List of Late Quaternary prehistoric bird species facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

For a list of birds known only from fossils, see List of fossil bird genera. For birds that have become extinct since the year 1500, see List of extinct bird species since 1500.

Late Quaternary prehistoric birds are avian taxa that became extinct during the Late Quaternary – the Late Pleistocene or Early Holocene – and before recorded history, specifically before they could be studied alive by ornithological science. They had died out before the period of global scientific exploration that started in the late 15th century. In other words, this list deals with avian extinctions between 40,000 BC and AD 1500. For the purposes of this article, a "bird" is any member of the clade Neornithes, that is, any descendant of the most recent common ancestor of all currently living birds.

Artist's rendition of a Haast's eagle attacking two South Island giant moa

The birds are known from their remains, which are subfossil; as the remains are not completely fossilized, they may yield organic material for molecular analyses to provide additional clues for resolving their taxonomic affiliations. Some birds are also known from folk memory, as in the case of Haast's eagle in New Zealand.

The extinction of the taxa in this list was coincident with the expansion of Homo sapiens beyond Africa and Eurasia, and in most cases, anthropogenic factors played a crucial part in their extinction, be it through hunting, introduced predators or habitat alteration. It is notable that a large proportion of the species are from oceanic islands, especially in Polynesia. Bird taxa that evolved on oceanic islands are usually very vulnerable to hunting or predation by rats, dogs, cats or pigs (animals commonly introduced by humans) as they evolved in the absence of mammalian predators, and therefore have only rudimentary predator avoidance behavior. Many, especially rails, have additionally become flightless for the same reason and thus present even easier prey.

Taxon extinctions taking place before the Late Quaternary happened in the absence of significant human interference. Rather, reasons for extinction are random abiotic events such as bolide impacts, climate changes, mass volcanic eruptions, etc. Alternatively, species may have become extinct due to evolutionary displacement by successor or competitor taxa – it is notable for example that in the early Neogene, seabird biodiversity was much higher than today; this is probably due to competition by the radiation of marine mammals after that time. The relationships of these ancient birds are often hard to determine, as many are known only from very fragmentary remains and complete fossilization precludes analysis of information from DNA, RNA or protein sequencing.

Extinct bird species differed from extant birds by being larger, mostly restricted to islands, and often flightless. These factors made them especially vulnerable to human prosecution and to other anthropogenically related declines.

Taxonomic list of Late Quaternary prehistoric birds

All of these birds are in Neornithes.

Paleognathes

Struthioniformes

The ostriches

Struthionidae – Ostriches
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - East Asian ostrich, Struthio anderssoni (China)
  - Asian ostrich, Struthio asiaticus (Central Asia to China)

†Aepyornithiformes

The elephant birds of Madagascar

†Aepyornithidae - greater elephant birds
- †Aepyornis
  - Giant elephant bird, Aepyornis maximus - A 2018 study moved the largest elephant bird specimens to the genus Vorombe, but a 2023 genetic study regarded Vorombe as synonymous with Aepyornis maximus.
  - Hildebrandt's elephant bird, Aepyornis hildebrandti
†Mullerornithidae - lesser elephant birds
- †Mullerornis
  - Lesser elephant bird, Mullerornis modestus

†Dinornithiformes

The moa of New Zealand

†Emeidae – lesser moa
- †Anomalopteryx
  - Bush moa, Anomalopteryx didiformis (North and South Islands, New Zealand)
- †Euryapteryx
  - Broad-billed moa, Euryapteryx curtus (North Island, New Zealand)
- †Pachyornis
  - Crested moa, Pachyornis australis (western South Island, New Zealand)
  - Heavy-footed moa, Pachyornis elephantopus (eastern South Island, New Zealand)
  - Mantell's moa, Pachyornis geranoides (North Island, New Zealand)
- †Emeus
  - Eastern moa, Emeus crassus (South Island, New Zealand)
†Dinornithidae – giant moa
- †Dinornis
  - North Island giant moa, Dinornis novaezealandiae (North Island, New Zealand)
  - South Island giant moa, Dinornis robustus (South Island, New Zealand)
†Megalapterygidae – upland moa
- †Megalapteryx
  - Upland moa, Megalapteryx didinus (South Island, New Zealand) – may have survived into historic times (syn. Megalapteryx benhami)

†Gastornithiformes

An extinct order of giant flightless fowl.

†Dromornithidae – Australian mihirungs or "demon ducks of doom"
- †Genyornis
  - Genyornis newtoni (Australia)

Anseriformes

The group that includes modern ducks and geese.

