There are 27 orders of birds. We are listing them alphabetically for easy reference. There is another index available by common name that will help you find the correct order and family.

Order

 Family Common Name Number Species Distribution of Family General characteristics of Order

Anseriformes

Anatidae Ducks, geese, swans 147 Worldwide except Antarctica Marsh-dwelling waders which eat vegetation and nest on the ground
Anhimidae Screamers 3 South America

Apodiformes

Apodidae Swifts 90 Worldwide Aerial birds that depend on their flying skills for food. Swifts are insectivorous and migratory.

Hummingbirds feed on nectar supplemented with insects.
Hemiprocnidae Crested Swifts 3 South-east Asia
Trochilidae Hummingbirds 320 Americas

Aptergiformes -

 Apterygidae Kiwis 3 New Zealand Small-eyed flightless, tailless birds with vestigial wings.

Caprimulgiformes

 Aegothelidae Owlet-Nightjars 8 South-east Asia, Australia  Generally insectivorous. Some hibernate and many are migratory.
Caprimulgidae Nightjars or Goatsuckers 70 Open habitats in temperate or tropical regions
Podargidae Frogmouths 12 South-east Asia, Australia
Nyctibiidae Potoos 5 South America
Steatornithidae Oilbird 1 South America

Casuariiformes

Casuariidae Cassowaries 3 Australia Large, flightless, running birds

 

 Dromaiidae Emu 1 Australia

Charadriiformes

Alcidae Auks 22 Northern Hemisphere Diverse order of mostly small to medium-sized shorebirds and seabirds.
 Burhinidae Stonecurlews or Thick-knees 9 All Continents
Charadriidae Plovers, Lapwings 62 Worldwide
Chionididae Sheathbills 2 Antarctica
Dromadidae Crab Plover 1 Indian Ocean Coastlines
Glareolidae Pratincoles, Coursers 17 Eurasia, Africa, Australia
Haematropodidae Oystercatchers 6 All Continents
Jacanidae Jacanas or Lily-trotters 7 Americas, Africa, South-east Asia, North Australia
Laridae Gulls 45 Worldwide
Phalaropodidae Phalaropes 3 North Eurasia, North America
Recurvirostridae Avocets, Stilts 7 All Continents
Rostratulidae Painted Snipe 2 South America, South-east Asia, Australia
Rynchopidae Skimmers 3 Tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, Eastern North America, Central and South America
Scolopacidae Sandpipers 81 All Continents
Sternidae Terns, Noddies 42 Worldwide
Stercorariidae Skuas, jaegers 6 Worldwide
Trinocoridae Seed Snipe 4 South America

Ciconiiformes

  Ardeidae Herons, bitterns 60 Worldwide except North America and Eurasia Upright, wading birds with specialized bills. Their toes are sometimes webbed.
Balaenicipitidae Whale-headed stork 1 Africa
Ciconidae Storks 17 North America, Eurasia
Phoenicopteridae Flamingos 5 Tropical Zones
Scopidae Hammerkop 1 Southwest Arabia, Sub-saharan Africa
Threskiornithidae Spoonbills, ibises 31 Worldwide

Coliiformes

  Colidae Mousebirds or colies 6 Sub-saharan Africa These acrobatic, highly social birds live in scrub and bushes, feeding on fruit and vegetation.

Columbiformes

  Columbidae Pigeons, Doves 300 Worldwide except Antarctica Birds with thick, heavy plumage
Pteroclididae Sandgrouse 16 Africa, Southern Europe, Asia

Coraciiformes

  Alcedinidae Kingfishers 87 Worldwide The three anterior toes on these birds are united, an adaptation for perching and tree-climbing.
Buceotidae Hornbills 45 Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia
Coraciidae Rollers 16 Africa, Eurasia, Australia
Leptosomatidae Cuckoo-roller 1 Madagascar, Comoros Islands
Meropidae Bee-eater 24 Africa, Eurasia, Australia
Momotidae Motmots 8 South America
Phoemiculidae Woodhoopoes 6 Sub-Saharan Africa
Todidae Todies 5 West Indies
Upupidae Hoopoe 1 Africa, Eurasia

Cuculiformes

 Cuculidae Cuckoos, anis, roadrunner, coucals 128 Worldwide Diverse order of arboreal and terrestrial birds. The cuckoos are brood parasites, relying on other species to raise their young.
Musophagidae Turacos 22 Sub-Saharan Africa
Opisthocomidae Hoatzin 1 South America

Falconiformes.

