Vertebrata Cuvier, 1812 - vertebrates
   Gnathostomata
     Teleostomi
       Tetrapoda Hatschek & Cori 1896 [Gauthier, Kluge & Rowe 1988]
         Amniota Haeckel, 1866 [Gauthier, Kluge & Rowe 1988] - amniotes
           Class Aves Linnaeus, 1758 - birds see Subclass Aves Linnaeus, 1758
             Subclass Neornithes Gadow, 1893 see Clade Neornithes Gadow, 1893
               Superorder Neognathae Pycraft, 1900 see Cohort Neognathae Pycraft, 1900
                 Order Gruiformes Bonaparte, 1854
                   1 Suborder Cariamae (Wagler, 1830) Fürbringer, 1888 - seriemas and allies
                   2 Suborder Grues Bonaparte, 1854 - cranes, limpkins, trumpeters
                   3 Suborder Ralli Reichenbach - rails and allies
                   4 Family Ardeidae Leach, 1820 - herons, bitterns and egrets