THE TREE OF BIRDS

Orders of Living Birds

Every one of the world’s ~11,000 bird species belongs to one of these orders. They range from the Passeriformes, with more than half of all species, to orders containing a single unique bird.

Orders listed

~250Families worldwide

~11,000Living species

~60%Are perching birds

Species counts are approximate and follow the IOC World Bird List; classification is revised as new genetic research is published.