Anatidae – ducks, geese and swans
- †Cnemiornis
  - South Island goose, Cnemiornis calcitrans (South Island, New Zealand)
  - North Island goose, Cnemiornis gracilis (North Island, New Zealand)
- †Centrornis
  - Malagasy sheldgoose, Centrornis majori (Madagascar)
- †Chelychelynechen
  - Turtle-jawed moa-nalo, Chelychelynechen quassus (Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands)
- †Ptaiochen
  - Small-billed moa-nalo, Ptaiochen pau (Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
- †Thambetochen
  - Maui Nui large-billed moa-nalo, Thambetochen chauliodous (Maui and Molokaʻi, Hawaiian Islands)
  - [[Oʻahu moa-nalo]], Thambetochen xanion (Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands)
- †Chendytes
  - Chendytes lawi (California and southern Oregon coasts and Channel Islands, East Pacific)
- †Talpanas
  - Kauaʻi mole duck, Talpanas lippa (Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands)
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Dendrocygninae – Whistling Ducks
    - Aitutaki whistling-duck, Dendrocygna sp. (Aitutaki, Cook Islands)
  - Anserinae
  - Biziurini – Musk Duck
    - New Zealand musk duck, Biziura delautouri (New Zealand)
  - Oxyurini
    - Oxyura
    - New Zealand stiff-tailed duck, Oxyura vantetsi (North Island, New Zealand)
  - Anserini – Geese and Swans
    - Malacorhynchus
      - Scarlett's duck, Malacorhynchus scarletti (New Zealand)
    - Branta
      - Nēnē-nui, Branta hylobadistes (Maui, possibly Kauaʻi and Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands)
      - Giant Hawaiʻi goose, Branta rhuax (Big Island, Hawaiian Islands) – formerly in the monotypic genus Geochen
    - Anser
      - Dyuktai goose, Anser djuktaiensis (Yakutia, Russia)
      - Anser aff. erythropus (Ibiza)
    - Cygnus
      - Giant swan, Cygnus falconeri (Malta, Sicily)
      - Dwarf sawn, Cygnus equitum (Malta, Sicily) – occasionally placed in the genus Anser
      - New Zealand swan, Cygnus sumnerensis (New Zealand and the Chatham Islands)
      - New Zealand swan, Cygnus sumnerensis sumnerensis (New Zealand)
      - Chatham Islands swan, Cygnus sumnerensis chathamicus (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific)
  - Anatinae – Ducks
  - Tadornini –
    - Chatham Islands shelduck, Tadorna cf. variegata (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific)
    - Malagasy shelduck, Alopochen sirabensis (Madagascar) - may be a subspecies of Alopochen mauritiana, which survived in Mauritius until the 1690s
    - Neochen barbadiana (Barbados)
    - Neochen debilis (Argentina)
    - Neochen pugil (Brazil)
  - Mergini – Sea Ducks
    - Mergellus
      - Mergellus mochanovi (Yakutia, Russia)
    - Mergus
      - Chatham Island merganser, Mergus milleneri (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific)
      - New Zealand merganser, Mergus austalis (Auckland Islands, New Zealand, extinct c. 1902)
  - Aythyini – Diving Ducks
    - Chenonetta
      - Finsch's duck, Chenonetta finschi (New Zealand) – possibly survived to 1870
  - Anatini – Dabbling Ducks
    - Anas
      - Anas amotape (Campbell 1979) (Talara Tar Seeps Late Pleistocene of Peru)
      - Anas elapsum (Chinchilla Late Pleistocene of Condamine River, Australia) (“Nettion”)
      - Anas gracilipes (Late Pleistocene of Australia) (likely junior synonym of Anas castanea)
      - Anas schneideri Emslie 1985 (Late Pleistocene of Little Box Elder Cave, USA)
      - Anas strennum (Late Pleistocene of Patteramordu, Australia) ("Nettion")
      - Mascarene teal, Anas theodori (Mauritius and Réunion) - Extinct 1696
      - Bermuda flightless duck, Anas pachyscelus (Bermuda, West Atlantic)
      - Macquarie Islands teal, Anas cf. chlorotis (Macquarie Islands, Southwest Pacific)
      - Chatham duck, Anas chathamica (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific)
- Placement unresolved
  - Giant O'ahu goose, Anatidae sp. et gen. indet. (Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Long-legged shelduck, Anatidae sp. et gen. indet. (Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Rota flightless duck, Anatidae sp. et gen. indet. (Rota, Marianas)

Pangalliformes

The group that includes modern chickens and quails.

†Sylviornithidae – sylviornises or New Caledonian giant megapodes
- †Megavitiornis
  - Noble megapode or deep-billed megapode, Megavitiornis altirostris (Viti Levu, Fiji)
- †Sylviornis
  - Sylviornis neocaledoniae (New Caledonia, Melanesia)

