List of North American birds (Other Orders)

Order: Gaviiformes. Family: Gaviidae

Loons are aquatic birds the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely grey or black, they have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim well and fly adequately, but, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body, are almost helpless on land.

• Arctic Loon, Gavia arctica
• Common Loon, Gavia immer
• Pacific Loon, Gavia pacifica
• Red-throated Loon, Gavia stellata
• Yellow-billed Loon, Gavia adamsii

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-sized diving birds. They breed on fresh water, but often visit the sea when migrating and in winter. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers; however, their feet are placed far back on their bodies, making them quite ungainly on land.

• Atitlan Grebe, Podilymbus gigas (E)
• Eared Grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
• Clark's Grebe, Aechmophorus clarkii
• Least Grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus
• Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
• Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps grisegena
• Horned Grebe, Podiceps auritus
• Western Grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis

Flamingos

Order: Phoenicopteriformes. Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos (genus Phoenicopterus monotypic in family Phoenicopteridae) are gregarious wading birds, usually 3–5 feet in height, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. They are more numerous in the latter. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly-shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume, and are uniquely used upside-down.

• American Flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber

Penguins

Order: Sphenisciformes. Family: Spheniscidae

• Galapagos Penguin, Spheniscus mendiculus (A)

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes. Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their long wings have black markings, as does the head.

• Red-billed Tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus
• Red-tailed Tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda
• White-tailed Tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes. Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, heavy, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills and wide wingspans. They lack the powder down that other wading birds such as herons, spoonbills and ibises use to clean off fish slime. Storks lack a pharynx and are mute.

• Jabiru, Jabiru mycteria
• Wood Stork, Mycteria americana

Sunbittern

Order: Eurypygiformes. Family: Eurypygidae

• Sunbittern, Eurypyga helias

Trogons

Order: Trogoniformes Family: Trogonidae

Trogons are residents of tropical forests worldwide, and have soft, often colourful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage. They have compact bodies with long tails, and short necks.

• Baird's Trogon, Trogon bairdii
• Black-headed Trogon, Trogon melanocephalus
• Black-tailed Trogon, Trogon melanurus
• Black-throated Trogon, Trogon rufus
• Citreoline Trogon, Trogon citreolus
• Collared Trogon, Trogon collaris
• Cuban Trogon, Priotelus temnurus
• Eared Quetzal, Euptilotis neoxenus
• Elegant Trogon, Trogon elegans
• Gartered Trogon, Trogon caligatus
• Golden-headed Quetzal, Pharomachrus auriceps
• Hispaniolan Trogon, Priotelus roseigaster
• Lattice-tailed Trogon, Trogon clathratus
• Mountain Trogon, Trogon mexicanus
• Orange-bellied Trogon, Trogon aurantiiventris
• Resplendent Quetzal, Pharomachrus mocinno
• Slaty-tailed Trogon, Trogon massena
• Violaceous Trogon, Trogon violaceus
• White-tailed Trogon, Trogon chionurus

Hoopoes

Order: Upupiformes Family: Upupidae

This black, white and pink bird is quite unmistakable, especially in its erratic flight, which is like that of a giant butterfly. It is the only member of its family. The song is a trisyllabic "oop-oop-oop", which gives rise to its English and scientific names.

• Eurasian Hoopoe, Upupa epops (A)