List of fossil birds.html
 
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For a list of birds extinct in Late Quaternary prehistoric times and (usually) known from specimens not completely fossilized, see Late Quaternary prehistoric birds.
For birds that have gone extinct since the year 1500, see List of extinct birds.
A replica of the Berlin specimen of Archaeopteryx, most famous of prehistoric birds.

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-Tertiary 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".


Contents

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.

Please be aware that taxonomic assignments, especially in the pygostylian to early neornithine genera, are still very provisional and subject to quite frequent change.

"Proto-birds" (extinct)

This category contains very early fossils that some consider the earliest evidence of birds and others which are generally agreed to be theropods but the placement of which in regard to birds is controversial. Most scientists consider them - especially the mysterious Alvarezsauridae - closely related to birds, and some find them avian enough to include in the birds outright. In any case, these forms demonstrate that feathered wings and other "avian" features were not limited to true birds, but evolved independently in several related lineages of theropods.

See also Archaeopterygiformes and Deinonychosauria, and Origin of birds.

Reconstruction of the juvenile named Epidendrosaurus ninchengensis. The Scansoriopterygidae may well be the closest known relatives of Archaeopteryx.

Basal Aves (extinct)

Model of Sapeornis chaoyangensis, a short-legged Early Cretaceous bird the size of a large grouse which probably fed on fruit and nuts.

The most primitive birds, usually still possessing a long bony tail with generally unfused vertebrae.

Omnivoropterygiformes

Basal Pygostylia (extinct)

Reconstruction of two Confuciusornis in flight, showing their strange wing shape.

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

Enantiornithes (extinct)

"Opposite Birds" due to the shape of their scapula/coracoid bones; an extinct Mesozoic sub-class. Together with the Ornithurae (which includes modern birds), they form the Ornithothoraces: birds adapted to flight in the modern way (though the expression of individual traits differs). For example, their shoulder blades are modified to permit raising their wings far above their backs; although as noted above, the shape of the individual shoulder bones differs markedly among ornithothoracine groups, and considering also the different pygostyles of Enantiornithes and Ornithurae, it may well be that the Ornithothoraces are not monophyletic.

Reconstruction of Iberomesornis romerali, a tiny primitive enantiornithine.
It was no bigger than a modern-day finch.

Enantiornithiformes

Basal Ornithurae5 (extinct)

Also called "basal Ornithuromorpha".6 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 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. On the other hand, the Ornithuromorpha may be a junior synonym of Ornithothoraces (or even Pygostylia).1

  • Unresolved and basal forms
    • Gansus (Early Cretaceous) - basal
    • Archaeorhynchus (Early Cretaceous) - basal?
    • Apsaravis (Late Cretaceous) - ambiortid?
    • Limenavis (Late Cretaceous) - neornithine (paleognath)?
    • "cf. Parahesperornis" (Nemegt Late Cretaceous of Tsagaan Kushu, Mongolia) - hesperornithiform?
    • Ornithurae gen. et sp. indet. RBCM.EH2005.003.0001 (Northumberland Late Cretaceous of Hornby Island, Canada)
    • Ornithurae gen. et sp. indet. TMP 98.68.145 (Dinosur Park Late Cretaceous of Iddesleigh, Canada) - hesperornithiform?
    • Carinatae gen. et sp. indet. NHMM/RD 271 (Maastricht Late Cretaceous, CBR-Romontbos Quarry, Belgium) - ichthyornithine?
  • Ambiortidae

Yanornithiformes

Hesperornithes (extinct)

Hesperornis

Large, toothed, loon-like diving birds.

Ichthyornithes (extinct)

Ichthyornis

Toothed birds similar to modern gulls.

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.

