How to see all the World’s Bird Families

 

Most of us are never going to have the time or the resources to see 8000 bird species or more in our lifetime, let alone the full 10,500 or more, but for many of us a far more achievable and in many ways richer milestone is to see every basic form of avian life; in other words, all the bird families of the world.

In recent times, many people have taken up this ambition, which is not only eminently achievable for a much wider group of birders, but which will take you to a fantastic diversity of wild places, in every continent with the possible exceptions of Europe and Antarctica.

Just in case you think seeing all the world’s bird families is still a tall order, we can reassure you that with careful planning it is not that difficult. Many years ago, Derek Scott, already a long-established Birdquest guide at that time, and a friend of his managed to see all the world’s bird families in a single year, and got themselves into the Guinness Book of Records in the process!

Quite a lot of bird families occur in relatively restricted geographical areas and some are highly localized, or may only be seen reliably on just one or a very few tours even if they range more widely.

This guide is intended to point out the essential Birdquest tour destinations for seeing the more restricted-range or more localized families. Only tours with a very high chance of a sighting are mentioned without additional comment.

Taxonomy here follows the IOC World Bird List.

 

STRATEGY FOR SEEING THE WORLD’S BIRD FAMILIES

Seeing the numerous widespread bird families is not at all difficult. A mere three tours and you will have seen the great majority of them, provided you spread those three tours across the Oriental, Afrotropical and Neotropical regions, and visit their richest areas for birds.

Then it gets harder!

In this guide, we are only going to deal with those restricted-range families that take more time and planning to see.

 

VERY RESTRICTED-RANGE BIRD FAMILIES

A good number of bird families occupy just small parts of the planet, or for some reason or another can only practicably be reliably seen in one destination. To see all the world’s bird families you are going to need to visit the following destinations:

 

The ‘Big Five’ for key family listing

Australia (8 endemic families and the best or only place for 2 more!)

New Guinea (7 endemic families!)

New Zealand (6 endemic families!)

Madagascar (5 endemic families!)

Dominican Republic & Puerto Rico (4 endemic families!) (You can also add todies and spindalises, making 6 Caribbean endemic families)

Note: The best Australia tours for families are Eastern (only omits Plains-wanderer) and Southern & Tasmania (only omits scrub-birds). The best single New Guinea tour is Ultimate Papua New Guinea, which normally sees every endemic family (Ultimate West Papua normally does too, but not quite as often). All Madagascar tours see all endemic families.

 

Other key destinations

Ghana or elsewhere in West Africa (Picathartes) (You can also add Egyptian Plover)

Uganda (Shoebill) (You can also add Hylias and Dapple-throat & Allies)

South Africa (rockjumpers, sugarbirds)

The Tibetan Plateau (Przevalski’s Finch)

West Malaysia (Rail-babbler)

Borneo (Bornean Bristlehead) (Sabah state in Malaysia is best)

Sulawesi island in Indonesia (Hylocitrea)

New Caledonia (Kagu)

Cuba (Cuban warblers)

Costa Rica or western Panama (Wrenthrush) (You can also add toucan barbets)

Chile or southern Argentina (Magellanic Plover) (You can also add sheathbills in Argentina)

 

Here are the families that exclusively live in these places, and the tours you need to go on to see them:

KIWIS   FAMILY APTERYGIDAE (sole family in the order Apterygiformes): New Zealand

CASSOWARIES & EMU   FAMILY CASUARIIDAE: Cassowary: Eastern Australia; in addition West Papua (Best and Ultimate, 75% chance). Emu: former family Dromaiidae currently placed in Casuariidae by the IOC: Western Australia; Southern Australia & Tasmania

MAGPIE GOOSE  FAMILY ANSERANATIDAE: Australia (all tours except Southern & Tasmania)

MESITES   FAMILY MESITORNITHIDAE: Madagascar (all tours)

MAGELLANIC PLOVER   FAMILY PLUVIANELLIDAE: Ultimate Chile; Southern & Central Argentina

