Birds are characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws and a strong lightweight skeleton who lay eggs with hard shells. Most can fly but some, like the ostrich, kiwis, rheas, and cassowaries, have lost that ability. Most of these birds have long legs adapted for running. Penguins are also flightless but their body shape has adapted to swimming.

As I started looking at bird classification I quickly discovered there is not a 100 percent agreement.  So I did a comparison of the four major world lists.

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The total number of species varies between 11,126, according to BirdLife, and 10,175, according to Howard and Moore.  After working with the lists for a while I decided to go with BirdLife (November 2018) for my own listing as this was the easiest list to use. There is now a new list (v4) but my list has not been updated to reflect any changes.

GBIF has a browsable dataset for all birds.

Orders with families according to Birdlife

According to the 2018 v3 BirdLife list, there are 36 Orders with 242 Families and 10,943 Species (excluding extinct species).  Click to expand and show the families within each order. I will link to the orders where I have examples (to de done)

• ACCIPITRIFORMES (3 Families with 250 Species)
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  • Accipitridae (Hawks, eagles – 248 Species)
  • Pandionidae (Osprey – 1 Species)
  • Sagittariidae (Secretarybird – 1 Species)
• ANSERIFORMES (3 Families with 169 Species)
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  • Anatidae (Ducks, geese, swans – 165 Species)
  • Anhimidae (Screamers – 3 Species)
  • Anseranatidae (Magpie Goose – 1 Species)
• BUCEROTIFORMES (3 Families with 72 Species)
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  • Bucerotidae (Hornbills – 62 Species)
  • Phoeniculidae (Woodhoopoes – 8 Species)
  • Upupidae (Hoopoes – 2 Species)
• CAPRIMULGIFORMES (8 Families with 592 Species)
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  • Aegothelidae (Owlet-nightjars – 10 Species)
  • Apodidae (Swifts – 96 Species)
  • Caprimulgidae (Nightjars – 96 Species)
  • Hemiprocnidae (Treeswifts – 4 Species)
  • Nyctibiidae (Potoos – 7 Species)
  • Podargidae (Frogmouths – 14 Species)
  • Steatornithidae (Oilbird – 1 Species)
  • Trochilidae (Hummingbirds – 364 Species)
• CARIAMIFORMES (1 Family with 2 Species)
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  • Cariamidae (Seriemas – 2 Species)
• CATHARTIFORMES (1 Family with 7 Species)
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  • Cathartidae (New World vultures – 7 Species)
• CHARADRIIFORMES – (19 Families with 374 Species)
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  • Alcidae (Auks – 24 Species)
  • Burhinidae (Thick-knees – 10 Species)
  • Charadriidae (Plovers – 71 Species)
  • Chionidae (Sheathbills – 2 Species)
  • Dromadidae (Crab-plover – 1 Species)
  • Glareolidae (Coursers, pratincoles – 17 Species)
  • Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers – 9 Species)
  • Ibidorhynchidae (Ibisbill – 1 Species)
  • Jacanidae (Jacanas – 8 Species)
  • Laridae (Gulls, terns, skimmers – 100 Species)
  • Pedionomidae (Plains-wanderer – 1 Species)
  • Pluvianellidae (Magellanic Plover – 1 Species)
  • Pluvianidae (Egyptian Plover – 1 Species)
  • Recurvirostridae (Avocets, stilts – 7 Species)
  • Rostratulidae (Painted-snipes – 3 Species)
  • Scolopacidae (Sandpipers, snipes, phalaropes – 90 Species)
  • Stercorariidae (Skuas – 7 Species)
  • Thinocoridae (Seedsnipes – 4 Species)
  • Turnicidae (Buttonquails – 17 Species)
• CICONIIFORMES (1 Family with 20 Species)
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  • Ciconiidae (Storks – 20 Species)
• COLIIFORMES (1 Family with 6 Species)
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  • Coliidae (Mousebirds – 6 Species)
• COLUMBIFORMES (1 Family with 350 Species)
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  • Columbidae (Pigeons, doves – 350 Species)
• CORACIIFORMES (6 Families with 187 Species)
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  • Alcedinidae (Kingfishers – 119 Species)
  • Brachypteraciidae (Ground-rollers – 5 Species)
  • Coraciidae (Rollers – 13 Species)
  • Meropidae (Bee-eaters – 31 Species)