  • †Gallornis (Early -? Late Cretaceous) - phoenicopteriform, anseriform or galliform
  • †Ceramornis (Late Cretaceous) - charadriiform?
  • †"Cimolopteryx" (Late Cretaceous) - charadriiform?
  • †Palintropus (Late Cretaceous) - quercymegapodiid or charadriform
  • "Presbyornithidae" gen. et sp. indet. (Barun Goyot Late Cretaceous of Udan Sayr, Mongolia) - anseriform (presbyornithid)?
  • †Teviornis (Late Cretaceous) - presbyornithid?
  • †Torotix (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, USA) - 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, USA)
  • †Neornithes incerta sedis UCMP 117599 (Hell Creek Late Cretaceous of Bug Creek West, USA) - anseriform?
  • †Lonchodytes (Late Cretaceous/?Early Palaeocene) - gaviiform/pelecaniform? procellariiform?
  • †"Lonchodytes" pterygius (Late Cretaceous/?Early Palaeocene) - charadriiform?
  • †Novacaesareala (Late Cretaceous/Early Palaeocene) - related to Torotix?
  • †"Palaeotringa" vetus (Lance Late Cretaceous of Wyoming - Hornerstown Late Cretaceous/?Early Palaeocene of New Jersey, USA) - gruiform? anseriform (presbyornithid)?
  • †Volgavis (Early Palaeocene of Volgograd, Russia) - charadriiform? phalacrocoraciform?
  • †Eopuffinus (Late Paleocene of Zhylga, Kazakhstan) - procellariiform (procellariid)?
  • †Tshulia (Late Paleocene of Zhylga, Kazakhstan)
  • †Eupterornis (Paleocene of Cernay, France) - charadriiform (larid?)? gaviiform?
  • †Gradiornis (Paleocene of Walbeck, Germany) - cariamid?
  • †"Messelornis" russelli (Paleocene of Cernay, France) - messelornithid?
  • †Walbeckornis (Paleocene of Walbeck, Germany) - charadriiform? messelornithid?
  • †Argilliornis (London Clay Early Eocene of England) - procellariiform (pelagornithid?)
  • †Argillipes (London Clay Early Eocene of England) - galliform?
  • †Coturnipes (Early Eocene of England, and Virginia, USA?) - galliform, falconiform?
  • †Fluviatitavis (Early Eocene of Silveirinha, Portugal) - charadriiform?
  • †Neanis (Early Eocene) - primobucconid, piciform?
  • †Neptuniavis (London Clay Early Eocene of England) - pelagornithid or procellariid
  • †Onychopteryx (Early Eocene of Argentina) - falconid? A nomen dubium
  • †Paleophasianus (Willwood Early Eocene of Bighorn County, USA) - galliform (tetraonine or cracid) or gruiform (aramid)?
  • †Paracathartes (Early Eocene of WC USA) - lithornithiform?
  • †Parvigyps (London Clay Early Eocene of England) - falconiform?
  • †Pediorallus (London Clay Early Eocene of England) - lithornithiform or galliform?
  • †Percolinus (London Clay Early Eocene of England) - galliform?
  • †"Precursor" (Early Eocene) - several species? psittaciform (pseudasturid or psittacid) + charadriiform (glareolid)?
  • †Procuculus (Early Eocene of Bognor Regis, England) - parvicuculid? primobucconid? close to Primapus?
  • †Pulchrapollia (Early Eocene) - includes "Primobucco" olsoni - psittaciform (pseudasturid or psittacid)?
  • †Vastanavis (Early Eocene of Vastan, India) - gruiform (otidid)?
  • †Neornithes incerta sedis USNM 496384 (Nanjemoy Early Eocene of Virginia, USA) - parvicuculid? aegithalornithid?
  • †"Green River Palaeognath" USNM 336103 (Green River Early/middle Eocene)
  • †Palaeopsittacus (Early - middle Eocene of NW Europe) - caprimulgiform (podargid?) or quercypsittid?
  • †Eocathartes (middle Eocene of Germany) - cathartid?
  • †Eociconia (middle Eocene of China) - ciconiiform (ciconiid)?
  • †Geiseloceros (middle Eocene of Germany) - coraciiform?
  • †Hassiavis (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany) - archaeotrogonid, piciform?
  • †Protocypselomorphus (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany) - caprimulgiform, apodiform or ancestral to both
