Aves - birdsbird - warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings genus Protoavis - extinct primitive birds of the Triassic period; 70 million years before archaeopteryx order Rheiformes, Rheiformes - a ratite bird order: birds intermediate in characteristics between ostriches and emus: recent and extinct rheas order Passeriformes, Passeriformes - largest order of birds comprising about half the known species; rooks; finches; sparrows; tits; warblers; robins; wrens; swallows; etc.; the four suborders are Eurylaimi and Tyranni and Menurae and Oscines or Passeres order Raptores, Raptores - term used in former classifications; erroneously grouped together birds of the orders Falconiformes and Strigiformes Falconiformes, order Falconiformes - chiefly diurnal carnivorous birds having hooked beaks and long talons with opposable hind toe: falcons; hawks; eagles; ospreys; caracaras; vultures Ciconiiformes, order Ciconiiformes - order of chiefly tropical marsh-dwelling fish-eating wading birds with long legs and bills and (except for flamingos) unwebbed feet: herons; storks; spoonbills; flamingos; ibises Gruiformes, order Gruiformes - inland marsh-dwelling birds with long legs and necks and bills that wade in water in search of food: cranes; rails; bustards |