Learn About the Swedish Naturalist Carolus Linnaeus

Bird classifications

The Swedish naturalist Carolus Linnaeus set up a scientific system for naming plants and animals in the 18^th century. This system was set up to allow us to predict and understand the differences and similarities between species, and to make an evolutionary relationships through the names the birds were given. So, for this reason you can through bird names easily be led to a correct identification.

To educate you a little how the names work, here are some examples: to start, every living thing has two-word Latin name, (always printed in italics). The first word gives the genus, witch is the grouping of the species; the second word identifies the certain species.

Now, when two species share the same genus name that will tell us they are both closely related, for example: Melospiza is the genus for a very large group of sparrows. The Song Sparrows name is Melospiza melodia, and the very similar Lincoln Sparrows name is Melospiza lincolnii.

Now, the scientific name for the similar looking Fox Sparrow is Passerella iliaca, but the genus name tells us, even though the Song Sparrow and the Fox Sparrow are very similar looking, they are actually more distant from each other than are the Lincoln’s Sparrows.

Another surprising example is the Evening Grosbeak, and the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and despite their common name, they are not closely related at all, as their separate family names will reveal. Even though the Eastern and Western Screech-Owls look identical, they are now considered separate species, and the Purple Finch, witch is related to other finches, is a complete different distinctive species, and also does not hybridize.

Based on similarity, genera, (witch is the plural of genus), are then grouped into families, and then families into orders. Now, for example: Lincoln, Fox, and Song Sparrows belong to the family Emberizidae, along with juncos, and towhees. But, the superficially similar House Sparrow, witch is introduced from Europe, belongs to the family Passeridae, witch are the true sparrows of the Old World. About half of all the North American birds belong to the largest order witch all families are grouped into and it is called the Passeriformes or “perching birds”.

The American Ornithologists’ Union, decides the scientific and common names of all American birds witch provides standardized names based on the latest information and knowledge of birds relationships and behavior. Analysis based of DNA is also used more, to determine genetics.

This table sets out to help you see the relationships between different species described on this website, under RECOGNIZING BIRDS.

ORDER FAMILY COMMON and SCIENTIFIC NAMES

Phasianidae Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

Trochilidae Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus

Colubris)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpusosus

Carolinus)

Passeriformes Tyrannidae Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonica)

Common Raven (Corvus corax)

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)

Western Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica)

Hirundindae Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)

Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)

Purple Martin (Progne subis)

Paridae Chestnut-baked Chickadee (Poecila rufescens)

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli)

Juniper Titmouse (Baeolophus ridgwayi)

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

Oak Titmouse (Baelophus inornatus)

Sittidae White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta Canadensis)

Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla)

Certhiidae Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)

Troglodytidae House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)

Regulidae Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)

Turdidae American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius)

Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialia)

Mountain Bluebird (Scialia currucoides)

Mimidae Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Sturnidae European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Bombycillidae Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulous)

Parulidae Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata)

Thraupidae Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)

Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)

Cardinalidae Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)

Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

Black-headed Grosbeak ( Pheucticus

melanocephalus)

Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca caerula)

Emberizidae Canyon Towhee (Pipilo fuscus)

California Towhee (Pipilo crissalis)

Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculates)

Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerine)

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)

Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea)

Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii)

Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurious)

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothus ater)

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)

Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria)

Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)

House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)

Red-Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)

White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)

Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea)

Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus)

Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)

Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus)

Passeridae House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)