Phylogeny of Modern Birds

Neoaves

On this cladogram we still see several unresolved relations. But there have been some interesting discoveries of monophyletic clades.

The exact arrangement between the Gruiformes, Cuculiformes and Otididae is still under debate, as well as the relationships concerning Apodiformes, Aegothelidae and Caprimulgiformes. There however is a very odd looking relation between the Podicipediformes and Phoenicopteriformes. 

"Land Birds" and "Water Birds" are informal names for two large clades within Neoaves, each encompassing several traditional orders. They are shown below.

 

Land Birds

 

Within the "Land Birds" it seems that the closest relatives to the Passeriformes are Psittaciformes. The birds of prey are not monophyletic, but are divided over Falconiformes and Accipitriformes. And there is a beautiful clade with Coraciiformes, Piciformes, Bucerotiformes, Trogoniformes and Leptosomatidae.

 

 

Water Birds

The relations within the "Water Birds" clade are almost completely resolved. The Procellariiformes are the sistergroup of Sphenisciformes. The exact arrangement between Ciconiiformes and Pelecaniformes is still under debate.