  • †Pumiliornis (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany)
  • †Eobalearica (Ferghana Late? Eocene of Ferghana, Uzbekistan) - gruiform (gruid)?
  • †Ludiortyx (Late Eocene) - rallid, quercymegapodid? Includes "Tringa" hoffmanni, "Palaeortyx" blanchardi, "P." hoffmanni
  • †Minggangia (Late Eocene of China) - rallid, threskiornithid?
  • †Petropluvialis (Late Eocene of England) - may be same as Palaeopapia; anseriform?
  • †"Phasianus" alfhildae (Washakie B Late Eocene of Haystack Butte, USA) - gruiform, ciconiiform, phoenicopteriform?
  • †Talantatos (Late Eocene of Paris Bain, France) - gruiform (cariamid, idiornithid?)? Might include Elaphrocnemus and Filholornis
  • †Telecrex (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)?
  • †"Falco" falconellus (or falconella; Eocene of Wyoming, USA) - falconiform (falconid)?
  • †"Colymboides" anglicus (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene of Hordwell, England) - gaviiform? previously included in Palaeopapia eous
  • †Filholornis (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene of France) - musophagid, cracid, carimid, idiornithid? Possibly belongs in Talantatos
  • †Geranopsis (Hordwell Late Eocene - Early Oligocene of England) - gruiform (gruid?) or anseriform (anseranatid?)?
  • †Elaphrocnemus (Quercy Phosphorites Late Eocene ?-middle Oligocene of Quercy, France) - idiornithid? Possibly belongs in Talantatos
  • †Agnopterus (Late Eocene - Late Oligocene of Europe) - phoenicopteriform or anseriform, includes "Cygnopterus" lambrechti
  • †Plesiocathartes (Late Eocene -? Early Miocene of SW Europe) - cathartid, leptosomid?
  • †Botauroides (Eocene of Wyoming, USA)- coliiform?
  • †Aminornis (Deseado Early Oligocene of Rio Deseado, Argentina) - gruiform (aramid)?
  • †Ciconiopsis (Deseado Early Oligocene of Patagonia, Argentina) - ciconiid?
  • †Climacarthrus (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina) - accipitrid? A nomen dubium
  • †Cruschedula (Deseado Early Oligocene of Golfo San Jorge, Argentina) - accipitrid? A nomen dubium
  • †Dolicopterus (Early Oligocene of Ronzon, France) - charadriiform (charadriid)? Not Dolichopterus as sometimes claimed
  • †Loncornis (Deseado Early Oligocene of Rio Deseado, Argentina) - gruiform (aramid)?
  • †Loxornis - anatid? (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina)
  • †Manu (Early Oligocene) - procellariiform (diomedeid)?
  • †Palaeocrex (Early Oligocene of Trigonias Quarry, USA) - rallid?
  • †Palaeopapia (Hampstead Early Oligocene of Isle of Wight, England) - anseriform?
  • †Paracygnopterus (Early Oligocene of Belgium and England) - anatid?
  • †"Pararallus" hassenkampi (Sieblos Dysodil Early Oligocene of Sieblos, Germany)
  • †Riacama (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina) - gruiform?
  • †Smiliornis (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina) - gruiform?
  • †Teracus (Early Oligocene of France)
  • †Teleornis (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina) - anatid?
  • †Pseudolarus (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 (Early-mid Oligocene of Belgium) - anseriform?
  • †"Charadrius" sheppardianus (Florissant middle Oligocene of Florissant, USA) - charadriiform (charadriid?)
  • †Limicorallus (Indricotherium middle Oligocene of Chelkar-Teniz, Kazakhstan) - anatid?
  • †Megagallinula (Indricotherium middle Oligocene of Chelkar-Teniz, Kazakhstan)
  • †"Palaeorallus" alienus (middle Oligocene of Tatal-Gol, Mongolia) - galliform?
  • †"Vanellus" selysii (middle Oligocene of Rupelmonde, Belgium) - charadriiform (charadriid)?
  • †Anserpica (Late Oligocene of France) - gruiform (gruid?) or anseriform (anseranatid?)?