PLAINS-WANDERER   FAMILY PEDIONOMIDAE: Southern Australia & Tasmania

KAGU   FAMILY RHYNOCHETIDAE: New Caledonia

SHOEBILL   FAMILY BALAENICIPITIDAE: Uganda (all tours)

CUCKOO ROLLER   FAMILY LEPTOSOMIDAE: Madagascar (all tours)

GROUND ROLLERS   FAMILY BRACHYPTERACIIDAE: Madagascar (all tours)

NEW ZEALAND PARROTS   FAMILY STRIGOPIDAE: New Zealand

NEW ZEALAND WRENS   FAMILY ACANTHISITTIDAE: New Zealand

ASITIES   FAMILY PHILEPITTIDAE: Madagascar (all tours)

LYREBIRDS   FAMILY MENURIDAE: Southern Australia & Tasmania; Eastern Australia

SCRUB-BIRDS   FAMILY ATRICHORNITHIDAE: Western Australia; in addition Eastern Australia (80% chance)

BRISTLEBIRDS   FAMILY DASYORNITHIDAE: Western Australia; Southern Australia & Tasmania; Eastern Australia

PARDALOTES  FAMILY PARDALOTIDAE: Australia (all tours)

SATINBIRDS   FAMILY CNEMOPHILIDAE: Papua New Guinea (Best and Ultimate); in addition West Papua (Ultimate and Biak to Snow Mountains, 80% chance)

BERRYPECKERS & LONGBILLS    FAMILY MELANOCHARITIDAE: West Papua (all tours); Papua New Guinea (all tours)

PAINTED BERRYPECKERS   FAMILY PARAMYTHIIDAE: West Papua (Ultimate and Biak to Snow Mountains); Papua New Guinea (all tours)

NEW ZEALAND WATTLEBIRDS   FAMILY CALLAEIIDAE: New Zealand

STITCHBIRD   FAMILY NOTIOMYSTIDAE: New Zealand

WHIPBIRDS  FAMILY PSOPHODIDAE: Australia (all tours except Outback Queensland)

(BORNEAN) BRISTLEHEAD   FAMILY PITYRIASEIDAE: Borneo: Sabah; in addition Borneo: Sarawak & Kalimantan (50% chance)

MOTTLED BERRYHUNTER   RHAGOLOGIDAE: West Papua (Best and Ultimate); Papua New Guinea with a Difference; in addition Ultimate Papua New Guinea (80% chance)

WHITEHEADS   FAMILY MOHOUIDAE: New Zealand

(WATTLED) PLOUGHBILL   FAMILY EULACESTOMIDAE: Ultimate Papua New Guinea; in addition Best of Papua New Guinea (75% chance)

SHRIKETIT  FAMILY FALCUNCULIDAE: Australia (all tours except Northern Territory, where chances modest)

AUSTRALIAN MUDNESTERS   FAMILY CORCORACIDAE: Australia (all tours except Western)

MELAMPITTAS   FAMILY MELAMPITTIDAE: West Papua (all tours); Papua New Guinea (all tours).

BLUE-CAPPED IFRIT   FAMILY IFRITIDAE: Papua New Guinea; in addition West Papua (Ultimate and Biak to Snow Mountains: 75% chance)

ROCKFOWL (OR PICATHARTES)   FAMILY PICATHARTIDAE: Ghana (all tours); Sierra Leone; Cameroon (all tours)

ROCKJUMPERS   FAMILY CHAETOPIDAE: South Africa (all tours)

RAIL-BABBLER   FAMILY EUPETIDAE: Malay Peninsula, West Malaysia (nearly 100% chance)

PALMCHAT   FAMILY DULIDAE: Dominican Republic

HYLOCITREA   FAMILY HYLOCITREIDAE: Sulawesi, Indonesia (all tours)

MADAGASCAN WARBLERS   FAMILY BERNIERIDAE: Madagascar (all tours)

SUGARBIRDS   FAMILY PROMEROPIDAE: South Africa (all tours)

