BIRDS of THE WORLD - An Online Bird Book
Former GRUIFORMES
Former GRUIFORMES
In the past, Gruiformes has been treated as a repository for similarly appearing species that in were only distantly related to this order. This page contains species that used to be in Gruiformes but are now in different orders.
Order Cariamiformes Family Cariamidae
The Cariamidae family only contains two species, the Red-legged Seriema and the Black-legged Seriema. This family was previously considered to be part of the Gruiformes order, which has traditionally contained many unrelated species for lack of a better place. Some want to place the Red-legged Seriema in a new order, Cariamae.
Genus Cariama - 1 species
Seriema, Red-legged also Crested Seriema Cariama cristata Found: South America
The Red-legged Seriema has medium brown upperparts with black markings; pale brown head, neck, breast; white belly; red bill, legs; yellow eyes.
Image by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo
3) Dick Daniels - Bronx Zoo 4) Dick - Jacksonville Zoo 4) Dario Sanches - Brazil
Genus Chunga - 1 species
Seriema, Black-legged Chunga burmeisteri Found: Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay
The Black-legged Seriema has a short curved bill; long powerful legs; blackish legs.
Image by: 1) Robin Chen - National Aviary - Pittsburg 2) Ron Knight
Order Eurypygiformes Family Eurypygidae - 1 genus
The Eurypygidae family only contains one species, the Sunbittern. It was placed in the Gruiformes order because of its similarity to rails, but this similarity is probably due to convergent evolution.
Genus Eurypyga - 1 species
Sunbittern Eurypyga helias Found: tropical Americas
Image by: 1, 2, 3) Dick Daniels - North Carolina Zoo 4) Sandy Cole - North Carolina Zoo 5, 6) Dick - Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo 7) Cláudio Timm - the Amazon, Brazil
Order Eurypygiformes Family Rhynochetidae - 1 genus
The Rhynochetidae family only contains one species, the Kagu. It was placed in the Gruiformes order because it may be a relative of the Sunbittern.
Genus Rhynochetos - 1 species
Kagu also Cagou Rhynochetos jubatus Found: New Caldonia
The Kagu has pale gray plumage; red legs. It is almost flightless.
Image by: 1) Scott Meyer - New Caldonia 2) David Ringer - New Caldonia 3) Charlie Westerinen - San Diego Zoo 
Order Mesitornithiformes Family Mesitornithidae
The mesites are forest and scrubland birds which feed on insects and seeds. They are found in Madagascar. The Brown and White-breasted Mesites forage on the ground, gleaning insects from the leaves and under them, as well as low vegetation. The Subdesert Mesite uses its long bill to probe in the soil. Mesites are vocal birds, with calls similar to passerine song, used for territorial defence. Two or three white eggs are laid in a stick-nest located in a bush or low branch.
Genus Mesitornis
Mesite,_Brown Mesitornis unicolor Found: Madagascar
The Brown Mesite has rufous brown upperparts; tawny underparts with not barring or spotting; plane face with variable white streak behind the eye.
Image by: 1) Marc Des Murs 2) Francesco_Veronesi 3) Jerry_Oldenettel
Mesite,_White-breasted Mesitornis variegatus Found: Madagascar
The White-breasted Mesite has rufous brown upperparts with a barred belly; white face; dark malar stripe; white supercilium; white underparts; short dark bill.
Image by: 1) Marc Des Murs 2) Francesco_Veronesi 3) Jerry_Oldenettel
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Genus Monias - 1 species
Mesite,_Subdesert Monias benschi Found: Madagascar
The Subdesert Mesite has grayish upperparts; thin white supercilium; white underparts. Male has dark crescent-shaped spots on side of neck and upper-breast; large down-curved bill. Female has tawny check patch,
Image by: 1) Jerry_Oldenettel 2) Ben Rackstraw 3) Richard Crook 4) Francesco_Veronesi