True Galliformes

Megapodidae – Megapodes
- †Mwalau
  - Mwalau walterlinii (Efate, Vanuatu)
- †Progura
  - Giant malleefowl, Progura gallinacea (Australia) – Progura gallinacea and Progura naracoortensis are synonyms
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Megapodius – Megapodes
    - Consumed scrubfowl, Megapodius alimentum (Tonga and Fiji)
    - Viti Levu scrubfowl, Megapodius amissus (Viti Levu and possibly Kadavu and Aiwa, Fiji) – may have survived to the early 19th or the 20th century
    - Pile-builder megapode, Megapodius molistructor (New Caledonia, Tonga and possibly Aiwa, Fiji)
    - [[ʻEua scrubfowl]] or small-footed megapode, Megapodius sp. ([[ʻEua]], Tonga)
    - Lifuka scrubfowl, Megapodius sp. (Lifuka, Tonga)
    - Stout Tongan megapode Megapodius sp. (Tongatapu, Tonga)
    - Megapodius sp. (Ofu, Samoa)
    - Large Solomon Islands megapode Megapodius sp. (Buka Island, Solomon Islands)
    - New Caledonia megapode Megapodius sp. (Grande Tierre, New Caledonia)
    - Loyalty megapode Megapodius sp. (Lifou and Maré, Loyalty Islands)
    - New Ireland scrubfowl or large Bismarck's megapode, Megapodius sp. (New Ireland, Melanesia)
Phasianidae – Pheasants and Allies
- Extinct species of extant genera
- Gallini – Francolins and Junglefowl
  - Gallus – Junglefowl
    - Gallus sp. (Middle/Late Pleistocene of Kudaro, South Ossetia)
    - Gallus imereticus (Late Pleistocene of Gvardjilas-Klde, Imeretia)
    - Gallus meschtscheriensis (Late Pleistocene of Soungir, Russia)
    - Gallus georgicus (Late Pleistocene - Early Holocene of Georgia
    - Gallus sp. (Late Pleistocene of Krivtcha Cave, Ukraine)
    - Gallus sp. (Early Holocene of Dnieper region)
- Coturnicini
  - Coturnix
    - Canary Islands quail, Coturnix gomerae (Canary Islands, East Atlantic)
    - Porto Santo quail, Coturnix alabrevis (Madeira, East Atlantic)
    - Cape Verde quail, Coturnix centensis (Cape Verde, East Atlantic)
    - Madeiran quail, Coturnix lignorum (Madeira, East Atlantic)
- Phasianinae
  - Tetraonini
    - Meleagris – Turkeys
      - Californian turkey, Meleagris californica (California, North America)
  - Phasianini
    - Perdix
      - Perdix palaeoperdix (Southern Europe)

Charadriiformes

Gulls, auks and shorebirds

Charadrii

Charadriidae – lapwings and plovers
- Vanellinae – Lapwings
  - Extinct species of extant genera
    - Malagasy lapwing, Vanellus madagascariensis (Madagascar)

Scolopaci

Scolopacidae – waders and snipes
- Scolopacinae – Dowitchers, Snipe, and Woodcocks
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Scolopax – Woodcocks
    - Scolopax anthonyi (Puerto Rico, West Indies)
    - Scolopax brachycarpa (Hispaniola, West Indies) – may have survived into historic times
  - Coenocorypha – Austral Snipes
    - Forbes's snipe, Coenocorypha chathamensis (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific)
    - Viti Levu snipe, Coenocorypha miratropica (Viti Levu, Fiji)
    - New Caledonian snipe, Coenocorypha neocaledonica (New Caledonia, Melanesia)
    - Norfolk Island snipe, Coenocorypha sp. (Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific)
  - Gallinago –
    - Gallinago kakuki (Cuba, Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands, Bahamas, West Indies)
- Arenariinae – Turnstones and Stints
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Henderson sandpiper, Prosobonia sauli (Henderson Island, South Pacific)
  - Mangaian sandpiper, Prosobonia sp. (Mangaia, Cook Islands)
  - Ua Huka sandpiper, Prosobonia sp. (Ua Huka, Marquesas Islands)

Lari

Alcidae – Auks
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Fratercula - Puffins
    - Dow's puffin, Fratercula dowi (Channel Islands, East Pacific)
Laridae – Gulls
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Chroicocephalus
    - Huahine gull or Society Islands gull, Chroicocephalus utunui (Huahine, Society Islands)
  - Larus
    - [[Kauaʻi gull]], Larus sp. ([[Kauaʻi]], Hawaiian Islands)
    - Larus sp. (Saint Helena, Atlantic) – may be an extant form

Gruiformes

The group that includes modern rails and cranes.