  Acciptridae Kites, Old World vultures, harriers, hawks, eagles. Buzzards 217 Worldwide except Antarctica Birds of prey or raptors. Expert fliers, they have hooked beaks, and talons.
Cathartidae Vultures (New World) 7 Americas
Falconidae Falcons, caracaras 60 Worldwide except Antarctica
Pandionidae Osprey 1 Worldwide
Sagittariidae Secretary-bird 1 Sub-Saharan Africa

Galliformes

 Cracidae Guans, curassows, chachalacas 42 Americas These gamebirds have short, rounded wings ill-adpted for sustained flight.
Megapodidae Megapods 9 East Indies, Malaysia, New Guinea, Australia
Meleagrididae Turkeys 2 North and South America
Numididae Guineafowl 7 Sub-Saharan Africa
Phasianidae Pheasants, quail, partridge 180 Worldwide, except North Eurasia and South America
Tetraonidae Grouse 16 Eurasia, America

Gaviiformes

 Gavidae Divers or loons 4 North America, Eurasia Black and brown diving birds that breed on inland lakes and nest on the ground.

Gruiformes -.

  Aramidae Limpkin 1 Americas Diverse order of ground-feeding birds, generally with brown or gray plumage.
Cariamidae Seriemas 2 South America
Eurypygidae Sunbittern 1 South America
Gruidae Cranes 15 All continents except South America and Antarctica
Heliornithidae Finfoots 3 Tropical America, tropical Africa and Southeast Asia
Mesitornithidae Mesites 3 Madagascar
Otididae Bustards 22 Africa, Eurasia, Australia
Perdionomidae Plains wanderer or collared hemipode 1 Australia
Psophiidae Trumpeters 3 South America
Rallidae Rails 129 Worldwide
Rhynochetidae Kagu 1 New Caledonia
Turnicidae Buttonquails, hemipodes 16 Sub-saharan Africa, Mediterranean China, Philippines, Australia

Passeriformes

 Aegithalidae Long-tailed tits 7 Eurasia, North America Around 5,200 species, well over half of all birds belong to this order of perching birds. This order includes the familiar garden birds.
Alaudidae Larks 75 All continents
Artamidae Wood swallows 10 Southeast Asia, Australia
Atrichornithidae Scrub-birds 2 West and east Australia
Bombycillidae Waxwings, Siky flycatchers 8 North Eurasia, South America
Callaeidae New Zealand wattlebirds 3 New Zealand
Campephagidae Cuckoo-shrikes 72 Africa, Australia, South and east Asia
Certhidae Holarctic Treecreepers 5 Eurasia, Africa, North America
Cinclidae Dippers 5 North Africa, Eurasia, West America
Climacteridae Australasian Treecreepers 8 Australia, New Guinea
Conopophagidae Gnateaters 9 South America
Corcoracidae Australian mudnesters 2 East Australia
Corvidae Crows, magpies, jays 113 Worldwide
Cotingidae Cotingas 65 South America
Cracticidae Bell magpies 9 New Guinea, Australia
Dendrocolaptidae Woodcreepers 48 South America
Dicaeidae Flowerpeckers 50 Southeast Asia, Australasia
Dicruridae Drongos 20 Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, North and East Australia
Dulidae Palmchat 1 South America
Emberizidae

