Personal Project — Bird Families of the World
 
 
a web page by Don Roberson
 
 
These old families were merged into other families
PREVIOUS FAMILIES
These are no longer considered to be Families
Dromaiidae Emu
Emu: 17 Nov 2009 Waikerie, South Australia
Dendrocygnidae Whistling-Ducks
Lesser Whistling-Duck: 28 Dec 2012 B. Boraphat, Thailand

Pelecanoididae Diving-Petrels
Common Diving-Petrel: 14 Nov 2009 Haurake Gulf, N.Z
considered a subfamily of Casuariidae;
merged by all world lists by 2016
considered a subfamily of Anatidae; was
considered a family by Sibley & Monroe (1990)
considered a subfamily of Procellariidae;
merged by most world lists by 2016
     
Tetronidae Grouse
Dusky Grouse: 20 Sep 2015 Dinosaur NM, Colorado
Meleagrididae Turkeys
Wild Turkey: 17 May 1998 Lake County, California
Cochlariidae Boat-billed Heron
Boat-billed Heron: 21 July 2010 Porto Jofre, Brazil
a subfamily of Phasianidae; was a traditional
family until Sibley & Monroe (1990)
merged into Phasianidae; was a traditional
family until Sibley & Monroe (1990)
merged into Ardeidae; was a traditional
family until ~Sibley & Monroe (1990)
     
Phalaropodidae Phalaropes
Red Phalarope: 9 May 2008 Pebble Beach, CA, USA
Sternidae Terns
Elegant Tern: 13 Aug 2015 Pacific Grove, CA, USA

Rynchopidae Skimmers
Black Skimmer: 21 Jul 2010 Pantanal, Brazil
considered a subfamily of Scolopacidae; was a
traditional family before Sibley & Monroe (1990)
considered a subfamily of Laridae; was a HBW
family but lumped by Sibley & Monroe (1990)
considered a subfamily by AOS but a family
by SACC; was a traditional family
Phaenicophaedae Couas & Malkohas
Coqueral's Coua: 29 Nov 1992 eastern Madagascar
Centropodidae Coucals
Burchell's Coucal: 13 Jul 1996 Kruger NP, South Africa
Coccyzidae American Cuckoos
Puerto Rican Lizard-Cuckoo: 27 Mar 2000 El Yunque, P.R.
considered a subfamily of Cuculidae; was
a family per initial DNA-DNA studies (1980s)
considered a subfamily of Cuculidae; was
considered a family by Sibley & Monroe (1990)
considered a subfamily of Cuculidae; was
considered a family by Sibley & Monroe (1990)
     
Crotophagidae Anis & Guira Cuckoo
Guira Cuckoo: 21 Jul 2010 Pantanal, Brazil
Neomorphidae Roadrunners & allies
Pavonine Cuckoo: 13 Jul 2010 Intervales NP, Brazil
Eurostopodidae Eared-Nightjars
Diabolical Nightjar: 28 Sep 2011 Lore Lindu NP, Sulawesi
considered a subfamily of Cuculidae; was
considered a family by Sibley & Monroe (1990)
considered a subfamily of Cuculidae; was
considered a family by Sibley & Monroe (1990)
considered a subfamily of Caprimulgidae; was
considered a family by Sibley & Monroe (1990)
     
Batrachostomidae Asian Frogmouths
Palawan Frogmouth: 13 Dec 2005 Palawan, Philippines
Rhinopomastidae Scimitarbills
Common Scimitarbill: 26 Jul 1996 Kruger NP, South Africa
Cerylidae Water Kingfishers
Pied Kingfisher: Aug 2002 Tarangire NP, Tanzania
considered a subfamily of Podargidae; was
considered a family by Sibley & Monroe (1990)
considered a subfamily of Phoeniculidae; was
considered a family by Sibley & Monroe (1990)
considered a subfamily of Alcedinidae; was
considered a family by Sibley & Monroe (1990)
     
Halcyonidae Tree Kingfishers
Blue-headed Kingfisher: 24 Dec 2005 Mindanao, Philippines
Dendrocolaptidae Woodcreepers
Planalto Woodcreeper: 4 Aug 2010 Itatiaia NP, Brazil

This genus seen but not photographed:

Conopophagidae Ant-pipits

considered a subfamily of Alcedinidae;
merged by most world lists by 2016
now a subfamily of Furnariidae; a traditional
family until ~2010 [could be re-split in future]
considered embedded within Tyrannidae; was a
traditional family until ~1980s
     
Phytotomidae Plantcutters
White-tipped Plantcutter: 22 Nov 2022 Ceibas, Argentina
Epthianuridae Australian Chats
Gibber Chat: 21 Nov 2009 Birdsville Track, South Australia
Colluricinclidae Shrike-thrushes
Gray Shrike-thrush: 11 Aug 2008 Sterling Range, W. Australia
now merged into Cotingidae; was a
traditional family until Sibley & Monroe (1990)
considered embedded in Meliphagidae; was
considered a family from ~2000-2015
considered merged into Pachycephalidae; was
considered a family from ~ 2005-2015
     
Cracticidae Butcherbirds
Black Currawong: 21 Aug 2008 Wielangta Forest, Tasmania
Tephrodornithidae Woodshrikes
Common Woodshrike: 11 Mar 2001 Sultanpur Jheel, India
Prionopidae Helmetshrikes
Retz's Helmetshrike: 24 Jul 2005 Okavango Delta, Botswana
now considered merged into Artamidae; was
considered a traditional HBW family
considered a subfamily of Vangidae; was
considered a family from ~1990-2012
considered a subfamily of Vangidae; was
considered a family from ~1990-2012
     
Grallinidae Mudnest-builders
Magpie-lark: 1 Jan 1998 Deniliquin, NSW, Australia
Rhabdornithidae Philippine Creepers
Stripe-sided Rhabdornis: 26 Dec 2005 Mindanao, Philippines
Drepanididae Hawaiian Honeycreepers
'I'iwi: 24 Mar 2015 Maui, Hawaii
considered a subfamily of Monarchidae; was
considered a family until ~1990-2006
considered a subfamily of Sturnidae; was
widely considered a family until ~2010
now considered embedded within Fringillidae;
was once a traditional and a HBW family
     
Coerebidae Bananaquit
Bananaquit: 24 Dec 2006 Asa Wright, Trinidad
Tersinidae Swallow-Tanager
Swallow Tanager: 18 Nov 2014 Afluenta, Peru
Catamblyrhynchidae Plush-capped Finch
Plushcap: 17 Jun 1987 Abre Malaga, Peru
merged into Thraupidae by most; was
often a family in lists between 1990-2015
considered embedded within Thraupidae; was
widely considered a family until late 1980s
considered embedded within Thraupidae; was
often considered a family until late 1980s

SPECIAL CASE
This is still considered a valid Family
but all members were extinct by 1987,
and none were seen by me:

Mohoidae Hawaiian Honeyeaters

As a valid but extinct family, the Mohoidae is no longer included among the list of current bird families

 
 
 
 
 

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  page created 22-24 Mar 2016, updated 21 Jan 2023  
 
all text & photos © Don Roberson, except as otherwise indicated; all rights reserved