Rallidae – rails
- †Capellirallus (syn. Gallirallus)
  - Snipe-rail, Capellirallus karamu (North Island, New Zealand)
- †Vitirallus (syn. Gallirallus)
  - Viti Levu rail, Vitirallus watlingi (Viti Levu, Fiji)
- †Hovacrex (syn. Gallinula)
  - Hova gallinule, Hovacrex roberti (Madagascar)
- †Nesotrochis
  - Antillean cave rail, Nesotrochis debooyi (Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, West Indies) – may have survived into historic times
  - Haitian cave rail, Nesotrochis steganinos (Haiti, West Indies)
  - Cuban cave rail, Nesotrochis picapicensis (Cuba, West Indies)
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - New Caledonian gallinule, Porphyrio kukwiedei (New Caledonia, Melanesia) – may have survived into historic times
  - North Island takahē, Porphyrio mantelli (North Island, New Zealand)
  - Huahine swamphen, Porphyrio mcnabi (Huahine, Society Islands)
  - Marquesas swamphen, Porphyrio paepae (Hiva Oa and Tahuata, Marquesas) – may have survived to the late 19th century
  - Buka swamphen, Porphyrio sp. (Buka, Solomon Islands)
  - Giant swamphen, Porphyrio sp. (New Ireland, Melanesia)
  - Mangaia swamphen, Porphyrio sp. (Mangaia, Cook Islands) (not to genus Pareudiastes)
  - New Ireland swamphen, Porphyrio sp. (New Ireland, Melanesia)
  - Norfolk Island swamphen, Porphyrio sp. (Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific)
  - Rota swamphen, Porphyrio sp. (Rota, Marianas)
  - Ibiza rail, Rallus eivissensis (Ibiza, Mediterranean)
  - Madeira rail, Rallus lowei (Madeira, Macaronesia)
  - Porto Santo rail, Rallus adolfocaesaris (Porto Santo Island, Macaronesia)
  - Rallus sp. (known from subfossil remains found on Madeira and Porto Santo Island)
  - São Miguel rail, Rallus carvaoensis (São Miguel Island, Azores)
  - Pico rail, Rallus montivagorum (Pico Island, Azores)
  - São Jorge rail, Rallus nanus (São Jorge Island, Azores) (erroneously previously described as Rallus minutus, which is a junior homonym)
  - Graciosa rail, Rallus sp. (Graciosa, Azores)
  - Terceira rail, Rallus sp. (Terceira, Azores)
  - Santa Maria rail, Rallus sp. (Santa Maria Island, Azores)
  - Lifuka rail, Gallirallus sp. (Lifuka, Tonga)
  - Nuku Hiva rail, Gallirallus epulare (Nuku Hiva, Marquesas)
  - Ua Huka rail, Gallirallus gracilitibia (Ua Huka, Marquesas)
  - Niue rail, Gallirallus huiatua (Niue, Cook Islands)
  - Mangaia rail, Gallirallus ripleyi (Mangaia, Cook Islands)
  - Tahuata rail, Gallirallus roletti (Tahuata, Marquesas)
  - Huahine rail, Gallirallus storrsolsoni (Huahine, Society Islands)
  - Hiva Oa rail, Gallirallus sp. (Marquesas, Pacific)
  - [[ʻEua rail]], Gallirallus vekamatolu (ʻEua, Tonga)
  - Rota rail, Gallirallus temptatus (Rota, Marianas, West Pacific)
  - Aguiguan rail, Gallirallus pisonii (Aguiguan, Marianas, West Pacific)
  - Tinian rail, Gallirallus pendiculentus (Tinian, Marianas, West Pacific)
  - Saipan rail, Gallirallus sp. (Saipan, Marianas, West Pacific)
  - New Ireland rail, Gallirallus ernstmayri (New Ireland, Melanesia)
  - Norfolk Island rail, Gallirallus sp. (Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific) – may have survived to the 19th century
  - [[Great Oʻahu crake]], Porzana ralphorum (Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Great Maui crake, Porzana severnsi (Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Mangaia crake, Porzana rua (Mangaia, Cook Islands)
  - Liliput crake, Porzana menehune (Moloka'i, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Small O‘ahu crake, Porzana ziegleri (Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Small Maui crake, Porzana keplerorum (Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Easter Island crake, Porzana sp. (Easter Island, Southeast Pacific)
  - Great Hawaiian crake, Porzana sp. (Big Island, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Great Kaua‘i crake, Porzana sp. (Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Huahine crake, Porzana sp. (Huahine, Society Islands)
  - Mangaia crake #2, Porzana sp. (Mangaia, Cook Islands)
  - Marquesas crake, Porzana sp. (Ua Huka, Marquesas)
  - Mariana crake, Porzana sp. (Marianas, West Pacific) – possibly four species
  - Medium Kaua'i crake, Porzana sp. (Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Medium Maui crake, Porzana sp. (Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Small Hawaiian crake, Porzana sp. (Big Island, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Hodgens' waterhen, Tribonyx hodgenorum (New Zealand)
  - Viti Levu gallinule, ?Gallinula sp. (Viti Levu, Fiji) – would be separated into Pareudiastes if that genus is considered valid, or may be a new genus
  - New Zealand coot, Fulica prisca (New Zealand)
  - Chatham coot, Fulica chathamensis (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific)
  - Fulica montanei (Chile)
  - [[Vavaʻu rail]], Hypotaenidia vavauensis (Vava'u, Tonga)
- Placement unresolved
  - Barbados rail, Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. (Barbados, West Indies) – formerly Fulica podagrica (partim)
  - Easter Island rail, Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. (Easter Island)
  - Fernando de Noronha rail, Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. (Fernando de Noronha, Atlantic) – probably survived into historic times
Gruidae – cranes
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Cuban flightless crane, Antigone cubensis (Cuba, West Indies)
†Aptornithidae – adzebills (probably belongs in a separate order)
- †Aptornis
  - North Island adzebill, Aptornis otidiformis (North Island, New Zealand)
  - South Island adzebill, Aptornis defossor (South Island, New Zealand)

Eurypygiformes

Rhynochetidae – kagus
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Lowland kagu, Rhynochetos orarius (New Caledonia, Melanesia)

Procellariiformes

The group that includes modern albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels and storm petrels.

Procellariidae – petrels
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Dune shearwater or Hole's shearwater, Puffinus holeae (Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, and the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula)
  - Lava shearwater or Olson's shearwater, Puffinus olsoni (Canary Islands, E Atlantic)
  - Saint Helena shearwater, Puffinus pacificoides (St. Helena, South Atlantic)
  - Scarlett's shearwater, Puffinus spelaeus (South Island, New Zealand)
  - Menorcan shearwater, Puffinus sp. (Menorca, Balearic Islands) – possibly an extirpated population of an extant species
  - [[ʻEua shearwater]], Puffinus sp. (ʻEua, Tonga)
  - [[ʻEua petrel]], Puffinus sp. (ʻEua, Tonga)
  - [[Oʻahu petrel]], Pterodroma jugabilis (Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Canary Islands petrel, Pterodroma sp. (El Hierro, Canary Islands) – possibly an extirpated population of an extant species
  - Imber's petrel, Pterodroma imberi (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific)
  - Pterodroma sp. (Henderson Island, S Pacific)
  - Pterodroma sp. (Norfolk Island, Southwest Pacific)
  - Bourne's petrel, Pterodroma sp. (Rodrigues)
  - Pseudobulweria sp. (Taravai, Angakauitai, Mangareva)
- Placement unresolved
  - Procellariidae sp. (Easter Island, East Pacific) – possibly an extirpated population of an extant species