CHAT-TANAGERS  FAMILY CALYPTOPHILIDAE: Dominican Republic

HISPANIOLAN TANAGERS  FAMILY PHAENICOPHILIDAE: Dominican Republic

PUERTO RICAN TANAGER  FAMILY NEOSPINGIDAE: Puerto Rico

WRENTHRUSH  FAMILY ZELEDONIIDAE: Costa Rica (all tours)

CUBAN WARBLERS  FAMILY TERETISTRIDAE: Cuba

PRZEVALSKI’S (OR PINK-TAILED) FINCH   FAMILY UROCYNCHRAMIDAE: Tibet

 

RELATIVELY LOCALIZED BIRD FAMILIES

Then there are the restricted-range or localized families which can be seen more widely. You are also going to have to visit:

Guyana & Suriname (for really nailed down trumpeters, as opposed to hit-or-miss ones)

West Malaysia (Panti Forest in the Malay Peninsula is the place for Rail-babbler, in spite of its wide range)

Western India or Oman & Bahrain (Grey Hypocolius) (You can also add Crab-plover and, in Oman, Streaked Scrub Warbler)

Plus a series of other places in order to see the rest

 

RHEAS   FAMILY RHEIDAE: Jaguars & Birds of Brazil, The Pantanal & Interior Brazil; Bolivia (all tours); Paraguay; Chile; Argentina (all tours)

OILBIRD   FAMILY STEATORNITHIDAE: Trinidad; Eastern Venezuela; Classic Colombia

TRUMPETERS   FAMILY PSOPHIDAE: Guyana & Suriname (100% chance); Amazonian Peru: Tambopata & Madre de Dios (high chance)

SHEATHBILLS   FAMILY CHIONIDAE: Southern & Central Argentina; Antarctica (all tours)

IBISBILL   FAMILY IBIDORYNCHIDAE: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan; Tibet; Tigers & Birds of Northern India; Northeast India (all tours); Bhutan

EGYPTIAN PLOVER   FAMILY PLUVIANIDAE: Senegal; Ghana (all tours); Ultimate Cameroon

CRAB-PLOVER   FAMILY DROMADIDAE: Oman & Bahrain; Western India; Kenya; Ultimate Tanzania; in addition Madagascar (Best and Ultimate); Seychelles, Mauritius & Reunion; Comoro Islands (all 3 tours around 75% chance)

TODIES   FAMILY TODIDAE: Cuba; Dominican Republic & Puerto Rico; Jamaica

TOUCAN BARBETS  FAMILY SEMNORNITHIDAE: Costa Rica (all tours); Ecuador (Best and Ultimate)

SERIEMAS   FAMILY CARIAMIDAE: Northeast Brazil (all tours); Jaguars & Birds of Brazil; Pantanal & Interior Brazil; Paraguay; Northern Argentina

SAPAYOA   FAMILY SAPAYOIDAE: Colombia: Choco to Amazonia; Ultimate Ecuador

CRESCENTCHESTS   FAMILY MELANOPAREIIDAE: Southern Ecuador; Northern Peru; Northeast Brazil (all tours); Pantanal & Interior Brazil; Bolivia (all tours); Northern Argentina

LOGRUNNERS   FAMILY ORTHONYCHIDAE: Eastern Australia; West Papua (all tours); in addition Ultimate Papua New Guinea (80% chance)

SHARPBILL    FAMILY OXYRUNCIDAE (This species is currently placed in the Tityras & Becards, family Tityridae, by the IOC): Southeast Brazil (all tours)

SILKY-FLYCATCHERS   FAMILY PTILOGONATIDAE: Western Mexico; Southern Mexico; Guatemala & Honduras; Costa Rica (all tours)

(GREY) HYPOCOLIUS   FAMILY HYPOCOLIIDAE: Oman & Bahrain; Western India

BEARDED REEDLING   FAMILY PANURIDAE: Belarus; Hungary (all tours); Southern Turkey; Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan

(SPOTTED) ELACHURA   FAMILY ELACHURIDAE: Southeast China; Northeast India (all tours); Bhutan; Myanmar (Burma)

