| Order Name | Scientific Family Name Origin | Scientific
Subfamily Name Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Gaviiformes | Gaviidae - L. gavia seabird (Loons) | N/A |
| Podicipediformes | Podicipedidae - L. podicis rump & pedis foot (Grebes) Note 1 | N/A |
| Procellariiformes | Diomedeidae - Gr. Myth 1 Diomedes (Albatross) | N/A |
| Procellariidae - L. procella storm or gale (Shearwaters/Petrels) | ||
| Hydrobatidae - Gr. hydros water & batein to tread (Storm Petrels) | ||
| Pelecaniformes | Phaethontidae - Gr. Myth 2 Phaethon (Tropicbirds) | N/A |
| Sulidae - Icelandic sula gannet (Boobies/Gannets) | ||
| Pelecanidae - Gr. pelekon pelican; L. pelecanus (Pelecans) | ||
| Phalacrocoracidae - Gr. phalakros bald & korax raven (Cormorants) | ||
| Anhingidae - Indian anhinga devil bird (Anhingas) | ||
| Fregatidae - Italian fregata war vessel (Frigatebirds) | ||
| Ciconiiformes | Ardeidae - L. ardea heron (Herons/Bitterns) | N/A |
| Threskiornithidae - Gr. threskeia sacred & ornithos bird (Ibises) | ||
| Ciconiidae - L. ciconia stork (Storks) | ||
| Phoenicopteriformes | Phoenicopteridae - Gr. phoinikos crimson red & pteros winged (Flamingos) | N/A |
| Anseriformes | Anatidae - L. anas duck (Waterfowl) | Dendrocygninae - Gr. dendron tree & cygnus swan (Whistling Ducks) |
| Anatinae - L. anas duck (Geese) | ||
| Cygninae - Gr. cygnus swan (Swans) | ||
| Anserinae - L. anser goose (Marsh Ducks) | ||
| Aythyinae - Gr. aithuia seabird mentioned by Aristotle (Diving Ducks) | ||
| Oxyurinae - Gr. oxus sharp & oura tail (Stifftails) | ||
| Merginae - L. mergus waterbird mentioned by poet Horatius Flaccus (Mergansers) | ||
| Falconiformes | Cathartidae - Gr. kathartes cleanser (Vultures) | N/A |
| Pandionidae - Gr. Myth 3 Pandion (Ospreys) | ||
| Accipitridae - L. accipere to grasp or take (Hawks) | Elaninae & Milvinae - Gr. elanos & L. milvus kite (Kites) | |
| Accipitrinae - L. accipiter hawk (Accipiters) | ||
| Buteoninae - L. buteo falcon or hawk (Buteos/Eagles) | ||
| Circinae - L. circus circle in air (Harriers) | ||
| Falconidae - L. falco a falcon (Falcons) | Caracarinae - Brazilian Indian caracara given the bird's call (Caracaras) | |
| Falconinae - L. falco falcon (Falcons) | ||
| Galliformes - L. gallus cock (fowl-like birds) | Cracidae - Gr. kraks in reference to crests on the heads (Curassow) | N/A |
| Phasianidae - Gr. phasianos pheasant (Pheasants) | ||
| Odontophoridae - Gr. odontophoros bearing teeth (Quail) | ||
| Gruiformes | Rallidae - L. rallus & French rale rail (Rails) | N/A |
| Aramidae - Unknown from aramus limpkin (Limpkins) | ||
| Gruidae - L. grus crane (Cranes) | ||
| Charadriiformes | Charadriidae - Gr. kharadrios named by Aristotle for nocturnal waterbird (Plovers) | N/A |
| Haematopodidae - Gr. haimato blood & pous foot (Oystercatchers) | ||
| Recurvirostridae - L. recurvus bent & rostrum bill (Stilts/Avocets) | ||
| Scolopacidae - Gr. from skolopax used by Aristotle for woodcock or askolopas pointed (Sandpipers/Phalaropes) | ||
| Laridae - L. larus seabird or Gr. laros (Gulls/Terns) | Stercorariinae - L. stercorarius dung or muck (Jaegers/Skuas) | |
