Cornell Labs list 11,017 species of birds, of which 153 are extinct, leaving 10,864 living species of birds. This list divides the birds by phylogenetic order based on current evolutionary understanding (as of December 2023). Phylogenetic family, genus and species are found on subsequent pages also following the current evolutionary understanding. The order names that are active links take you to more detail and to links to my photographs.
| Order | # Families | # Species | # Photographed | Examples |
| Struthioniformes | 1 | 2 | 0 | Ostriches |
| Rheiformes | 1 | 2 | 0 | Rheas |
| Tinamiformes | 1 | 46 | 0 | Tinamous |
| Casuariiformes | 1 | 4 | 0 | Cassowaries, Emu |
| Apterygiformes | 1 | 5 | 0 | Kiwis |
| Anseriformes | 3 | 178 | 39 | Ducks, geese, swans |
| Galliformes | 5 | 305 | 8 | Grouse, Quail, Pheasants |
| Phoenicopteriformes | 1 | 6 | 0 | Flamingos |
| Podicipediformes | 1 | 22 | 6 | Grebes |
| Columbiformes | 1 | 353 | 15 | Pigeons, Doves |
| Mesitornithiformes | 1 | 3 | 0 | Mesites |
| Pterocliformes | 1 | 16 | 1 | Sandgrouse |
| Otidiformes | 1 | 26 | 1 | Bustards |
| Musophagiformes | 1 | 23 | 0 | Turacos |
| Cuculiformes | 1 | 147 | 2 | Cuckoos |
| Caprimulgiformes | 8 | 609 | 31 | Frogmouths, Nightjars, Potoos, Swifts, Hummingbirds |
| Opisthocomiformes | 1 | 1 | 0 | Hoatzin |
| Gruiformes | 6 | 192 | 10 | Rails, Gallinules, Coots, Limpkin, Cranes |
| Charadrifomes | 19 | 386 | 53 | Sandpipers, Plovers, Stilts, Gulls, Terns, Skimmers |
| Eurypygiformes | 2 | 2 | 0 | Kagu, Sunbittern |
| Phaethontiformes | 1 | 3 | 1 | Tropicbirds |
| Gaviiformes | 1 | 5 | 2 | Loons |
| Spheniscidae | 1 | 18 | 0 | Penguins |
| Procellariiformes | 4 | 146 | 2 | Albatrosses, Shearwaters, Petrols |
| Ciconiiformes | 1 | 20 | 1 | Storks |
| Suliformes | 4 | 59 | 7 | Frigatebirds, Boobies, Gannets, Anhingas, Cormorants |
| Pelecaniformes | 5 | 117 | 20 | Pelicans, Shoebill, Herons, Egrets, Bitterns, Ibises, Spoonbills |
| Cathartiformes | 1 | 7 | 3 | New World Vultures |
| Accipitriformes | 3 | 252 | 16 | Secretarybird, Osprey, Hawks, Eagles, Kites |
| Strigiformes | 2 | 247 | 5 | Owls |
| Coliiformes | 1 | 6 | 0 | Mousebirds |
| Leptosomiformes | 1 | 1 | 0 | Cuckoo-roller |
| Trogoniformes | 1 | 46 | 0 | Trogons |
| Bucerotiformes | 4 | 75 | 1 | Hoopoes, Scimitarbills, Hornbills |
| Coraciiformes | 6 | 185 | 2 | Todies, Motmots, Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, Rollers |
| Galbuliformes | 2 | 55 | 0 | Puffbirds, Jacamars |
| Piciformes | 7 | 380 | 13 | Barbets, Toucans, Woodpeckers |
| Cariamiformes | 1 | 2 | 0 | Seriemas |
| Falconiformes | 1 | 65 | 8 | Falcons, Caracaras |
| Psittaciformes | 4 | 405 | 4 | Parrots |
| Passeriformes | 143 | 6595 | 217 | Perching birds: Wrens, Sparrows, Tits, Finches, Robins, Warblers |