Sphenisciformes

Spheniscidae – Penguins
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Eudyptes – Crested Penguins
    - Chatham penguin, Eudyptes warhami (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific) – possibly still extant between 1867 and 1872
  - Megadyptes
    - Waitaha penguin, Megadyptes waitaha (South Island and Stewart Island, New Zealand)

Ciconiiformes

Ciconiidae – storks
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Leptoptilos robustus (Flores, Indonesia)
  - Asphalt stork or La Brea stork, Ciconia maltha (western and southern U.S.)
  - Mycteria wetmorei (Cuba)

Suliformes

The group that includes modern boobies, gannets and cormorants.

Phalacrocoracidae – cormorants and shags
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Serventy's cormorant, Microcarbo serventyorum (Western Australia)
  - Madagascar cormorant, Phalacrocorax sp. (Madagascar)
  - Kohatu shag, Leucocarbo septentrionalis (North Island, New Zealand)
Sulidae – gannets and boobies
- Extinct subspecies of extant species
  - Ua Huka booby, Papasula abbotti costelloi (Ua Huka, Marquesas)

Pelecaniformes

Ardeidae – herons
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Bennu heron, Ardea bennuides (United Arab Emirates)
  - Niue night heron, Nycticorax kalavikai (Niue)
  - [[ʻEua night heron]], Nycticorax sp. ('Eua, Tonga)
  - Lifuka night heron, Nycticorax sp. (Lifuka, Tonga) – may be synomymous with the ʻEua night heron
  - Mangaia night heron, Nycticorax sp. (Mangaia, Cook Islands)
- Placement unresolved
  - Ardeidae gen. et sp. indet. (Easter Island, E Pacific)
Threskiornithidae – ibises
- †Apteribis
  - Maui highland ibis, Apteribis brevis (Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Molokaʻi ibis, Apteribis glenos (Molokaʻi, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Maui lowland ibis, Apteribis sp. (Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Lanai ibis, Apteribis sp. (Lanai, Hawaiian Islands)
- †Xenicibis
  - Jamaican ibis, Xenicibis xympithecus (Jamaica, West Indies)

Cathartiformes

†Teratornithidae – teratorns
- †Teratornis
  - Merriam's teratorn, Teratornis merriami (southwestern and southeastern U.S.)
- †Oscaravis
  - Cuban teratorn, Oscaravis olsoni (Cuba)
Cathartidae – New World vultures
- †Pampagyps
  - Pampagyps imperator (Argentina)
- †Wingegyps
  - Wingegyps cartellei (Brazil)
- †Pleistovultur
  - Pleistovultur nevesi (Brazil)
- †Geronogyps
  - Geronogyps reliquus (Peru and Argentina)
- †Breagyps
  - La Brea condor or long-legged vulture, Breagyps clarki (southwestern U.S.)
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Emslie's vulture, Cathartes emsliei (Cuba, West Indies)
  - Pleistocene black vulture, Coragyps occidentalis (southwestern and western U.S.)
  - Cuban condor, Gymnogyps varonai (Cuba, West Indies)

Phoenicopteriformes

The group that includes modern flamingos.

Phoenicopteridae - flamingos
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Phoenicopterus copei (Late Pleistocene of W North America and C Mexico)
  - Phoenicopterus minutus (Late Pleistocene of California, U.S.)

Mesitornithiformes

Mesitornithidae – mesites
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Monias sp. (Madagascar)

Columbiformes

Columbidae – doves and pigeons
- †Dysmoropelia
  - Saint Helena dove, Dysmoropelia dekarchiskos (Saint Helena, South Atlantic) – known from Late Pleistocene bones, but may have persisted until the 16th century
- †Natunaornis
  - Viti Levu giant pigeon, Natunaornis gigoura (Viti Levu, Fiji)
- †Bountyphaps
  - Henderson Island archaic pigeon, Bountyphaps obsoleta (Henderson Island, South Pacific)
- †Tongoenas
  - Tongan giant pigeon, Tongoenas burleyi (Tonga)
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Huahine cuckoo-dove, Macropygia arevarevauupa (Huahine, Society Islands)
  - Marquesas cuckoo-dove, Macropygia heana (Marquesas, Pacific)
  - Puerto Rican quail-dove, Geotrygon larva (Puerto Rico, West Indies)
  - Great ground dove, Pampusana nui (Marquesas and Cook Islands)
  - Henderson ground dove, Pampusana leonpascoi (Henderson Island, South Pacific)
  - New Caledonian ground dove, Pampusana longitarsus (New Caledonia)
  - Huahine ground dove, Pampusana sp. (Huahine, Society Islands) – P. nui?
  - Mangaia ground dove, Pampusana sp. (Mangaia, Cook Islands) – P. nui?
  - Rota ground dove, Pampusana sp. (Rota, Marianas)
  - Tongan tooth-billed pigeon, Didunculus placopedetes (Tonga, Pacific)
  - Kanaka pigeon, Caloenas canacorum (New Caledonia, Tonga)
  - Henderson imperial pigeon, Ducula harrisoni (Henderson Island, South Pacific)
  - Lakeba imperial pigeon, Ducula lakeba (Lakeba, Fiji)
  - Steadman's imperial pigeon, Ducula david ('Eua, Tonga, and Wallis Island)
  - Tongan imperial pigeon, Ducula sp. ('Eua, Foa and Lifuka, Tonga) – may be synomymous with either D. lakeba or D. david, or possibly a new species
  - Shutler's fruit pigeon, Ducula shutleri (Vava'u and Tongatapu, Tonga)
  - Ducula cf. galeata (Cook Islands) – possibly a new species
  - Ducula cf. galeata (Society Islands) – possibly a new species
  - Ducula sp. (Viti Levu, Fiji) – may be synomymous with D. lakeba
  - Tubuai fruit dove, Ptilinopus sp. (Tubuai, Austral Islands)
  - Columba melitensis (Malta, Sicily)

