Date: 2/20/26 4:20 pm From: Kevin T. Moore via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Birds of the World Interactive Phylogeny Explorer
Thanks for the link, Martha, this answers some questions for me!
I had long assumed nightjars (Caprimulgiformes) and owls (Strigiformes) were closely related, and wondered how swifts fit in. Because I’ve always thought of a nightjar as halfway between a swift and an owl. Now I see I was way off. After the branching at 60 million years ago that gave us nightjars, there were four more branches to get to swifts & hummingbirds (Apodiformes). Owls are a branch off the lineage that goes to new world vultures (Cathartiformes) as well as hawks, eagles, and osprey (Accipitriformes).
It’s interesting to see that osprey (Pandionidae) is in Accipitriformes but separated from hawks and eagles by 40 million years.
I’ve also long been curious about the how closely Trogoniformes, Coriciiformes, and Piciformes are related. Now I can see it laid out.
Thank you,Kevin MooreSeattle, WA
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Message: 4
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:14:55 -0800
From: Martha Jordan via Tweeters <tweeters...>
To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Birds of the World Interactive Phylogeny Explorer
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For those that do not get emails from Cornell Lab: Birds of the World
launches interactive phylogeny explorer illustrating evolutionary
relationships of all 11,000+ bird species. A great place to get
information on all our birds.