STREAKED SCRUB WARBLER   FAMILY SCOTOCERCIDAE: Morocco; Western Sahara; Israel; Iran; Oman & Bahrain

HYLIAS   FAMILY HYLIIDAE: Sierra Leone; Ghana (all tours); Cameroon (all tours); Gabon; Uganda (all tours); Kenya

DAPPLE-THROAT & ALLIES   FAMILY ARCANATORIDAE: Cameroon (all tours), Uganda (all tours); Kenya; Ultimate Tanzania

WALLCREEPER   FAMILY TICHODROMIDAE: Wild Spain; Hungary, Slovakia & Transylvania; Southern Turkey; Georgia; Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan & Turkmenistan; Mongolia; China’s Sichuan; Snow Leopards & Birds of Ladakh

OLIVE WARBLER   FAMILY PEUCEDRAMIDAE: Western Mexico; Southern Mexico; Guatemala & Honduras

(ROSY) THRUSH-TANAGER  FAMILY RHODINOCICHLIDAE: Western Mexico; Southern Mexico; Classic Colombia

SPINDALISES  FAMILY SPINDALIDAE: Bahamas; Cuba; Dominican Republic & Puerto Rico; Jamaica

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT  FAMILY ICTERIIDAE: Texas; Western Mexico; Southern Mexico; Guatemala & Honduras

LONGSPURS & SNOW BUNTINGS   FAMILY CALCARIIDAE: Finland & Arctic Norway; Iceland; Svalbard (Spitsbergen); Sakhalin, Kurils, Commanders & Kamchatka; Manitoba; Colorado; Alaska

 

ALL THE WORLD’S BIRD FAMILIES

(Families featuring in the bird family finding guide above are indicated in bold text)

 

Ostriches   Family Struthionidae (Afrotropical & marginally Palearctic)

Rheas  Family Rheidae  (Neotropical)

Kiwis  Family Apterigidae  (Australasian)

Cassowaries & Emu  Family Casuariidae (Australasian) Emu = Dromaiidae if treated as family

Tinamous   Family Tinamidae (Neotropical)

Megapodes   Family Megapodidae (Australasian)

Chachalacas, Curassows & Guans   Family Cracidae (Neotropical & Nearctic)

Guineafowl   Family Numididae (Afrotropical & marginally Palearctic)

New World Quails   Family Odontophoridae (Neotropical & Nearctic)

Pheasants & Allies   Family Phasianidae (Widespread)

Screamers   Family Anhimidae (Neotropical)

Magpie Goose  Family Anseranatidae (Australasian)

Ducks, Geese & Swans   Family Anatidae (Widespread)

Frogmouths   Family Podargidae   (tropical Asia and Australasia)

Oilbirds  Family Steatornithidae (Neotropical)

Potoos   Family Nyctibiidae (Neotropical)

Nightjars   Family Caprimulgidae (Widespread)

Owlet-nightjars   Family Aegothelidae (Australasian)

Treeswifts   Family Hemiprocnidae   (tropical Asia to the Solomons)

Swifts   Family Apodidae (Widespread)

Hummingbirds   Family Trochilidae (Neotropical & Nearctic)

Turacos   Family Musophagidae (Afrotropical)

Bustards   Family Otididae   (Old World and Australia)

Cuckoos   Family Cuculidae (Widespread)

Mesites  Family Mesitornithidae  (Afrotropical: Madagascar)

Sandgrouse   Family Pteroclidae   (Old World)

Pigeons & Doves   Family Columbidae (Widespread)

Flufftails  (& Madagascan Wood Rails)  Family Sarothruridae (Afrotropical)

Finfoots   Family Heliornithidae (Widespread)

Rails, Crakes & Coots   Family Rallidae (Widespread)

Trumpeters  Family Psophidae  (Neotropical)

Cranes   Family Gruidae (Widespread)

Limpkin   Family Aramidae (Neotropical & Nearctic)

Grebes   Family Podicipedidae (Widespread)

Flamingos   Family Phoenicopteridae (Widespread)

