Class Aves Linnaeus, 1758 - birds see Subclass Aves Linnaeus, 1758
   Subclass Neornithes Gadow, 1893 see Clade Neornithes Gadow, 1893
     Infraclass Neoaves Sibley et al., 1988 see Subcohort Neoaves Sibley et al., 1988
       Parvclass Coraciae see Order Coraciiformes Forbes, 1884
         Superorder Coraciimorphae see Order Coraciiformes Forbes, 1884
           Order Coraciiformes Forbes, 1884 - rollerlike birds
             Suborder Alcedini see Suborder Halcyones Forbes, 1884
               Infraorder Meropides Fürbringer, 1888
                 Family Meropidae Vigors, 1825 - bee-eaters
                   Genus Merops Linnaeus, 1758
                     Merops variegatus Vieillot, 1817 - blue-breasted bee-eater
                       Merops variegatus lafresnayii Guerin-Meneville, 1843 - Ethiopian bee-eater