  • †Gnotornis (Brule Late Oligocene of Shannon County, USA) - gruiform (aramid)?
  • †Tiliornis (Late? Oligocene of Argentina) - phoenicopteriform? A nomen dubium
  • †Neornithes incerta sedis QM F40203 (Late Oligocene of Riversleigh, Australia) - gruiform (rallid)?
  • †Gaviella (Oligocene? of Wyoming, USA) - gaviiform? plotopterid?
  • †"Anas" skalicensis (Early Miocene of "Skalitz", Czechia) - anseriform?
  • †Chenornis (Early Miocene) - Anseriformes (Anatidae) or Pelecaniformes (Phalacrocoracidae)?
  • †"Propelargus" olseni (Hawthorne Early Miocene of Tallahassee, USA) - ciconiiform?
  • †Neornithes incerta sedis MNHN SA 1259-1263 (Early/Middle Miocene of Sansan, France) - passeriform?
  • †Anisolornis (Santa Cruz Middle Miocene of Karaihen, Argentina) - gruiform, galliform, tinamiform?
  • †"Ardea" perplexa (Middle Miocene of Sansan, France) - ardeid? strigiform?
  • †"Cygnus herrenthalsi" (Middle Miocene of Belgium)
  • †"Anas" risgoviensis (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 (Miocene of Argentina) - ciconiiform (threskiornithid)?
  • †"Limnatornis" paludicola (Miocene of France) - coliid? phoeniculid?
  • †"Picus" gaudryi (Miocene of France) - piciform?
  • †"Ardea" lignitum (Late Pliocene of Germany) - ardeid? strigid (genus Bubo)?
  • †"Gavia" portisi (Late Pliocene of Orciano Pisano, Italy) - gaviiform? A nomen dubium
  • †Bathoceleus (Pliocene of New Providence, Bahamas) - picid?
  • †"Homalopus" - piciform? Preoccupied by a subgenus of Cryptocephalus leaf beetles described in 1835.
  • †Juncitarsus - phoenicopteriform?
  • †Kashinia - phoenicopteriform?
  • †"Liptornis" - pelecaniform (pelecanid)? A nomen dubium
  • †Pseudocrypturus - lithornithiform?
  • †Archaeotrogonidae - basal Cypselomorphae?
    • Archaeotrogonidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early Eocene)
    • Archaeotrogon (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene)
  • †Cladornithidae - pelecaniform?
    • Cladornis (Deseado Early Oligocene of Patagonia, Argentina)
  • †Eleutherornithidae
  • †Eocypselidae - apodiform (hemiprocnid?)? caprimulgiform? basal Cypselomorphae?
    • Eocypselus (Late Paleocene ?- Early Eocene of NC Europe)
  • †Eremopezidae - ratites?
  • †Foratidae - cuculiform?
    • Foro (Early Eocene)
  • †Fluvioviridavidae
  • †Gracilitarsidae - close to Sylphornithidae?
  • †Halcyornithidae - psittaciform (pseudasturid?), coraciiform?
    • Halcyornis (London Clay Early Eocene of England)
  • †Laornithidae - charadriiform? gruiform?
  • †Messelasturidae - accipitrid? basal to Strigiformes?
    • Tynskya (Early Eocene of N America and England)
    • Messelastur (middle Eocene of Messel, Germany)
  • †Palaeospizidae - passeriform? coraciiform?
    • Palaeospiza (Late Eocene of Florissant Fossil Beds, USA)
  • †Parvicuculidae - cypselomorph, cuculiform, primobucconid?
  • †Remiornithidae (Paleocene of France) - palaeognath?
  • †Sylphornithidae - cuculiform? coraciiform? close to Gracilitarsidae?
  • †Tytthostonygidae - procellariiform, pelecaniform?
  • †Zygodactylidae - near passerine, includes Primoscenidae
  • †"Graculavidae" - a paraphyletic form taxon, the "transitional shorebirds"
    • Graculavus (Late Cretaceous -? Early Palaeocene) - charadriiform?
    • Palaeotringa (Late Cretaceous/Early Palaeocene) - charadriiform?
    • Telmatornis (Late Cretaceous?) - charadriiform? gruiform? podicipediform?
    • Zhylgaia (Early Paleocene) - presbyornithid?
    • Scaniornis (Early/Middle Paleocene) - phoenicopteriform?
    • Dakotornis (Paleocene of North Dakota, USA)
    • Placement unresolved
      • "Graculavidae" gen. et sp. indet. (Gloucester County, USA)