Buttonquails   Family Turnicidae   (Old World and Australia)

Stone-curlews & Thick-knees   Family Burhinidae (Widespread)

Sheathbills  Family Chionidae (southern South America, Antarctica and subantarctic)

Magellanic Plover  Family Pluvianellidae (Neotropical)

Oystercatchers   Family Haematopodidae (Widespread)

Ibisbill  Family Ibidorhynchidae (Palearctic and marginally Oriental)

Stilts & Avocets   Family Recurvirostridae (Widespread)

Plovers   Family Charadriidae (Widespread)

Egyptian Plover  Family Pluvianidae (Afrotropical)

Painted-snipes   Family Rostratulidae (Widespread)

Jacanas   Family Jacanidae (Widespread)

Plains-wanderer  Family Pedionomidae (Australasian)

Sandpipers & Snipes   Family Scolopacidae (Widespread)

Seedsnipes   Family Thinocoridae (Neotropical)

Crab-plover  Family Dromadidae (Indian Ocean, Red Sea and Persian Gulf)

Coursers & Pratincoles   Family Glareolidae   (Old World and Australasia)

Gulls, Terns & Skimmers   Family Laridae (Widespread)

Skuas   Family Stercoraridae (Widespread)

Auks (or Alcids)  Family Alcidae (Holarctic)

Kagu  Family Rhinochetidae (Australasian: New Caledonia)

Tropicbirds   Family Phaethontidae (Widespread)

Sunbittern   Family Eurypygidae (Neotropical)

Loons (or Divers)   Family Gaviidae   (Holarctic)

Penguins   Family Spheniscidae   (Widespread in south)

Austral Storm Petrels  Family Oceanitidae (Widespread)

Albatrosses   Family Diomedeidae   (Widespread)

Northern Storm Petrels   Family Hydrobatidae (Widespread)

Petrels, Shearwaters & Diving Petrels   Family Procellariidae (Widespread); diving petrels = Pelecanoididae if treated as family

Storks   Family Ciconiidae (Widespread)

Frigatebirds   Family Fregatidae (Widespread)

Gannets & Boobies   Family Sulidae (Widespread)

Cormorants & Shags   Family Phalacrocoracidae (Widespread)

Anhingas & Darters   Family Anhingidae (Widespread)

Ibises & Spoonbills   Family Threskiornithidae (Widespread)

Herons & Bitterns   Family Ardeidae (Widespread)

Hamerkop   Family Scopidae (Afrotropical & marginally Palearctic)

Shoebill  Family Balaenicipitidae (Afrotropical)

Pelicans   Family Pelecanidae (Widespread)

Hoatzin   Family Opisthocomidae (Neotropical)

New World Vultures   Family Cathartidae (Neotropical & Nearctic)

Secretarybird   Family Sagittariidae (Afrotropical)

Ospreys   Family Pandionidae (Widespread)

Kites, Hawks & Eagles   Family Accipitridae (Widespread)

Barn Owls   Family Tytonidae (Widespread)

Owls   Family Strigidae (Widespread)

Mousebirds   Family Coliidae (Afrotropical)

Cuckoo Roller  Family Leptosomidae (Afrotropical: Madagascar)

Trogons   Family Trogonidae (Widespread)

Hoopoes    Family Upupidae   (Old World)

Wood Hoopoes   Family Phoeniculidae (Afrotropical)

Ground Hornbills   Family Bucorvidae (Afrotropical)

Hornbills   Family Bucerotidae   (tropical Africa and Asia, east to the Solomons)

Rollers   Family Coraciidae   (Old World and Australasia)

Ground Rollers  Family Brachypteraciidae (Afrotropical: Madagascar)

Kingfishers   Family Alcedinidae (Widespread)

Todies  Family Todidae (Neotropical: Caribbean islands)

Motmots   Family Momotidae (Neotropical)

Bee-eaters   Family Meropidae   (Old World and Australasia)

Jacamars   Family Galbulidae (Neotropical)

Puffbirds   Family Bucconidae (Neotropical)

