Favorite Bird order?

Sphenisciologist

Sphenisciologist

Well-Known Member
I am fascinated by all animals, but I have a deep love for birds. I am drawn to everything about them. I could probably name a majority of bird scientific orders off the top of my head.

What’s your favorite bird order, and why? My bias is telling me to say Sphenisciformes. :confused:
 
Galapagos Penguin said:
I am fascinated by all animals, but I have a deep love for birds. I am drawn to everything about them. I could probably name a majority of bird scientific orders off the top of my head.

What’s your favorite bird order, and why? My bias is telling me to say Sphenisciformes. :confused:
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Casuariiformes would rank highly for me due to it including the Southern cassowary. I’ve always been fascinated by this ratite, which is so unique in appearance and can potentially kill a man with a single kick. Seeing it in the wild was a thrill I’ll never forget and it’d easily rank in my top five Australian species.

Phoenicopteriformes also appeal due to my interest in the Greater flamingo. They’re a rarity in Australasia due to import restrictions and it’s been exciting to watch Auckland Zoo grow their flock over the years - including breeding several chicks since 2014. I’ve learnt a lot about husbandry of this species from knowledgeable ZooChatters over the years like @Jana, which has enabled me to better appreciate the complexity of this species and enjoy them all the more.

Honourable mentions would have to go to Sphenisciformes (in particular Humboldt penguin and Little blue penguin) and Accipitriformes (in particular Andean condor and the extinct Haast’s eagle).
 
Flamingos always struck an interest to me and I’ve always been attracted to their bright colors, especially the Caribbean Flamingo P. ruber due to its dark pink color. I would have to say, that’s a solid choice.
 
As you can probably tell by my username, Struthioniformes is my personal favourite. Similar to the reasons of Zoofan, but also just general fascination of them ever since I was a child. Can't explain why, but certain things in life are that way.
 
Falconiformes for me, I’ve fallen in love with them from seeing wild kestrels, doing falconry experiences and seeing flying displays in zoos.
Favourite species is either eurasian kestrel or striated caracara.

A close second is anseriformes, because of the range of species and I adore their manner and watching them wild, but I think because I see them so often they aren’t as special to me as falcons and caracaras.
 
I'm going to say the Charadriiformes because they are what first came to mind. The 'shorebirds' are such a fascinating and diverse group of birds, with many different forms, and certain especially amazing members. Part of it might also be that I'm in Central Illinois, away from any major bodies of water, so after I picked up birding I was quite surprised to find that Charadriiformes are actually quite common at certain spots at certain times throughout the country, regardless of proximity to major lakes or the ocean.

Avocets, Pharalopes, and Stilts are amazing animals. The plovers (Especially semipalmated) are adorable, as are Sanderlings and the other Peeps. The Terns are fascinating and very fun to watch dive into the water for fish, and Gulls are nice when I can find the ones that aren't Ring-billed or a Herring.

I suppose Caprimulgiformes, Piciformes, Podicipediformes, Psittaciformes, and Gaviiformes would all be honorable mentions as well.
 
yoimmo said:
Bucerotiformes (hornbills) for me! They're such impressive birds that are vastly underappreciated by the general public, imo.
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Honestly I would say in recent years hornbills are becoming more appreciated and well-know to the public.

Five years ago, no one would know what a hornbill was, but now I’ve seen them in childrens books, common zoo visitors look for them, and more.

Which is good, they are beautiful birds.
 
Psittacidae, there's a huge variety of colour and personality from all these parrots

Gruiformes are really graceful and majestic, particularly the 2 African crowned cranes
 
Such a difficult question. Honestly, I can't pick a single order. However, I love the clade of the Afroaves: owls, eagles, vultures, motmots, quetzals, kingfishers, toucans, and woodpeckers. Add the falcons and the new world parrots, and that's my favourite section of the bird tree of life: the birds that fall between the waterbirds and the passeriformes in most checklists.

If I have to pick a single order though, I choose the strigiformes. I love the glaucidium owls
 
It may be a boring answer, but parrots are easily my favourite bird family, followed very closely by toucans. In recent years though, I've found new appreciation for Phasianidae, I used to think of them as not very interesting, but having recently seen a lot of pretty ones like silver, golden, and blue eared pheasants, I've grown to like them a little more.
 
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