Cuculiformes

Cuculidae – cuckoos
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Henderson Island koel, Urodynamis cf. taitensis
  - Ancient coua, Coua primaeva (Madagascar)
  - Bertha's coua, Coua berthae (Madagascar)
- Extinct subspecies of extant species
  - Conkling's greater roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus conklingi (inland SW North America)

Accipitriformes

Birds of prey

Accipitridae – hawks and eagles
- †Bermuteo
  - Bermuda hawk, Bermuteo avivorus (Bermuda, West Atlantic)
- †Amplibuteo
  - Woodward's eagle, Amplibuteo woodwardi (North America and West Indies)
- †Gigantohierax
  - Gigantohierax suarezi (Cuba, West Indies)
  - Gigantohierax itchei (Cuba, West Indies)
- †Titanohierax
  - Titanohierax gloveralleni (Bahamas, West Indies)
  - Titanohierax sp. (Hispaniola, West Indies)
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Powerful goshawk, Accipiter efficax (New Caledonia, Melanesia)
  - Gracile goshawk, Accipiter quartus (New Caledonia, Melanesia)
  - Accipiter sp. 1 (New Ireland, Melanesia)
  - Accipiter sp. 2 (New Ireland, Melanesia) – one of the two New Ireland species may be the extant Meyer's goshawk
  - Aquila sp. "large" (Madagascar)
  - Aquila sp. "small" (Madagascar)
  - Buteogallus borrasi (Cuba, West Indies) – formerly in Aquila / Titanohierax
  - Wood harrier, Circus dossenus (Moloka‘i, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Eyles's harrier, Circus teauteensis (New Zealand)
  - Haast's eagle, Hieraeetus moorei (South Island, New Zealand)
  - Hawaiian eagle, Haliaeetus sp. (Main Hawaiian Islands)
  - Malagasy crowned eagle, Stephanoaetus mahery (Madagascar)
  - Maltese vulture, Gyps meltensis (Malta)
- Extinct subspecies of extant species
  - Aquila chrysaetos simurgh (Crete) (sometimes considered a distinct species)

Caprimulgiformes

Nightjars and potoos

Caprimulgidae – nightjars
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Cuban pauraque, Siphonorhis daiquiri (Cuba, West Indies) – possibly extant

Aegotheliformes

Owlet-nightjars

Aegothelidae
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - New Zealand owlet-nightjar, Aegotheles novaezealandiae (New Zealand) – formerly Megaegotheles

Apodiformes

Swifts and hummingbirds.

Apodidae – swifts
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Mangaia swiftlet, Aerodramus manuoi (Mangaia, Cook Islands) – formerly Collocalia

Bucerotiformes

Hornbills and relatives. Formerly included in Coraciiformes.

Bucerotidae – hornbills
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Lifou hornbill, Rhyticeros ("Aceros") sp. (Lifou, Loyalty Islands)

Piciformes

Woodpeckers, puffbird and jacamars.

Picidae – woodpeckers
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Bermuda flicker, Colaptes oceanicus (Bermuda, West Atlantic) – known from Late Pleistocene and Holocene bones, but may have persisted until the 17th century

Coraciiformes

Brachypteraciidae – ground rollers
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Brachypteracias
    - Ampoza ground roller, Brachypteracias lagrandi (Madagascar)

Strigiformes

Typical owls and barn owls.

