Orders of Birds
Modern avian taxonomy recognizes 46 orders, with Passeriformes being the largest (over 6,700 species). Updated according to AviList 2025–2026, the unified global bird taxonomy.
AviList recognizes 46 orders and 11,131 species worldwide.
Source: AviList Global Bird Taxonomy 2025–2026
List of Bird Orders
| Order | Representative Birds | Species Count |
|---|---|---|
| Struthioniformes | ostriches | 2 |
| Rheiformes | rheas | 2 |
| Casuariiformes | cassowaries, emus | 4 |
| Apterygiformes | kiwis | 5 |
| Tinamiformes | tinamous | 47 |
| Galliformes | chickens, pheasants, quail | 368 |
| Anseriformes | ducks, geese, swans | 180 |
| Phoenicopteriformes | flamingos | 6 |
| Podicipediformes | grebes | 23 |
| Columbiformes | pigeons, doves | 356 |
| Cuculiformes | cuckoos, roadrunners | 149 |
| Caprimulgiformes | nightjars | 121 |
| Apodiformes | swifts, hummingbirds | 480 |
| Gruiformes | cranes, rails | 214 |
| Otidiformes | bustards | 26 |
| Musophagiformes | turacos | 23 |
| Opisthocomiformes | hoatzin | 1 |
| Charadriiformes | shorebirds, gulls, terns | 392 |
| Phaethontiformes | tropicbirds | 3 |
| Gaviiformes | loons | 5 |
| Sphenisciformes | penguins | 18 |
| Procellariiformes | albatrosses, petrels | 147 |
| Ciconiiformes | storks | 20 |
| Suliformes | cormorants, boobies | 60 |
| Pelecaniformes | pelicans, herons, ibises | 118 |
| Accipitriformes | hawks, eagles, vultures | 265 |
| Strigiformes | owls | 244 |
| Coliiformes | mousebirds | 6 |
| Leptosomiformes | cuckoo‑roller | 1 |
| Trogoniformes | trogons | 43 |
| Bucerotiformes | hornbills, hoopoes | 74 |
| Coraciiformes | kingfishers, rollers | 158 |
| Piciformes | woodpeckers, toucans | 449 |
| Cariamiformes | seriemas | 2 |
| Falconiformes | falcons | 67 |
| Psittaciformes | parrots | 406 |
| Passeriformes | perching birds (songbirds) | 6,705 |
| Eurypygiformes | sunbittern, kagu | 2 |
| Mesitornithiformes | mesites | 3 |
| Pterocliformes | sandgrouse | 16 |
| Heliiornithiformes | finfoots | 3 |
| Cathartiformes | New World vultures | 7 |
| Rheiformes | rheas | 2 |
| Struthioniformes | ostriches | 2 |
| Aegotheliformes | owlet‑nightjars | 10 |
| Galbuliformes | jacamars, puffbirds | 72 |