic field...

   November 19, 2004

ASIAN BIRDS FACE
THREAT OF EXTINCTION
-- Bangkok, Thailand

More than 300 bird specias in Asia are threatened with extinction due to logging, farming and development.

Conservationists along with bird specialists were speaking in Bangkok on the sidelines of the World Conservation Union meeting, attended by 6000 officials, scientists, excutives and environmentalists from around the world...



   November 20, 2004

CUB SCOUTS PROVIDE
NESTING BOXES FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS

Jerry McNair and Terrie Gartman help cub scout, Mason Gartman, build a bluebird nesting house at the Heard Natural Science Museum Wednesday afternoon...

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