Re: BIRD PHYLOGENY, DNA, MOL. CLOCKS *YAWWN*

[ornstn@inforamp.net (Ronald Orenstein)]

>On a slightly different tack (or two), are secretary birds, according to 
>the new classification, seriema relatives or falconiides?  Does the new 
>study support common origin of galliforms and anseriforms?  What are 
>loons?  Are ratites monophyletic?  Just making sure--accipitrids are 
>still considered close relatives of falconids, right?
>
>    Eagerly awaiting replies,
>
>     Nick Pharris

OK, OK, Here we go:

Order Struthioniformes (all ratites except tinamous)
Order Tinamiformes (Tinamous)
Order Craciformes (Guans and Megapodes)
Order Galliformes (Grouse, Quails, pheasants etc)
Order Anseriformes (Screamers, ducks)
Order Turniciformes (Buttonquails)
Order Piciformes (woodpeckers, honeyguides, barbets, toucans)
Order Galbuliformes (Jacamars, puffbirds)
Order Bucerotiformes (hornbills)
Order Upupiformes (hoopoes, woodhoopoes)
Order Trogoniformes (trogons)
Order Coraciiformes (rollers, motmots, todies, kingfishers)
Order Coliiformes (mousebirds)
Order Cuculiformes (cuckoos, hoatzin)
Order Psittaciformes (parrots)
Order Apodiformes (swifts)
Order Trochiliformes (hummingbirds)
Order Musophagiformes (turacos)
Order Strigiformes (owls, nightjars, frogmouths etc)
Order Columbiformes (pigeons, dodos)
Order Gruiformes (cranes, rails, bustards, seriemas, trumpeters etc)
Order Ciconiiformes (all other non-passerines as in earlier message)
Order Passeriformes (songbirds)

Thus the seriemas are in the order Gruiformes, while the secretary bird is
in the Infraorder Falconides of the Suborder Ciconii of the Order
Ciconiformes, which also includes both hawks and falcons.  Galliformes and
Anseriformes are associated; ratites are monophyletic; and loons are
included in the Superfamily Preocellarioidea of the Ciconiiformes with
frigatebirds, penguins, albatrosses and petrels.

A complete listing of species of birds of the world in Sibley-Monroe Order
(without higher categories) can be found at
http://wwwis.cs.utwente.nl:8080/deby/SM/sm.html.
--
Ronald I. Orenstein                           Phone: (905) 820-7886 (home)
International Wildlife Coalition              Fax/Modem: (905) 569-0116 (home)
Home: 1825 Shady Creek Court                  Messages: (416) 368-4661
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