Struthioniformes

Ostrich and related ratites.

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

Dromornis
Genyornis

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) - Anseranatidae or Anatidae
    • †Proherodius (Early Eocene) - presbyornithid?
    • †Paranyroca (Early Miocene) - Anatidae or own family?
  • Anhimidae - Screamers
    • †Chaunoides
  • †Dromornithidae - The Australian mihirungs or "demon ducks". The youngest genus (Genyornis) was encountered by humans.
  • 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 (Eocene)
    • †Cygnavus (Early Oligocene - Early Miocene)
    • †Cygnopterus (middle Oligocene - Early Miocene) - sometimes included in Cygnavus
    • †Guguschia (Oligocene)
    • †Mionetta (Late Oligocene - Early Miocene) - includes "Anas" blanchardi, "A." consobrina, "A." natator
    • †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 of Peru)
    • †Aldabranas (Late Pleistocene)
    • Placement unresolved
      • "Anas" luederitzensis (Kalahari Early Miocene of Lüderitzbucht, Namibia)
      • "Oxura" 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 sp. indet. (Middle Miocene) - several species
      • "Anas" meyerii (Middle Miocene)
      • "Anas" velox (Middle - Late? Miocene) - may include "A." meyerii
      • "Anas" albae (Late Miocene of Polgárdi, Hungary) - formerly in Mergus
      • "Anas" isarensis (Late Miocene of Aumeister, Germany)
      • Anatidae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene)
      • "Anas" eppelsheimensis (Early Pliocene of Eppelsheim, Germany)
      • "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)
    • †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
    • Pirortyx
    • Paraortyx
  • †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
  • Phasianidae - Pheasants, quails, partridges, grouse and turkeys
    • †Amitabha (Bridger middle Eocene of Forbidden City, USA)
    • †Schaubortyx (middle Eocene - Early Oligocene)
    • †Rhegminornis (Early Miocene of Bell, USA)
    • †Proagriocharis (Kimball Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of Lime Creek, USA)
    • †Chauvireria (Late Pliocene of Varshets, Bulgaria)
    • †Palaeocryptonyx (Late Pliocene of SW Europe)
    • †Miogallus
    • †Miophasianus
    • †Palaeoperdix
    • †Pliogallus
    • †Plioperdix
    • Placement unresolved
      • "Tympanuchus" stirtoni (Early Miocene)
      • Tetraoninae gen. et sp. indet. (Sajóvölgyi Middle Miocene of Mátraszõlõs, Hungary)
      • Meleagridae gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene of Westmoreland County, USA)
      • "Tympanuchus" lulli (Pleistocene? of New Jersey)
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
    • Additional prehistoric species of extant genera
      • Bambusicola sp. (Late Miocene of China)
      • Bonasa praebonasia
      • Lagopus atavus (Late Pliocene)
      • Lagopus balcanicus (Late Pliocene of Varshets, Bulgaria)
      • Phasianus sp. (Late Miocene of China)
      • Tetrao partium (Late Pliocene - Early Pleistocene)
      • Tetrao praeurogallus (Early Pleistocene)
      • Tetrao conjugens
      • Tetrao macropus
      • Tetrao rhodopensis
      • Tetrastes dalianensis (Pleistocene of Talien, China)
      • Prehistoric subspecies of extant species
  • Odontophoridae - New World Quails
    • †Nanortyx (Cypress Hills Early Oligocene of North Calf Creek, Canada)
    • †Miortyx (Rosebud Early Miocene of Flint Hill, USA)
    • †Neortyx (Early Pleistocene of Reddick, USA)
    • Placement unresolved
      • †Odontophoridae gen. et sp. indet. KUVP 9393 (White River Early/middle Oligocene of Logan County, USA)
    • Prehistoric species of extant genera
      • Cyrtonyx cooki (Late Miocene? of Upper Sheep Creek, USA)
      • Callipepla? shotwelli (Middle Pliocene of McKay Reservoir, USA) - formerly Lophortyx
      • Colinus hibbardi (Rexroad Late Pliocene of Rexroad, USA)
      • Colinus sp. (Late Pliocene of Benson, USA)
      • Colinus suilium (Early Pleistocene of SE USA)
      • Dendrortyx? sp. (Late Pleistocene of San Josecito Cavern, Mexico)