Strigidae – typical owls
- †Grallistrix
  - [[Kauaʻi stilt-owl]], Grallistrix auceps (Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Maui stilt-owl, Grallistrix erdmani (Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
  - [[Molokaʻi stilt-owl]], Grallistrix geleches (Molokaʻi, Hawaiian Islands)
  - [[Oʻahu stilt-owl]], Grallistrix orion (O'ahu, Hawaiian Islands)
- †Ornimegalonyx
  - Cuban giant owl, Ornimegalonyx oteroi (Cuba, West Indies)
  - Ornimegalonyx sp. – probably a subspecies of O. oteroi
- †Asphaltoglaux
  - Asphalt miniature owl, Asphaltoglaux cecileae (Southern California, North America)
- †Oraristrix
  - La Brea owl, Oraristrix brea (Southern California, North America)
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Cuban horned owl, Bubo osvaldoi (Cuba, West Indies)
  - Cretan owl, Athene cretensis (Crete, Mediterranean)
  - New Caledonia boobook, Ninox cf. novaeseelandiae (New Caledonia, Melanesia) – possibly extant
  - Madeiran scops owl (Otus mauli) (Madeira)
  - São Miguel scops owl (Otus frutuosoi) (Azores)
  - Kurochkin's pygmy owl (Glaucidium kurochkini) (Southern California, North America)
  - Bermuda saw-whet owl (Aegolius gradyi) (Bermuda) – known from Pleistocene bones, but may have persisted until the early 1600s
  - Asio ecuadoriensis (Ecuador)
- Placement unresolved
  - Strigidae gen. et sp. indet. (Ibiza, Mediterranean)
Tytonidae – barn owls
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Puerto Rican barn owl, Tyto cavatica (Puerto Rico, West Indies) – may still have existed up to 1912; likely a subspecies of, or synonymous with, the extant ashy-faced owl (Tyto glaucops)
  - Cuban dwarf barn owl, Tyto maniola (Cuba, West Indies)
  - New Caledonian barn owl, ?Tyto letocarti (New Caledonia, Melanesia)
  - Maltese barn owl, Tyto melitensis (Malta, Mediterranean) – possibly a paleosubspecies of, or synonymous with, the extant western barn owl (Tyto alba)
  - Noel's barn owl, Tyto noeli (Cuba, Barbuda, West Indies) – Tyto neddi is a synonym
  - Hispaniolan barn owl, Tyto ostologa (Hispaniola, West Indies)
  - Bahama giant barn owl, Tyto pollens (Little Exuma and New Providence, Bahamas, West Indies) – Rivero's barn owl (Tyto riveroi) is a synonym
  - Antiguan barn owl Tyto sp. (Antigua, West Indies)
  - Mussau barn owl, Tyto cf. novaehollandiae (Mussau, Melanesia)
  - Greater New Ireland barn owl, Tyto cf. novaehollandiae (New Ireland, Melanesia)
  - Lesser New Ireland barn owl, Tyto cf. alba / aurantiaca (New Ireland, Melanesia)
  - Craves' giant barn owl, Tyto cravesae (Cuba, West Indies)

Falconiformes

Falconidae – falcons
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Puerto Rican caracara, Caracara latebrosus (Puerto Rico, West Indies)
  - Bahaman caracara, Caracara creightoni (Bahamas and Cuba, West Indies) – may be synomynous with Caracara latebrosus
  - Jamaican caracara, Caracara tellustris (Jamaica, West Indies)
  - La Brea caracara, Caracara prelutosa (Rancho La Brea, San Miguel Island, California)
  - Caracara major (Venezuela)
  - Caracara seymouri (Peru, Ecuador)
  - Cuban caracara, Milvago carbo (Cuba, West Indies)
  - ?Milvago sp. (Jamaica, West Indies)
  - Cuban kestrel, Falco kurochkini (Cuba, West Indies) – may have survived to the 17th century
  - Phalcoboenus napieri (Falkland Islands)

Psittaciformes

Placement unresolved
- Psittaciformes gen. et sp. indet. (Rota, Marianas) – cf. Cacatua / Eclectus?
Strigopidae – kakas and kakapos
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Chatham kākā, Nestor chathamensis (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific)
Cacatuidae – cockatoos
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - New Caledonian cockatoo, Cacatua sp. (New Caledonia)
  - New Ireland cockatoo, Cacatua sp. (New Ireland)
Psittacidae – parrots, parakeets, and lorikeets
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Saint Croix macaw, Ara autocthones (St. Croix, West Indies)
  - Oceanic eclectus, Eclectus infectus (Tonga, Vanuatu, possibly Fiji) – may have survived to the 18th century or even longer
  - Sinoto's lorikeet, Vini sinotoi (Marquesas, Pacific)
  - Conquered lorikeet, Vini vidivici (Mangaia, Cook Islands, and Marqesas)
  - Campbell parakeet, Cyanoramphus sp. (Campbell Island, New Zealand)
- Extinct subspecies of an extant species
  - Virgin Islands amazon (Amazona vittata ssp. indet.)
- Placement unresolved
  - Psittacidae gen. et sp. indet. 1 (Easter Island)
  - Psittacidae gen. et sp. indet. 2 (Easter Island)
  - Psittacidae gen. et sp. indet. (Guam, Marianas) – cf. Trichoglossus / Vini?