New World Barbets   Family Capitonidae (Neotropical)

Toucan Barbets  Family Semornithidae (Neotropical)

Toucans   Family Ramphastidae (Neotropical)

Asian Barbets   Family Megalaimidae (Oriental & marginally Palearctic)

African Barbets   Family Lybiidae (Afrotropical)

Honeyguides   Family Indicatoridae   (tropical Africa and to a much lesser degree southern Asia)

Woodpeckers   Family Picidae (Widespread)

Seriemas  Family Cariamidae (Neotropical)

Caracaras & Falcons   Family Falconidae (Widespread)

New Zealand Parrots  Family Strigopidae (Australasian: New Zealand)

Cockatoos   Family Cacatuidae (Australasian)

African & New World Parrots   Family Psittacidae (Widespread)

Old World Parrots  Family Psittaculidae (Africa to Australasia)

 

PASSERIFORMES

New Zealand Wrens  Family Acanthisittidae (Australasian: New Zealand)

Sapayoa  Family Sapayoidae (Neotropical)

Typical Broadbills   Family Eurylaimidae   (tropical Africa and Asia; outliers in Madagascar and the American tropics)

Asities  Family Philepittidae (Afrotropical: Madagascar)

African & Green Broadbills  Family Calyptomenidae (Afrotropical & Oriental)

Pittas   Family Pittidae   (tropical Africa, Asia and Australasia)

Ovenbirds (or Furnarids)   Family Furnaridae (Neotropical)

Antbirds   Family Thamnophilidae (Neotropical)

Antthrushes   Family Formicaridae (Neotropical)

Antpittas   Family Grallariidae (Neotropical)

Gnateaters  Family Conopophagidae (Neotropical: Amazonia to coastal Brazil)

Tapaculos   Family Rhinocryptidae (Neotropical)

Crescentchests  Family Melanopareiidae (Neotropical)

Tyrant Flycatchers: Family Tyrannidae (Neotropical & Nearctic)

Cotingas   Family Cotingidae (Neotropical)

Manakins   Family Pipridae (Neotropical)

Tityras, Becards & Sharpbill  Family Tityridae (Neotropical & Nearctic). Includes Sharpbill = Oxyruncidae (Neotropical) if treated as a family.

Lyrebirds  Family Menuridae (Australasian: eastern Australia)

Scrub-birds  Family Atrichornithidae (Australasian: east and southwest Australia)

Bowerbirds   Family Ptilonorynchidae (Australasian)

Australasian Treecreepers   Family Climacteridae (Australasian)

Australasian Wrens   Family Maluridae (Australasian)

Honeyeaters   Family Meliphagidae (Australasian plus Bali)

Bristlebirds  Family Dasyornithidae (Australasian: southern Australia)

Pardalotes   Family Pardalotidae (Australasian)

Australasian Warblers   Family Acanthizidae (Australasian)

Australasian Babblers   Family Pomatostomidae (Australasian)

Logrunners  Family Orthonychidae (Australasian)

Satinbirds  Family Cnemophilidae (Australasian: New Guinea)

Berrypeckers & Longbills  Family Melanocharitidae (Australasian: New Guinea)

Painted Berrypeckers  Family Paramythiidae (Australasian: New Guinea)

New Zealand Wattlebirds  Family Callaeidae (Australasian: New Zealand)

Stitchbird  Family Notiomystidae (Australasian: New Zealand)

Whipbirds  Family Psophodidae (Australasian)

Jewel-babblers & Quail-thrushes  Family Cinclosomatidae (Australasian)

Wattle-eyes & Batises  Family Platysteiridae (Afrotropical)

Bushshrikes  Family Malaconotidae (Afrotropical)

Boatbills  Family Machaerirynchidae (Australasian)

Vangas & Allies  Family Vangidae (Afrotropical). Includes Helmetshrikes (Afrotropical) = Prionopidae if treated as a family.

