Class Aves Linnaeus, 1758 - birds see Subclass Aves Linnaeus, 1758
   Subclass Ornithurae Haeckel, 1866 see Clade Ornithurae Haeckel 1866 [Gauthier 1986] {Chiappe 1991}
     Infraclass Carinatae Merrem, 1813 see Clade Carinatae Merrem 1813 [Gauthier & de Queiroz 2001]
       Order Ardeiformes Wagler, 1830
         Suborder Plataleae A. Newton see Suborder Ciconiae Bonaparte, 1854
           1 Family †Plegadornithidae Wetmore
           2 Family Plataleidae Bonaparte, 1838