  • Momotidae (Motmots – 14 Species)
  • Todidae (Todies – 5 Species)
• CUCULIFORMES (1 Family with 149 Species)
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  • Cuculidae (Cuckoos – 149 Species)
• EURYPYGIFORMES (2 Families with 2 Species)
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  • Rhynochetidae (Kagu – 1 Species)
  • Eurypygidae (Sunbittern – 1 Species)
• FALCONIFORMES (1 Family with 64 Species)
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  • Falconidae (Falcons, caracaras – 64 Species)
• GALLIFORMES (5 Families with 306 Species)
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  • Cracidae (Guans, chachalacas, curassows – 55 Species)
  • Megapodiidae (Megapodes – 21 Species)
  • Numididae (Guineafowl – 8 Species)
  • Odontophoridae (New World quails – 35 Species)
  • Phasianidae (Pheasants, partridges, turkeys, grouse – 187 Species)
• GAVIIFORMES (1 Family with 5 Species)
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  • Gaviidae (Loons/divers – 5 Species)
• GRUIFORMES (5 Families with 167 Species)
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  • Aramidae (Limpkin – 1 Species)
  • Gruidae (Cranes – 15 Species)
  • Heliornithidae (Finfoots – 3 Species)
  • Psophiidae (Trumpeters – 6 Species)
  • Rallidae (Rails, gallinules, coots – 142 Species)
• LEPTOSOMIFORMES (1 Family with 1 Species)
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  • Leptosomidae (Cuckoo roller – 1 Species)
• MESITORNITHIFORMES (1 Family with 3 Species)
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  • Mesitornithidae (Mesites – 3 Species)
• MUSOPHAGIFORMES (1 Family with 24 Species)
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  • Musophagidae (Turacos – 24 Species)
• OPISTHOCOMIFORMES (1 Family with 1 Species)
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  • Opisthocomidae (Hoatzin – 1 Species)
• OTIDIFORMES (1 Family with 26 Species)
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  • Otididae (Bustards – 26 Species)
• PASSERIFORMES (137 Families with 6578 Species)
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  • Acanthisittidae (New Zealand wrens – 2 Species)
  • Acanthizidae (Thornbills – 64 Species)
  • Acrocephalidae (Reed-warblers – 53 Species)
  • Aegithalidae (Long-tailed tits – 14 Species)
  • Aegithinidae (Ioras – 4 Species)
  • Alaudidae (Larks – 92 Species)
  • Artamidae (Woodswallows and butcherbirds – 24 Species)
  • Atrichornithidae (Scrub-birds – 2 Species)
  • Bernieridae (Tetrakas – 11 Species)
  • Bombycillidae (Waxwings – 3 Species)
  • Buphagidae (Oxpeckers – 2 Species)
  • Calcariidae (Longspurs – 6 Species)
  • Callaeidae (New Zealand wattlebirds – 3 Species)
  • Calyptomenidae (African and green broadbills – 6 Species)
  • Calyptophilidae (Chat-tanagers – 2 Species)
  • Campephagidae (Cuckooshrikes – 99 Species)
  • Cardinalidae (Cardinals – 52 Species)
  • Certhiidae (Treecreepers – 9 Species)
  • Chaetopidae (Rockjumpers – 2 Species)
  • Chloropseidae (Leafbirds – 13 Species)
  • Cinclidae (Dippers – 5 Species)
  • Cinclosomatidae (Quail-thrushes and jewel-babblers – 11 Species)
  • Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and allies – 161 Species)
  • Climacteridae (Australasian treecreepers – 7 Species)
  • Cnemophilidae (Satinbirds – 4 Species)
  • Conopophagidae (Gnateaters – 12 Species)
  • Corcoracidae (Australian mudnesters – 2 Species)
  • Corvidae (Crows and jays – 130 Species)
  • Cotingidae (Cotingas – 67 Species)
  • Dasyornithidae (Bristlebirds – 3 Species)
  • Dicaeidae (Flowerpeckers – 54 Species)
  • Dicruridae (Drongos – 26 Species)
  • Donacobiidae (Donacobius – 1 Species)
  • Dulidae (Palmchat – 1 Species)
  • Elachuridae (Elachura – 1 Species)
  • Emberizidae (Old World buntings – 44 Species)
  • Estrildidae (Waxbills – 141 Species)
  • Eulacestomidae (Ploughbill – 1 Species)
  • Eupetidae (Rail-babbler – 1 Species)
  • Eurylaimidae (Typical broadbills – 12 Species)
  • Falcunculidae (Shrike-tits – 3 Species)
  • Formicariidae (Ground-antbirds – 12 Species)
  • Fringillidae (Finches – 205 Species)
  • Furnariidae (Ovenbirds – 330 Species)
  • Grallariidae (Antpittas – 55 Species)
  • Hirundinidae (Swallows and martins – 89 Species)
  • Hyliotidae (Hyliotas – 4 Species)
  • Hylocitreidae (Hylocitreas – 2 Species)
  • Hypocoliidae (Hypocolius – 1 Species)
