This listing is based on the old "Wetmore Sequence." It has not been updated to reflect new knowledge. It is intended only to illustrate the diversity of birdlife worldwide.

Orders		Living Families	Living Species	Example Species	Species Range
Sphenisciformes	Penguins	1	15	Rockhopper Penguin	Subantarctic
Struthioniformes	Ostriches	1	1	Ostrich	Africa
Casuariformes	Cassowaries, Emus	2	4	Double-wattled Cassowary	Australia
Apterygiformes	Kiwis	1	3	Brown Kiwi	New Zealand
Rheiformes	Rheas	1	2	Rhea	South America
Tinamiformes	Tinamous	1	42	Crested Tinamou	Argentina
Gaviiformes	Loons	1	4	Pacific Loon	Arctic
Podicipediformes	Grebes	1	17	Great Crested Grebe	Europe., Africa, Australia
Procellariiformes	Albatrosses, Fulmars, Petrels	4	81	Black-browed Albatross	Southern Oceans
Pelecaniformes	Tropicbirds, Pelicans, Boobies, Cormorants, Anhingas, Frigatebirds	6	50	Brown Pelican	North & South America
Ciconiiformes	Herons, Storks, Flamingoes....	6	117	Glossy Ibis	Worldwide
Anseriformes	Screamers, Waterfowl	2	149	Mandarin	China
Falconiformes	Vultures, Hawks, Eagles....	5	274	White-headed Vulture	Africa
Galliiformes	Grouse, Quail, Turkeys....	7	250	Golden Pheasant	China
Gruiformes	Cranes, Rails, Coots, Bustards....	12	185	Demoiselle Crane	Europe, Asia, Africa
Charadriiformes	Jacanas, Plovers, Sandpipers, Stilts, Gulls, Terns, Auks...	16	293	Pheasant-tailed Jacana	Southeast Asia
Columbiiformes	Sandgrouse, Pigeons	2	301	Pintail Green Pigeon	Himalayas
Psittaciformes	Parrots, Parakeets....	1	317	Blue & Gold Macaw	South America
Cuculiformes	Turacos, Cuckoos	2	143	Red-crested Turaco	Angola & Congo
Strigiformes	Owls	2	132	Spectacled Owl	Neotropics
Caprimulgiformes	Frogmouths, Nightjars	5	92	Pennant-winged Nightjar	Africa
Apodiformes	Swifts, Hummingbirds	3	388	Streamertail	Jamaica
Coliiformes	Mousebirds	1	6	White-headed Mousebird	Central Africa
Trogoniformes	Trogons	1	35	Quetzal	Central America
Coraciiformes	Kingfishers, Todies, Motmots, Bee Eaters, Rollers, Hoopoes, Hornbills	10	192	Lilac-breasted Roller	Africa
Piciformes	Barbets, Honeyguides, Puffbirds, Jacamars, Toucans, Woodpeckers	6	377	Red-breasted Toucan	South America
Passeriformes	Flycatchers, Larks, Swallows, Wrens, Thrushes, Warblers, Sparrows...	55	6,500	Red Bird of Paradise	New Guinea