Charadriiformes

Gulls, auks, shorebirds

  • Basal and unresolved taxa
    • †Charadriiformes gen. et sp. indet. (Late Cretaceous) - burhinid? basal?
    • †"Morsoravis" (Late Paleocene/Early Eocene) - a nomen nudum?
    • †Jiliniornis (middle Eocene) - charadriid?
    • †Boutersemia (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, USA) - 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)
    • Placement unresolved
      • Scolopacidae gen. et sp. indet. (Middle - Late Miocene)
      • Scolopacidae gen. et sp. indet. (Early Pliocene)
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
      • Limosa (Late Eocene? - Recent)
      • Tringa (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene? - Recent) - includes Totanus
      • Gallinago (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene - Recent)
      • Scolopax (Early/Middle Pliocene? - Recent)
      • Phalaropus (Middle Pliocene - Recent)
      • Actitis (Late Pliocene - Recent)
      • Numenius (Late Pleistocene - Recent) - includes Palnumenius
  • Jacanidae - Jacanas
    • †Nupharanassa (Early Oligocene)
    • †Janipes
    • Prehistoric species of extant genera
      • †Jacana farrandi
  • Laridae - Gulls
    • †Laridae gen. et sp. indet. (Early Oligocene)
    • †Laricola (Late Oligocene/Early Miocene) - larid? Formerly "Larus" elegans and "L." totanoides
    • †Gaviota (Middle/Late Miocene)
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record'
      • Larus (Middle Miocene - Recent)
  • Alcidae - Auks
    • †Hydrotherikornis (Late Eocene of Oregon, USA)
    • †Petralca (Early ?- Late Oligocene of Austria)
    • †Miocepphus (Middle Miocene of CE USA)
    • †Alcodes (Late Miocene of Orange County, USA)
    • †Praemancalla (Late Miocene - Early Pliocene of Orange County, USA)
    • †Mancalla (Late Miocene - Early Pleistocene of W North America)
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
  • Stercorariidae - Skuas and jaegers
    • Prehistoric species of extant genera
      • Stercorarius sp. (Middle Miocene)
      • Stercorarius shufeldti (Fossil Lake Middle Pleistocene of WC USA)
      • Prehistoric subspecies of extant species
  • Glareolidae - Pratincoles
    • †Paractiornis (Agate Fossil Beds Early Miocene of Sioux County, USA)
    • †Mioglareola (Early Miocene of Czechia) - formerly "Larus" dolnicensis
    • Prehistoric species of extant genera
      • Glareola neogena
  • Burhinidae - Thick-knees
    • Prehistoric species of extant genera
      • Burhinus lucorum (Early Miocene)
      • Burhinus aquilonaris
      • Burhinus sp. (Cuba, West Indies)
      • Burhinus sp. (Late Pleistocene of Las Higueruelas, Spain)
      • Prehistoric subspecies of extant species
  • Charadriidae - Plovers
    • †Limicolavis (John Day Early Miocene of Malheur County, USA)
    • †Viator (Late Pleistocene of Talara, Peru) - may be synonym of Vanellus (or Belanopteryx if valid)
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
      • Vanellus (Middle/Late Pleistocene - Recent) - includes Belanopteryx
    • Additional prehistoric species of extant genera
      • Oreopholus orcesi
  • Recurvirostridae - Avocets
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
    • Additional prehistoric species of extant genera
      • Recurvirostra sanctaeneboulae

Gastornithiformes (extinct)

Gastornis

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
  • 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
      • Gallinula (Late Oligocene - Recent)
      • Rallus (Middle Miocene - Recent) - includes Epirallus
      • Porzana (Middle? Miocene - Recent)
      • Fulica (Early Pliocene - Recent)
    • Additional prehistoric species of extant genera
      • Coturnicops avita (Glenns Ferry Late Pliocene of Hagerman, USA)
      • Laterallus insignis (Rexroad Late Pliocene of Rexroad, USA)
      • Laterallus sp. (Late Pliocene of Macasphalt Shell Pit, USA)
  • †Eogruidae
    • Eogrus (Irdin Manha Middle/Late Eocene - Tung Gur Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of Mongolia)
    • Sonogrus (Ergilin Dzo Late Eocene/Early Oligocene of Khor Dzan, Mongolia)
  • †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, USA)
    • Extant genera present in the fossil record
      • Balearica (Early Miocene - Recent) - includes Basityto and Grus excelsa/Ornithocnemis excelsus
      • Grus (Middle/Late Miocene - Recent)
  • †Messelornithidae - Messel-birds
    • Itardiornis
    • Messelornis
  • †Salmilidae
    • Salmila
  • †Ameghinornithidae
    • Strigogyps - probably includes Aenigmavis and Ameghinornis
  • †Geranoididae
    • Eogeranoides (Willwood Early Eocene of Foster Gulch, USA)
    • Geranoides (Willwood Early Eocene of South Elk Creek, USA)
    • Palaeophasianus (Willwood Early Eocene of Bighorn County, USA)
    • Paragrus (Early Eocene of WC USA)
    • Geranodornis (Bridger middle Eocene of Church Buttes, USA)
  • †Bathornithidae
    • Eutreptornis (Uinta Late Eocene of Ouray Agency, USA)
    • Neocathartes (Late Eocene)
    • Palaeogyps (Early Oligocene of WC North America)
    • Bathornithidae gen. nov. (Early - middle Oligocene of C USA) - formerly Bathornis celeripes and B. cursor
    • Paracrax (Early/middle Oligocene of Gerry's Ranch, USA - Brule Late Oligocene of South Dakota, USA) - includes Oligocorax/Phalacrocorax mediterraneus
    • Bathornis (Early Oligocene - Early Miocene of C USA)
Paraphysornis

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

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

Ciconiiformes

The diverse group that includes storks, herons and New World vultures.

  • Placement unresolved
    • †Proplegardis (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
  • Scopidae - Hammerkop
    • Prehistoric species of extant genera