Many avian orders derive their names from Latin or Greek words referring to representative birds, anatomical traits, or characteristic behaviors. Understanding these roots helps clarify the meaning behind scientific names and reveals how early naturalists classified birds.

Latin and Greek Roots in Avian Order Names

Passeriformes

• passer (Latin) — sparrow
  Meaning: “sparrow‑shaped birds,” referring to small perching birds.

Piciformes

• πῖκος (Greek) — woodpecker
  Meaning: Birds with traits associated with woodpeckers.

Psittaciformes

• ψιττακός (Greek) — parrot
  Meaning: Parrot‑like birds.

Columbiformes

• columba (Latin) — pigeon, dove
  Meaning: Pigeon‑like birds.

Galliformes

• gallus (Latin) — cock, rooster
  Meaning: Fowl‑like birds.

Gruiformes

• grus (Latin) — crane
  Meaning: Crane‑like birds.

Anseriformes

• anser (Latin) — goose
  Meaning: Goose‑like waterfowl.

Strigiformes

• στρίξ (Greek) — owl
  Meaning: Owl‑like birds.

Ciconiiformes

• ciconia (Latin) — stork
  Meaning: Stork‑like birds.

Struthioniformes

• struthio (Latin) — ostrich
  Meaning: Ostrich‑like birds.

Charadriiformes

• χαραδριός (Greek) — a bird living near ravines
  Meaning: Birds associated with shorelines and ravines.

Pelecaniformes

• πελεκάν (Greek) — pelican
  Meaning: Pelican‑like birds.

Apodiformes

• ἄπους (Greek) — “without feet,” referring to swifts’ tiny legs
  Meaning: Birds with extremely reduced feet.

Trogoniformes

• τρογών (Greek) — “gnawer,” referring to nesting behavior
  Meaning: Birds that excavate or gnaw nest cavities.

Coraciiformes

• κορακίος (Greek) — raven‑like
  Meaning: Birds with crow‑like traits.

Gaviiformes

• γαύιον (Greek) — sea bird
  Meaning: Diving sea birds.

Procellariiformes

• προκέλλω (Greek) — “to drive forward,” referring to storm winds
  Meaning: Birds associated with stormy seas.

Sphenisciformes

• σφήν (Greek) — wedge
  Meaning: Refers to the wedge‑shaped body of penguins.

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Additional Latin Roots Found in Ornithology

These roots appear in bird names, anatomical terms, or descriptive labels:

• carus — fall
• colis / caulis — stalk
• sphaera — sphere
• podium — balcony
• chara — root
• procello — storm
• caprimulgus — “goat‑milker,” referring to the nightjar (Caprimulgidae)

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Greek Roots Found in Ornithology

• πτερόν — feather, wing
  Modern Greek: φτερό

• ὄρνις / ὀρνίθος — bird
  Modern Greek: πουλί (the ancient root survives only in compounds: ὀρνιθο‑)

• κέρας / κέρατος — horn
  Modern Greek: κέρατο

• γλῶσσα — tongue
  Modern Greek: γλώσσα

• φῶς — light
  Modern Greek: φως

• μέλας / μελαν‑ — black
  Modern Greek: μαύρος (root survives in compounds: μελαν‑)

• λευκός / λευκ‑ — white
  Modern Greek: λευκός

• ξανθός / ξανθ‑ — yellow / blond
  Modern Greek: ξανθός

• ἐρυθρός / ἐρυθρ‑ — red
  Modern Greek: κόκκινος (root survives in compounds: ερυθρ‑)

• κύανος / κυαν‑ — blue
  Modern Greek: κυανός / μπλε (root survives in compounds: κυαν‑)

• βραχύς / βραχυ‑ — short
  Modern Greek: κοντός (root survives in compounds: βραχυ‑)

• μακρός / μακρο‑ — long, large
  Modern Greek: μακρύς

• ταχύς / ταχυ‑ — fast
  Modern Greek: γρήγορος (root survives in compounds: ταχυ‑)

• βραδύς / βραδυ‑ — slow
  Modern Greek: αργός (root survives in compounds: βραδυ‑)