All of the species on this page have been recorded in the wild in North America or its offshore waters, including the northern Bahama Islands. Although all of the species depicted may be seen in North America not all of the photos shown here were necessarily taken there.
The major advances in molecular systematics in the last 20 years has caused significant changes in the taxonomic classification of birds, and the order used below for the non-passerine birds follows that proposed in HBW & Birdlife International's Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World vol.1 (del Hoyo & Collar, 2014). Apart from a restructuring of the order of the families, other major changes in the new taxonomy of the non-passerines compared to that in the print version of HBW (volumes 1-7) include the lumping and spliting of several families. For example, in the new classification, gulls, terns and skimmers are all classed under the family heading of Laridae and grouse, partridges, pheasants and turkeys have been combined to create a larger Phasianidae family. Splitting events at the family level don't affect quite so many species in the new taxonomy with most new families being either monotypic or containing just a handful of species. Until the passerine volume of the new checklist is published, the passerine families will follow the taxonomy laid out in volumes 8-16 of HBW (del Hoyo et al., Lynx Edicions 2003-2011).
Chachalacas, Guans & Curassows (Cracidae)
New World Quails (Odontophoridae)
Pheasants, Grouse & Turkeys (Phasianidae)
Ducks & Swans (Anatidae)
Grebes (Podicipedidae)
Pigeons & Doves (Columbidae)
Nightjars (Caprimulgidae)
Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
Cuckoos (Cuculidae)
Rails & Crakes (Rallidae)
Cranes (Aramidae)
Limpkin (Aramidae)
Divers / Loons (Gaviidae)
Storm-petrels (Hydrobatidae)
Albatrosses (Diomedeidae)
Petrels & Shearwaters (Procellariidae)
Storks (Ciconiidae)
Spoonbills & Ibises (Threskiornithidae)
Herons & Egrets (Ardeidae)
Pelicans (Pelecanidae)
Frigatebirds (Fregatidae)
Gannets & Boobies (Sulidae)
Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae)
Anhingas (Anhingidae)
Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae)
Stilts & Avocets (Recurvirostridae)
Plovers & Lapwings (Charadriidae)
Jacanas (Jacanidae)
Sandpipers (Scolopacidae)
Gulls, Terns & Skimmers (Laridae)
Skuas (Stercorariidae)
Auks (Alcidae)
Barn-owls (Tytonidae)
Owls (Strigidae)
New World Vultures (Cathartidae)
Osprey (Pandionidae)
Hawks & Eagles (Accipitridae)
Kingfishers (Alcidinidae)
Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Falcons (Falconidae)
Tyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae)
Larks (Alaudidae)
Swallows & Martins (Hirundinidae)
Pipits & Wagtails (Motacillidae)
Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae)
Silky Flycatchers (Ptilogonatidae)
Phainopepla |
Waxwings (Bombycilidae)
Dippers (Cinclidae)
Wrens (Troglodytidae)
Mockingbirds & Thrashers (Mimidae)
Thrushes (Turdidae)
Gnatcatchers (Polioptilidae)
Babblers (Timalidae)
Chickadees (Paridae)
Long-tailed Tits (Aegithalidae)
Nuthatches (Sittidae)
Treecreepers (Certhidae)
Shrikes (Laniidae)
Crows (Corvidae)
Starlings (Sturnidae)
Old World Sparrows (Passeridae)
Vireos (Vireonidae)
Finches (Fringillidae)
New World Warblers (Parulidae)
Tanagers (Thraupidae)
Cardinals (Cardinalidae)
New World Sparrows (Emberizidae)
New World Blackbirds (Icteridae)
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They may not be used or copied in any form without prior written permission.
raywilsonphotography@googlemail.com