| Sterninae - Anaglo-Saxon stearn tern (Terns) | ||
| Larinae - L. larus seabird (Gulls) | ||
| Rynchopinae - Gr. rhunkhos referring to bill/beak & face (Skimmers) | ||
| Alcidae - L. alca (Auks/Alcids) Note 2 | N/A |
|
| Columbiformes | Columbidae - L. columba dove (Pigeons/Doves) | N/A |
| Psittaciformes | Psittacidae - L. psittacus parrot or Gr. psittakos (Parrots) | N/A |
| Cuculiformes | Cuculidae - L. cuculus cuckoo (Cuckoos/Roadrunners) | N/A |
| Strigiformes | Tytonidae
- Gr. tyto owl (Barn Owls) Strigidae - Gr. strinx night bird or owl (Typical Owls) |
N/A |
| Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgidae - L. caper goat & mulgeo to milk (Goatsuckers) Folklore 1 | N/A |
| Apodiformes | Apodidae
- Gr. apodos without feet (Swifts) Note 3 Trochilidae - Gr. trokhilos mentioned by Aristotle as a small bird (Hummingbirds) |
N/A |
| Coraciiformes - L. corax raven | Alcedinidae - L. alcedo kingfisher or Gr. alkuon (Kingfishers) Folklore 2 | N/A |
| Piciformes | Picidae - L. picus woodpecker & Gr. pikos (Woodpeckers) | N/A |
| Passeriformes | Tyrannidae - L. tyrannus king or Gr. tyrannos lord or ruler (Flycatchers) | N/A |
| Alauidae - L. alauda lark (Larks) | ||
| Hirundinidae - L. hirundo swallow (Swallows) Note 4 | ||
| Corvidae - L. corvus raven (Jays/Crows) | ||
| Paridae - L. parus tit or Icelandic titr small (Chickadees/Titmice) | ||
| Sittidae - Gr. sitte mentioned by Aristotle for a bird the pecks bark of trees (Nuthatches) | ||
| Certhiidae - Gr. kerthios mentioned by Aristotle as a small tree-dwelling bird (Creepers) | ||
| Troglodytidae - Gr. troglodutes cave dweller; trogle hole & duo plunge into (Wrens) | ||
| Muscicapidae - L. musca fly & capere to catch (Kinglets/Thrushes) | Sylviinae - L. sylvia warbler or silva wood (Kinglets) | |
| Turdinae - L. turdus thrush (Thrushes) | ||
| Mimidae - L. mimus imitator or Gr. mimetes mimic (Mockingbirds/Thrashers) | N/A |
|
| Motacillidae - L. motacilla wagtail or Gr. muttex bird mentioned by Hesychius (Pipits/Wagtails) Note 5 | ||
| Bombycillidae - Gr. bombukos silk & L. cilla tail (Waxwings) | ||
| Ptilogonatidae - Gr. ptilogonys tapered feather (Silky-Flycatchers) | ||
| Laniidae - L. lanius butcher (Shrikes) Note 6 | ||
| Sturnidae - L. sturnus starling (Starlings) | ||
| Vireonidae - L. vireo small bird (Vireos) | ||
| Coerebidae - Brazilian Indian name coereba for some small creeping bird (Bananaquits/Honeycreepers) | ||
| Pycnonotidae - Gr. pycnonotus strong back or puknos thick noton back (Bulbuls) | ||
| Emberizidae - L. emberiza bunting or German embritz bunting (Warblers/Sparrows, etc.) | Parulinae - L. parus and parula tit (Warblers) | |
| Thraupinae - Gr. thraupis finch mentioned by Aristotle (Tanagers) Note 7 | ||
| Cardinalinae - L. cardinalis (Grosbeaks/Buntings) Note 8 | ||
| Emberizinae - L. emberiza bunting or German embritz bunting (Towhees/Sparrows) | ||
| Icterinae - Gr. ikteros jaundice or yellow (Blackbirds/Orioles) | ||
| Fringillidae - L. fringilla small bird (Finches) | N/A |
|
| Passeridae - Gr. plokeos weaver or braider or L. passer sparrow (Weaver Finches) |