Biota

Exploring Nature

Section 2 — Flamingos to Pigeons

This section follows the AviList phylogenetic sequence, grouping together several early‑branching Neoaves lineages. Although these Orders look very different in ecology and appearance — from flamingos and grebes to turacos, bustards, cuckoos, mesites, sandgrouse, and finally pigeons and doves — they share deeper evolutionary roots that place them near one another in the modern avian tree of life.

Together, they represent a set of distinct clades that diverged early in Neoavian evolution, before the major radiations that produced the large landbird and waterbird groups in later sections. The result is an eclectic mix of wetland specialists, terrestrial foragers, and arboreal frugivores that bridge the transition between aquatic lineages and the more derived landbird assemblages that follow.

Orders included:

  • Phoenicopteriformes — Flamingos
  • Podicipediformes — Grebes
  • Musophagiformes — Turacos
  • Otidiformes — Bustards
  • Cuculiformes — Cuckoos, Anis, and Roadrunners
  • Mesitornithiformes — Mesites
  • Pterocliformes — Sandgrouse
  • Columbiformes — Pigeons and Doves

Species I’ve Seen in This Section

Listed below by Order, Family, and species, with notes on where and when each was recorded.

Order: Phoenicopteriformes

Flamingos

Graceful, long‑legged wading birds found in saline or alkaline wetlands across the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Flamingos are known for their pink plumage, specialised filter‑feeding bills, and highly social behaviour, gathering in large flocks to feed, display, and breed.

American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
— Trinidad 2019

Families recorded: expand each to view species.

Family: Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos) – 1
  1. American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019

Order: Podicipediformes

Grebes

Small to medium‑sized diving birds found on lakes, ponds, and sheltered wetlands worldwide. Grebes are superb underwater swimmers with lobed toes, dense waterproof plumage, and slender bills adapted for catching fish and aquatic invertebrates. They are known for elaborate courtship displays and for carrying their young on their backs.

Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
— Texas 2024

Pied-billed grebe

Families recorded: expand each to view species.

Family: Podicipedidae (Grebes) – 11
  1. Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) — Yellowstone 2017
  2. Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) — Yellowstone 2017; Speyside & Orkney 2017
  3. Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
  4. Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) — Norway & Finland 2018
  5. Great Grebe (Podiceps major) — Antarctica 2021
  6. Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) — Yellowstone 2017
  7. White-tufted Grebe (Podiceps rolland) — Buenos Aires 2021
  8. Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) — Buenos Aires 2021; Texas 2024
  9. New Zealand Grebe (Dabchick) (Poliocephalus rufopectus) — New Zealand 2023
  10. Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus) — Texas 2024
  11. Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) — Various (Widespread UK Species)

Order: Otidiformes

Bustards

Large, ground‑dwelling birds of open grasslands and semi‑arid regions across Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Bustards are strong walkers with powerful legs and are known for their impressive size, cryptic plumage, and elaborate male display rituals.

Great Bustard (Otis tarda)
— Extremadura 2016

Great Bustard, Otis tarda

Families recorded: expand each to view species.

Family: Otididae (Bustards) – 2
  • Great Bustard (Otis tarda) — Spain 2016
  • Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) — Spain 2016

Order: Cuculiformes

Cuckoos

Slender, often secretive birds found worldwide, especially in woodlands and scrub. Many species are known for their distinctive calls and, in the case of some Old World cuckoos, their specialised brood‑parasitic breeding strategy.

Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
— Thursley Common, UK 2017

Families recorded: expand each to view species.

Family: Cuculidae (Cuckoos) – 15
  1. Shining Bronze Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus) — New Zealand 2023
  2. Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) — Spain 2016
  3. Little Cuckoo (Coccycua minuta) — Amazon 2024
  4. Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) — Texas 2024
  5. Mangrove Cuckoo (Coccyzus minor) — Costa Rica 2015
  6. Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Amazon 2024
  7. Greater Ani (Crotophaga major) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Amazon 2024
  8. Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris) — Costa Rica 2015
  9. Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
  10. Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) — Bhutan & India 2020
  11. Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) — Texas 2024
  12. Green-billed Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus tristis) — Bhutan & India 2020
  13. Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Amazon 2024
  14. Striped Cuckoo (Tapera naevia) — Amazon 2024
  15. Long-tailed Cuckoo (Urodynamis taitensis) — New Zealand 2023

Order: Pterocliformes

Sandgrouse

Compact, fast‑flying birds of arid and semi‑arid regions across Africa, Europe, and Asia. Sandgrouse make long daily flights to water and are known for the males’ specialised belly feathers that soak up water for their chicks.

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata)
— AI generated illustration

Families recorded: expand each to view species.

Family: Pteroclidae (Sandgrouse) – 2
  1. Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata) — Spain 2016
  2. Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) — Spain 2016

Order: Columbiformes

Pigeons and Doves

Medium‑sized birds found worldwide, recognised for their compact bodies, small heads, and strong, fast flight. Many species are highly adaptable, while others are specialised forest or island dwellers with soft cooing calls.

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
— Texas 2024

White-winged Dove - Zenaida asiatica

Families recorded: expand each to view species.

Family: Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) – 31
  1. Common Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica) — Bhutan & India 2020
  2. Speckled Wood Pigeon (Columba hodgsonii) — Bhutan & India 2020
  3. Snow Pigeon (Columba leuconota) — Bhutan & India 2020
  4. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
  5. Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
  6. Inca Dove (Columbina inca) — Texas 2024
  7. Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024; Amazon 2024
  8. Ruddy Ground Dove (Columbina talpacoti) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Amazon 2024
  9. Mountain Imperial Pigeon (Ducula badia) — Bhutan & India 2020
  10. New Zealand Pigeon (Kererū) (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) — New Zealand 2023
  11. Grey-chested Dove (Leptotila cassinii) — Costa Rica 2015
  12. White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024; Amazon 2024
  13. Barred Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia unchall) — Bhutan & India 2020
  14. Pale-vented Pigeon (Patagioenas cayennensis) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Amazon 2024
  15. Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata) — Costa Rica 2015
  16. Red-billed Pigeon (Patagioenas flavirostris) — Costa Rica 2015
  17. Short-billed Pigeon (Patagioenas nigrirostris) — Costa Rica 2015
  18. Picazuro Pigeon (Patagioenas picazuro) — Buenos Aires 2021
  19. Plumbeous Pigeon (Patagioenas plumbea) — Amazon 2024
  20. Scaled Pigeon (Patagioenas speciosa) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019
  21. Scaly-naped Pigeon (Patagioenas squamosa) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019
  22. Ruddy Pigeon (Patagioenas subvinacea) — Costa Rica 2015; Amazon 2024
  23. Inca Dove (Scardafella inca) — Costa Rica 2015
  24. Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis) — Bhutan & India 2020
  25. Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) — Various (Widespread UK Species)
  26. Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis) — Bhutan & India 2020
  27. Barbary Dove (Streptopelia risoria) — New Zealand 2023
  28. European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) — Spain 2016
  29. White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) — Costa Rica 2015; Texas 2024
  30. Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Buenos Aires 2021
  31. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) — Texas 2024