  • Icteridae (New World blackbirds – 114 Species)
  • Ifritidae (Ifrit – 1 Species)
  • Irenidae (Fairy-bluebirds – 3 Species)
  • Laniidae (Shrikes – 33 Species)
  • Leiotrichidae (Laughingthrushes and allies – 148 Species)
  • Locustellidae (Grasshopper-warblers and grassbirds – 63 Species)
  • Machaerirhynchidae (Boatbills – 2 Species)
  • Macrosphenidae (Crombecs and allies – 21 Species)
  • Malaconotidae (Bush-shrikes – 48 Species)
  • Maluridae (Fairy-wrens – 28 Species)
  • Melampittidae (Melampittas – 2 Species)
  • Melanocharitidae (Berrypeckers and longbills – 11 Species)
  • Melanopareiidae (Crescentchests – 4 Species)
  • Meliphagidae (Honeyeaters – 191 Species)
  • Menuridae (Lyrebirds – 2 Species)
  • Mimidae (Mockingbirds and thrashers – 34 Species)
  • Mitrospingidae (Mitrospingid tanagers – 4 Species)
  • Modulatricidae (Spot-throat and allies – 3 Species) – 3 Species)
  • Mohouidae (Mohouas – 3 Species)
  • Monarchidae (Monarch-flycatchers – 104 Species)
  • Motacillidae (Pipits and wagtails – 66 Species)
  • Muscicapidae (Old World flycatchers and chats – 335 Species)
  • Nectariniidae (Sunbirds – 147 Species)
  • Neosittidae (Sittellas – 3 Species)
  • Nesospingidae (Puerto Rican Tanager – 1 Species)
  • Nicatoridae (Nicators – 3 Species)
  • Notiomystidae (Stitchbird – 1 Species)
  • Oreoicidae (Australo-Papuan bellbirds – 3 Species)
  • Oriolidae (Old World orioles – 38 Species)
  • Orthonychidae (Logrunners – 3 Species)
  • Pachycephalidae (Whistlers – 52 Species)
  • Panuridae (Bearded Reedling – 1 Species)
  • Paradisaeidae (Birds-of-paradise – 41 Species)
  • Paramythiidae (Painted berrypeckers – 3 Species)
  • Pardalotidae (Pardalotes – 4 Species)
  • Paridae (Tits and chickadees – 60 Species)
  • Parulidae (New World warblers – 121 Species)
  • Passeridae (Old World sparrows – 43 Species)
  • Passerellidae (New World sparrows – 145 Species)
  • Pellorneidae (Ground babblers – 64 Species)
  • Petroicidae (Australasian robins – 53 Species)
  • Peucedramidae (Olive Warbler – 1 Species)
  • Phaenicophilidae (Hispaniolan tanagers – 4 Species)
  • Philepittidae (Asities – 4 Species)
  • Phylloscopidae (Leaf-warblers – 78 Species)
  • Picathartidae (Picathartes – 2 Species)
  • Pipridae (Manakins – 52 Species)
  • Pittidae (Pittas – 48 Species)
  • Pityriasidae (Bristlehead – 1 Species)
  • Platylophidae (Crested jay – 1 Species)
  • Platysteiridae (Batises and wattle-eyes – 34 Species)
  • Ploceidae (Weavers – 124 Species)
  • Pnoepygidae (Cupwings – 4 Species)
  • Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers – 15 Species)
  • Pomatostomidae (Australasian babblers – 5 Species)
  • Promeropidae (Sugarbirds – 2 Species)
  • Prunellidae (Accentors – 12 Species)
  • Psophodidae (Whipbirds and wedgebills – 5 Species)
  • Ptiliogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers – 4 Species)
  • Ptilonorhynchidae (Bowerbirds – 20 Species)
  • Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls – 157 Species)
  • Regulidae (Kinglets and firecrests – 6 Species)
  • Remizidae (Penduline-tits – 12 Species)
  • Rhagologidae (Berryhunter – 1 Species)
  • Rhinocryptidae (Tapaculos – 59 Species)
  • Rhipiduridae (Fantails – 65 Species)
  • Rhodinocichlidae (Thrush-tanager – 1 Species)
  • Sapayoidae (Sapayoa – 1 Species)
  • Scotocercidae Bush-warblers (37 Species)
  • Sittidae (Nuthatches – 32 Species)
  • Spindalidae (Spindalises – 4 Species)
  • Stenostiridae (Fairy Flycatcher and allies – 9 Species)
  • Sturnidae (Starlings – 123 Species)
  • Sylviidae (Old World warblers and parrotbills – 69 Species)
  • Teretistridae (Cuban warblers – 2 Species)
  • Thamnophilidae (Typical antbirds – 241 Species)
  • Thraupidae (Tanagers – 408 Species)
  • Timaliidae (Scimitar-babblers and allies – 54 Species)
  • Tityridae (Tityras and allies – 49 Species)
  • Troglodytidae (Wrens – 93 Species)
  • Turdidae (Thrushes – 175 Species)
  • Tyrannidae (Tyrant-flycatchers – 449 Species)
  • Urocynchramidae (Przevalski’s Rosefinch – 1 Species)
  • Vangidae (Vangas and allies – 40 Species)
  • Viduidae (Whydahs and indigobirds – 20 Species)
  • Vireonidae (Vireos – 64 Species)
  • Zeledoniidae (Wrenthrush – 1 Species)
  • Zosteropidae (White-eyes and yuhinas – 135 Species)
• PELECANIFORMES (5 Families with 109 Species)
  Show Families