Passeriformes

Placement unresolved
- Slender-billed Kauaʻi passerine, Passeriformes gen. et sp. indet. (Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands)
- Tiny Kauaʻi passerine, Passeriformes gen. et sp. indet. (Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands)
Acanthisittidae – New Zealand wrens
- †Pachyplichas
  - South Island stout-legged wren, Pachyplichas yaldwyni (North Island, New Zealand)
  - North Island stout-legged wren, Pachyplichas jagmi (South Island, New Zealand) – may be a subspecies of P. yaldwyni
- †Dendroscansor
  - Long-billed wren, Dendroscansor decurvirostris (South Island, New Zealand)
- Extinct subspecies of extant species
  - North Island rock wren, Xenicus gilviventris ssp. nov. (North Island, New Zealand) – a subspecies of X. gilviventris
Corvidae – crows, ravens, jays and magpies
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - High-billed crow, Corvus impluviatus (Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Robust crow, Corvus viriosus (Oʻahu and Molokaʻi, Hawaiian Islands)
  - New Zealand raven, Corvus antipodum (New Zealand)
    - North Island raven, Corvus antipodum antipodum (North Island, New Zealand)
    - South Island raven, Corvus antipodum pycrafti (South Island, New Zealand)
  - Chatham raven, Corvus moriorum (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific)
  - New Ireland crow, Corvus sp. (New Ireland, Melanesia)
  - Puerto Rican crow, Corvus pumilis (Puerto Rico and St. Croix, West Indies) – probably a subspecies of either the Cuban crow (Corvus nasicus) or the palm crow (Corvus palmarum)
Hirundinidae – swallows and martins
- Extinct subspecies of extant species
  - Henderson Island Pacific swallow, Hirundo tahitensis ssp. nov. (Henderson Island, South Pacific)
Cettiidae – bush warblers
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - [[ʻEua bush warbler]], Horornis sp. (ʻEua, Tonga)
Zosteropidae – white-eyes
- Placement unresolved
  - Tongan large white-eye, Zosteropidae gen. et sp. indet. (ʻEua, Tonga)
  - Guam large white-eye, Zosteropidae gen. et sp. indet. (Guam, Marianas)
Sturnidae – starlings
- †Cryptopsar
  - Mauritius starling, Cryptopsar ischyrhynchus (Mauritius, Mascarenes)
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Huahine starling, Aplonis diluvialis (Huahine, Society Islands)
  - Erromango starling, Aplonis sp. (Erromango, Vanuatu)
Turdidae – thrushes
- †Meridiocichla
  - Meridiocichla salotti (Corsica)
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - [[Olomaʻo]], Myadestes lanaiensis (Maui, Hawaiian Islands) – may have survived until the 19th century
Mohoidae – Hawaiian honeyeaters
- Prehistorically extinct species of recently extinct genera
  - [[Oʻahu kioea]], Chaetoptila cf. angustipluma (Oʻahu and Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Narrow-billed kioea, ?Chaetoptila sp. (Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
Fringillidae – true finches and Hawaiian honeycreepers
- †Orthiospiza
  - Highland finch, Orthiospiza howarthi (Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
- †Xestospiza
  - Cone-billed finch, Xestospiza conica (Kauaʻi and Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Ridge-billed finch, Xestospiza fastigialis (Oʻahu, Maui and Molokaʻi, Hawaiian Islands)
- †Vangulifer
  - Strange-billed finch, Vangulifer mirandus (Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Thin-billed finch, Vangulifer neophasis (Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
- †Aidemedia
  - [[Oʻahu icterid-like gaper]], Aidemedia chascax (Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Sickle-billed gaper, Aidemedia zanclops (Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Maui Nui icterid-like gaper, Aidemedia lutetiae (Maui and Molokaʻi, Hawaiian Islands)
- Prehistorically extinct species of extant and recently extinct genera
  - Slender-billed greenfinch, Chloris aurelioi (Tenerife, Canary Islands)
  - Trias greenfinch, Chloris triasi (La Palma, Canary Islands)
  - Greater Azores bullfinch, Pyrrhula crassa (Graciosa, Azores)
  - [[Kauaʻi finch]], Telespiza persecutrix (Kauaʻi and Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Maui Nui finch, Telespiza ypsilon (Maui and Molokaʻi, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Maui finch, Telespiza cf. ypsilon (Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
  - [[Kauaʻi palila]], Loxioides kikuichi (Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands) – possibly survived until the early 18th century
  - Scissor-billed koa finch, Rhodacanthis forfex (Kauaʻi and Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Primitive koa finch, Rhodacanthis litotes (Oʻahu and Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Wahi grosbeak, Chloridops wahi (Oʻahu and Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
  - King Kong grosbeak, Chloridops regiskongi (Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands)
  - [[Kauaʻi grosbeak]], Chloridops sp. (Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands) – may be synomynous with C. wahi
  - Maui grosbeak, Chloridops sp. (Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
  - [[Giant nukupuʻu]], Hemignathus vorpalis (Big Island, Hawaiian Islands)
  - [[Hoopoe-billed ʻakialoa]], Akialoa upupirostris (Kauaʻi and Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands)
  - [[Giant ʻakialoa]], Akialoa sp. (Big Island, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Akialoa sp. (Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
  - Stout-legged finch, Ciridops tenax (Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands)
  - [[Molokaʻi ʻula-ʻai-hawane]], Ciridops cf. anna (Molokaʻi, Hawaiian Islands)
  - [[Oʻahu ʻula-ʻai-hawane]], Ciridops sp. (Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands)
- Placement unresolved
  - Drepanidini gen. et sp. indet. (Maui, Hawaiian Islands) – at least three species
  - Drepanidini gen. et sp. indet. (Oʻahu, Hawaiian Islands)
Estrildidae – waxbills
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Marianas parrotfinch, Erythrura sp. (Guam and Rota, Marianas)
Emberizidae – Old World buntings
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Long-legged bunting, Emberiza alcoveri (Tenerife, Canary Islands)
Passerellidae – New World sparrows
- †Pedinorhis
  - Puerto Rican obscure bunting, Pedinorhis stirpsarcana (Puerto Rico, West Indies)
Icteridae - New World blackbirds, orioles and grackles
- †Pandanaris
  - Convex-billed cowbird, Pandanaris convexa (California and Florida south through Mexico to South America)
- Extinct species of extant genera
  - Large-billed blackbird, Euphagus magnirostris (California south to South America)
  - Talara cowbird, Molothrus resinosus (Peru)
  - Talara troupial, Icterus turmalis (Peru)