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 Ardeae Wagler, 1831 see Order Ardeiformes Wagler, 1830
           1 Family Ardeidae Leach, 1820 - herons, bitterns and egrets
           2 Family Cochleariidae Ridgway, 1887
           3 Family Scopidae Bonaparte, 1853 - hammerkop
           4 Family Balaenicipitidae Bonaparte - shoebill