Subfamilies follow

      
Cardinalinae Cardinal grosbeaks 37 South America
Catamblyrhynchinae Plush-capped finch 1 South America
Emberizinae Old world buntings, New world sparrows 281 Worldwide except Southeast Asia and Australasia
Icteridae American blackbirds 94 Americas
Parulidae Wood warblers 119 Americas
Tersininae Swallow tanager 1 South America
Thraupinae Tanagers, honeycreepers 233 Americas
Vireonidae Viereos, Pepper shrikes 43 Americas
Ephthianuridae Australian chats 5 Australia
Eurylaimidae Broadbills 14 Africa, Asia
Formicariidae Antbirds 230 South America
Fringillidae Subfamilies Follow      
Carduelinae Cardueline finches 122 Worldwide except Australia
Drepanidinae Hawaiian honeycreepers 23 Hawaiian Islands
Estrildidae Waxbills 124 Africa, South Asia, Australia
Fringillinae Fringilline finches 3 Eurasia, Canary Islands
Furnariidae Ovenbirds 220 Central and South America
Grallinidae Magpie larks 2 Australia
Hirundinidae Swallows, martins 74 Worldwide
Irenidae Leafbirds 14 South and east Asia
Laniidae Shrikes 69 North America, Africa, Eurasia
Meliphagidae Honeyeaters 169 Australasia, South Africa
Menuridae Lyrebirds 2 Southeast Australia
Mimidae Mockingbirds 30 Americas
Motacillidae Wagtails, pipits 54 Worldwide
Musciapidae: Subfamilies follow      
Acanthizinae Australian warvlers 65 Southeast Asia, Australasia
Malurinae Fairy-wrens 26 Australia, New Guinea
Monarchinae Monarch flycatchers 133 Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Australasia
Muscicapinae Flycatchers 155 Australasia
Orthonychinae Longrunners 20 Southeast Asia, Australia
Pachycephalinae Thickheads 46 Southeast Asia, Australasia
Paradoxornithinae Parrotbills 19 Asia, Europe
Prunellidae Accentors 13 North Africa, Eurasia, South Asia
Rhipidurinae Fantail flycatchers 39 Southeast Asia. Australasia
Sylviinae Warblers 350 Worldwide
Timaliinae Babblers 252 Africa, South Asia, Australasia, North America
Turdinae Thrushes 305 Worldwide
Nectariniidae Sunbirds, Spiderhunters 116 Old World tropics, Africa to Australia
Oriolidae Orioles, figbirds 28 Africa, Eurasia, Australia
Oxyruncidae Sharpbill 1 South America
Paradisaeidae Birds of paradise 43 New Guinea, Australia
Pardalotidae Pardalotes or Diamond eyes 5 Australia
Paridae Tits 46 Africa, Eurasia, North America
Philepittidae Sunbird astites 4 Madagascar
Phytotomidae Plantcutters 3 South America
Pipridae Manakins 53 South America
Pittidae Pittas 29 Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia
Ploceidae Subfamilies follow      
Bubalornithinae Buffalo weavers 3 Sub-Saharan Africa
Passerinae Sparrow weavers, sparrows 37 Africa, Eurasia
Ploceinae True weavers 95 Africa, South Asia
Viduinae Widow birds 10 Sub-Saharan Africa
Ptilonorhynchidae Bowerbirds 18 New Guinea, Australia
Pycnonotidae Bulbuls 120 South Asia, Africa
Remizidae Penduline tits 10 Africa, Eurasia, North America
Rhabdornithidae Philippine Treecreepers 2 Philippines
Rhinocryptidae Tapaculos 29 South America
Sittidae Nuthatches 21 North America, Eurasia, North Africa, Australia
Sturnidae Starlings 106 Africa, Eurasia, Australia, New Zealand
Troglodytidae Wrens 60 Northwest Africa, Eurasia, North and South America
Tyrannidae Tyrant flycatchers 375 Americas
Xenicidae New Zealand Wrens 4 New Zealand
Zosteropidae White-eyes 85 Sub-Saharan Africa, South and East Asia, Australasia

Pelecaniformes

  Anhingidae Darters 4 North and South America, Africa, Asia, Australasia Diverse order of diving birds, found in marine and freshwater coastal habitats worldwide.
Fregatidae Frigatebirds 5 Tropical oceans
Pelecanidae Pelicans 7 All continents
Phaethontidae Tropicbirds 3 Tropical Oceans
Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants 29 Worldwide
Prionopidae Helmet shrikes 13 Madagascar, Comoros
Sulidae Gannets, boobies 9 North Atlantic, South Africa, Australasia

Piciformes

 Bucconidae Puffbirds 30 South America These birds are zygodactylous with two toes pointing forward and two backward, colorful and arboreal.
Capitonidae Barbets 76 America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia
Galbulidae Jacamars 15 South America
Indicatoridae Honeyguides 15 Sub-Saharan Africa, Himalayas, South-east Asia
Piciadae Woodpeckers, piculets, wrynecks 200 Worldwide
Ramphastidae Toucans 40 South America

Podicipediformes

  Podicipedidae Grebes 20 Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America Large gray and brown short-winged diving birds with partly webbed feet. They eat fish and nest on the water.

Procellariiformes

Diomedeidae Albatrosses 14 Africa, Asia Generally long-winged, partly web-toed seabirds which feed on fish and nest on isolated islands and cliffs.
Hydrobatidae Storm petrels 20 Australia
Pelecanoididae Diving petrels 4 Antarctica
Procellariidae Petrels, fulmars, shearwaters 55 North and South America

Psittaciformes

 Psittacidae Parrots, lories, cockatoos, lovebirds, macaws, budgerigars 330 All continents except Antaractica The parrots have zygodactyl toes: two pointing forward and two backward, enabling them to climb and hold objects. Often colorful, they nest in trees and on ledges and have a largely vegetarian diet.

Rheiformes

 Rheidae Rheas 2 South America Swift-running, flightless ground-nesting birds which feed on vegetarian and insects.

Sphenisciformes

  Spheniscidae Penguins 16 Antarctica, Australia, Africa, South America Black and white, flightless aquatic birds.

Strigiformes

 Strigidae Owls 124 Worldwide except Antarctica Nocturnal raptors found in grassland or woodland habitats.
Tytonidae Barn owls 10 Worldwide except central Asia, New Zealand and Antarctica

Struthioniformes

  Struthionidae Ostrich 1 Africa The ostrich is the world's largest living bird.

Tinamiformes

  Tinamidae Tinamous 45 South and Central America Terrestrial, ground-nesting birds that can fly but do so rarely.

Trogoniformes

  Trogonidae Trogons 39 America, Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa  Colorful, sedentary, arboreal birds that feed on fruit and insects.