Includes Woodshrikes & Allies = Tephrodornithidae (Oriental & Palearctic) if treated as a family

(Bornean) Bristlehead  Family Pityriasidae (Oriental: Borneo)

Woodswallows, Butcherbirds & Allies   Family Artamidae   (Australasian & Oriental). Includes Butcherbirds & Allies = Cracticidae (Australasian) if treated as a family.

Mottled Berryhunter  Family Rhagologidae (Australasian: New Guinea)

Ioras   Family Aegithinidae (Oriental)

Cuckooshrikes   Family Campephagidae   (Africa, Asia and Australasia)

Whiteheads  Family Mohouidae (Australasian: New Zealand)

Sittellas   Family Neosittidae (Australasian)

(Wattled) Ploughbill  Family Eulacestomatidae (Australasian: New Guinea)

Austral-Papuan Bellbirds  Family Oreoicidae (Australasian)

Shriketit  Family Falcunculidae (Australasian: Australia)

Whistlers & Allies   Family Pachycephalidae   (Australasia and to a lesser degree tropical Asia)

Shrikes   Family Laniidae (Widespread)

Vireos, Greenlets & Shrike-babblers   Family Vireonidae   (primarily the Americas, with outliers in Asia)

Figbirds & Orioles   Family Oriolidae   (Old World and Australasia)

Drongos   Family Dicruridae   (Africa, Asia and Australasia)

Fantails   Family Rhipiduridae   (Asia and Australasia)

Monarchs   Family Monarchidae   (Africa, Asia and Australasia)

Crows & Jays   Family Corvidae (Widespread)

Australian Mudnesters  Family Corcoracidae (Australasian: east and north Australia)

Melampittas  Family Melampittidae (Australasian: New Guinea)

(Blue-capped) Ifrit  Family Ifritidae (Australasian: New Guinea)

Birds-of-paradise  Family Paradisaeidae (Australasian: Halmahera eastwards)

Australasian Robins   Family Petroicidae (Australasian)

Rockfowl (or Picathartes)  Family Picathartidae (Afrotropical: western Africa)

Rockjumpers  Family Chaetopidae (Afrotropical: South Africa)

Rail-babbler  Family Eupetidae (Oriental)

Waxwings  Family Bombycillidae (Holarctic)

Silky-flycatchers  Family Ptilogonatidae (Neotropical & Nearctic)

(Grey) Hypocolius  Family Hypocoliidae (Palearctic and marginally Oriental)

Palmchat  Family Dulidae (Neotropical: Hispaniola)

Hylocitrea  Family Mohoidae (Oriental: Sulawesi)

Fairy Flycatchers  Family Stenostiridae (Afrotropical & Oriental)

Tits & Chickadees   Family Paridae (Widespread)

Penduline Tits   Family Remizidae   (Old World)

Nicators   Family Nicatoridae (Afrotropical)

Bearded Reedling  Family Panuridae (Palearctic)

Larks  Family Alaudidae (Widespread)

Bulbuls   Family Pycnonotidae   (Africa and Asia)

Swallows & Martins   Family Hirundinidae (Widespread)

Cupwings   Family Pnoepygidae (Oriental & Palearctic)

Crombecs & African Warblers   Family Macrosphenidae (Afrotropical)

Cettia Bush Warblers & Allies   Family Cettiidae   (Old World to Fiji)

Streaked Scrub Warbler  Family Scotocercidae (Palearctic)

Yellow Flycatchers   Family Erythrocercidae (Afrotropical)

Hylias  Family Hyliidae (Afrotropical)

Bushtits   Family Aegithalidae (Widespread)

Leaf Warblers & Allies   Family Phylloscopidae   (Old World to the Solomons)

Reed Warblers & Allies   Family Acrocephalidae   (Old World & Australasia)

Grassbirds & Allies  Family Locustellidae   (Old World and Australasia)

Black-capped Donacobius   Family Donacobiidae (Neotropical)

Madagascan Warblers  Family Bernieridae (Afrotropical: Madagascar)

Cisticolas & Allies   Family Cisticolidae (Widespread)