  • Ardeidae (Herons – 64 Species)
  • Balaenicipitidae (Shoebill – 1 Species)
  • Pelecanidae (Pelicans – 8 Species)
  • Scopidae (Hamerkop – 1 Species)
  • Threskiornithidae (Ibises, spoonbills – 35 Species)
• PHAETHONTIFORMES (1 Family with 3 Species)
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  • Phaethontidae (Tropicbirds – 3 Species)
• PHOENICOPTERIFORMES (1 Familiy with 6 Species)
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  • Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos – 6 Species)
• PICIFORMES^# (9 Families with 483 Species)
  Show Families

  • Bucconidae (Puffbirds – 38 Species)
  • Capitonidae (New World barbets – 18 Species)
  • Galbulidae (Jacamars – 19 Species)
  • Indicatoridae (Honeyguides – 16 Species)
  • Lybiidae (African barbets – 52 Species)
  • Megalaimidae (Asian barbets – 35 Species)
  • Picidae (Woodpeckers – 253 Species)
  • Ramphastidae (Toucans – 50 Species)
  • Semnornithidae (Prong-billed barbets – 2 Species)
• PODICIPEDIFORMES (1 Family with 20 Species)
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  • Podicipedidae Grebes – 20 Species)
• PROCELLARIIFORMES (4 Families with 142 Species)
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  • Diomedeidae (Albatrosses – 22 Species)
  • Hydrobatidae (Northern storm-petrels – 17 Species)
  • Oceanitidae (Southern storm-petrels – 9 Species)
  • Procellariidae (Petrels, shearwaters – 94 Species)
• PSITTACIFORMES (3 Families with 397 Species)
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  • Cacatuidae (Cockatoos – 21 Species)
  • Psittacidae (Parrots – 373 Species)
  • Strigopidae (New Zealand parrots – 3 Species)
• PTEROCLIFORMES (1 Family with 16 Species)
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  • Pteroclidae (Sandgrouse – 16 Species)
• SPHENISCIFORMES – (1 Family with 18 Species)
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  • Spheniscidae (Penguins – 18 Species)
• STRIGIFORMES (2 Families with 236 Species)
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  • Strigidae (Typical owls – 220 Species)
  • Tytonidae (Barn-owls – 16 Species)
• STRUTHIONIFORMES^## (5 Families with 62 Species)
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  • Apterygidae (Kiwis – 5 Species)
  • Casuariidae (Cassowaries, emus – 4 Species)
  • Rheidae (Rheas – 3 Species)
  • Struthionidae (Ostriches – 2 Species)
  • Tinamidae (Tinamous – 48 Species)
• SULIFORMES – (4 Families with 53 Species)
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  • Anhingidae (Darters – 4 Species)
  • Fregatidae (Frigatebirds – 5 Species)
  • Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants – 34 Species)
  • Sulidae (Gannets, boobies – 10 Species)
• TROGONIFORMES (1 Familiy with 43 Species)
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  • Trogonidae (Trogons – 43 Species)

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^#Jacamars and Puffbirds are here grouped with Woodpeckers, Barbets, and Allies (Piciformes) but they are now usually in their own order, Galbuliformes. 
^##The Kiwis, Cassowaries and Emu, Rheas, and Tinamous are here grouped with the Ostriches in the order Struthioniformes. Other lists have separate orders for these: Apterygiformes,  Casuariiformes, Rheiformes, Tinamiforme and Struthioniformes respectively.