Babblers & Scimitar Babblers   Timaliidae (Oriental and marginally Palearctic)

Fulvettas & Ground Babblers   Family Pellorneidae (Oriental)

Laughingthrushes & Allies   Family Leiothrichidae   (Africa and Asia)

Sylviid Babblers   Family Sylviidae   (Old World plus western North America)

White-eyes (& Yuhinas)   Family Zosteropidae   (Africa, Asia and Australasia)

Dapple-throat & Allies  Family Modulatricidae (Afrotropical)

Sugarbirds  Family Promeropidae (Afrotropical: southern Africa)

Fairy-bluebirds   Family Irenidae (Oriental)

Goldcrests & Kinglets   Family Regulidae (North America and Eurasia)

(Spotted) Elachura  Family Elachuridae (Oriental)

Hyliotas   Family Hyliotidae (Afrotropical)

Wrens   Family Troglodytidae   (primarily the Americas but also temperate Eurasia)

Gnatcatchers   Family Polioptilidae (Neotropical & Nearctic)

Nuthatches   Family Sittidae (Widespread)

Wallcreeper  Family Tichodromidae (Palearctic)

Treecreepers   Family Certhiidae (Widespread)

Mockingbirds & Thrashers   Family Mimidae (Neotropical & Nearctic)

Starlings & Rhabdornis   Family Sturnidae   (primarily Old World and Australasia, introduced elsewhere)

Oxpeckers   Family Buphagidae (Afrotropical)

Thrushes   Family Turdidae (Widespread)

Chats & Old World Flycatchers   Family Muscicapidae   (Old World to New Guinea)

Dippers   Family Cinclidae (Widespread)

Leafbirds   Family Chloropseidae (Oriental)

Flowerpeckers   Family Dicaeidae   (Asia and Australasia)

Sunbirds   Family Nectariniidae   (Africa, Asia and Australasia)

Old World Sparrows & Snowfinches:  Family Passeridae   (Old World, introduced elsewhere)

Weavers & Widowbirds   Family Ploceidae   (tropical Africa and Asia)

Waxbills, Munias & Allies   Family Estrildidae   (Africa, Asia and Australasia, introduced elsewhere)

Indigobirds & Whydahs   Family Viduidae (Afrotropical)

Olive Warbler  Family Peucedramidae (Neotropical and marginally Nearctic)

Accentors    Family Prunellidae    (Palearctic Eurasia)

Wagtails & Pipits    Family Motacillidae (Widespread)

Przevalski’s Finch  Family Urocynchramidae (Palearctic: Tibetan Plateau)

Finches & Euphonias   Family Fringillidae (Widespread)

Longspurs & Snow Buntings  Family Calcariidae (Holarctic)

(Rosy) Thrush-tanager  Family Rhodinocichlidae (Neotropical: Mexico to Venezuela)

Buntings  Family Emberizidae (Old World)

New World Sparrows  Family Passerellidae (Neotropical & Nearctic)

Chat-tanagers  Family Calyptophilidae (Neotropical: Hispaniola)

Hispaniolan Tanagers  Family Phaenicophilidae (Neotropical: Hispaniola)

Puerto Rican Tanager  Family Nesispingidae (Neotropical: Puerto Rico)

Spindalises  Family Spindalidae (Neotropical: Caribbean islands)

Wrenthrush  Family Zeledonidae (Neotropical: Costa Rica and Panama)

Cuban Warblers  Family Teretistridae (Neotropical: Cuba)

Yellow-breasted Chat  Family Icteridae (Neotropical & Nearctic)

Oropendolas, Orioles & Blackbirds   Family Icteridae (Neotropical & Nearctic)

New World Warblers   Family Parulidae (Neotropical & Nearctic)

Mitrospingid Tanagers  Family Mitrospingidae (Neotropical)

Cardinals, Grosbeaks & Allies   Family Cardinalidae (Neotropical & Nearctic)

Tanagers & Allies   Family Thraupidae (Neotropical & Nearctic). Includes Bananaquit = Coerebidae (Neotropical) if treated as a family.