Oilbird to Rheas
Below a list of bird families of which I photographed less than 6 different species, often because the family is very small and does have just a few species or because I did not get the change so far to photograph more. All families of which I photographed more than 5 different species do have their own page.
On this page, you will find small families from O to R. Just click the family name to jump to the description and the pictures.
Click on one of the thumbnails to see a bigger photograph. To make it easier you will find the genus name combined with the species name (visible when displaying the photograph)
Family name:
The Oilbird is a bird species found in the northern areas of South America including the island of Trinidad. Nesting in colonies in caves, oilbirds are nocturnal feeders on the fruits of the oil palm and tropical laurels.
The family is Steatornithidae
There are 1 species placed in 1 genus
So far I have photographed 1 different species.
Updated 13/06/2020
O - R - Oilbird Oilbird - Steatornis caripensis https://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Bird-Families/A-O-R/Oilbird_-_Steatornis_caripensis.jpg
The Osprey is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey with a cosmopolitan range.
The family is Pandionidae
There are 2 species placed in 1 genus
So far I have photographed 2 different species.
Updated 13/06/2020
O - R - Ospreys Eastern Osprey - Pandion cristatus https://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Bird-Families/A-O-R/Eastern_Osprey_-_Pandion_cristatus.jpg Western Osprey - Pandion haliaetus https://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Bird-Families/A-O-R/Western_Osprey_-_Pandion_haliaetus.jpg
The Ostrich is by far the largest living birds in the world in both height and weight, ostriches are also the fastest on land. They can be found in the savannah of Africa.
The family is Struthionidae
There are 2 species placed in 1 genus
So far I have photographed 2 different species. In case I photographed male and female I have added a photograph of both.
Updated 13/06/2020
O - R - Ostriches Common Ostrich - Struthio camelus https://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Bird-Families/A-O-R/Common_Ostrich_-_Struthio_camelus.jpg Common Ostrich (f) - Struthio camelus https://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Bird-Families/A-O-R/Common_Ostrich_f_-_Struthio_camelus.jpg Somali Ostrich - Struthio molybdophanes Somali Ostrich (f) - Struthio molybdophanes
Owlet-Nightjars are small birds of Australia and New Guinea. They do have indeed have a distinctive appearance somewhere in between a small Owl and a Nightjar.
The family is Aegothelidae
There are 10 species placed in 1 genus
So far I have photographed 1 different species.
Updated 13/06/2020
O - R - Owlet-Nightjar Moluccan Owlet-nightjar - Aegotheles crinifrons
Oxpeckers are brown passerines that feed on parasites and wounds found on large African mammals.
The family is Buphagidae
There are 2 species placed in 1 genus
So far I have photographed 2 different species.
Updated 13/06/2020
O - R - Oxpeckers Red-billed Oxpecker - Buphagus erythrorynchus Yellow-billed Oxpecker - Buphagus africanus
Oystercatchers are found on coasts worldwide apart from the polar regions and some tropical regions of Africa and Southeast Asia. The exception to this is the Eurasian oystercatcher and the South Island oystercatcher, both of which breed inland, far inland in some cases.
The family is Haematopodidae
There are 12 species placed in 1 genus
So far I have photographed 5 different species.
Updated 13/06/2020
O - R - Oystercatchers African Black Oystercatcher - Haematopus moquini American Oystercatcher - Haematopus palliatus Blackish Oystercatcher - Haematopus ater Eurasian Oystercatcher - Haematopus ostralegus Magellanic Oystercatcher - Haematopus leucopodus
Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but their plumage is much more striking.
The family is Rostratulidae
There are 3 species placed in 2 genera
So far I have photographed 1 different species.
Updated 13/06/2020
O - R - Painted Snipes Greater Painted-Snipe - Rostratula benghalensis
Pelicans are large water birds. They are characterized by a long beak and a large throat pouch used for catching prey and draining water from the scooped-up contents before swallowing.
The family is Pelecanidae
There are 8 species placed in 1 genus
So far I have photographed 5 different species.
Updated 13/06/2020
O - R - Pelicans Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis https://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Bird-Families/A-O-R/Brown_Pelican_-_Pelecanus_occidentalis.jpg Great White Pelican - Pelecanus onocrotalus Peruvian Pelican - Pelecanus thagus https://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Bird-Families/A-O-R/Peruvian_Pelican_-_Pelecanus_thagus.jpg Pink-backed Pelican - Pelecanus rufescens Spot-billed Pelican - Pelecanus philippensis
Penguins are a group of aquatic birds. They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere, with only one species, the Galápagos penguin, found north of the equator. They are highly adapted for life in the water.
The family is Spheniscidae
There are 18 species placed in 6 genera
So far I have photographed 5 different species.
Updated 13/06/2020
O - R - Pinguins African Penguin - Spheniscus demersus https://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Bird-Families/A-O-R/African_Penguin_-_Spheniscus_demersus.jpg Galapagos Penguin - -Spheniscus mendiculus Humboldt Penguin - Spheniscus humboldti King Penguin - Aptenodytes patagonicus https://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Bird-Families/A-O-R/King_Penguin_-_Aptenodytes_patagonicus.jpg Magellanic Penguin - Spheniscus magellanicus
Pittas are a family of passerine birds found in Asia, Australasia, and Africa. They are medium-sized in length, and stocky, with strong, longish legs and long feet. They have very short tails and stout, slightly decurved bills. Many have brightly colored plumage.
The family is Pittidae
There are 44 species placed in 3 genera
So far I have photographed 2 different species.
Updated 13/06/2020
O - R - Pittas Hooded Pitta - Pitta sordida https://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Bird-Families/A-O-R/Hooded_Pitta_-_Pitta_sordida.jpg Indian Pitta - Pitta brachyura https://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Bird-Families/A-O-R/Indian_Pitta_-_Pitta_brachyura.jpg
Potoos are night birds that favor exposed perches during the day, trusting their safety to their extraordinarily cryptic plumage. With feathering that resembles furrowed bark covered in lichen, an upturned profile, and a highly reduced bill, these birds often mimic a broken branch stub.
The family is Nyctibiidae
There are 7 species placed in 1 genus
So far I have photographed 3 different species.
Updated 13/06/2020
O - R - Potoos Andean Potoo - Nyctibius maculosus https://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Bird-Families/A-O-R/Andean_Potoo_-_Nyctibius_maculosus.jpg Common Potoo - Nyctibius griseus https://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Bird-Families/A-O-R/Common_Potoo_-_Nyctibius_griseus.jpg Great Potoo - Nyctibius grandis https://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Bird-Families/A-O-R/Great_Potoo_-_Nyctibius_grandis.jpg
The New World Quails are small birds only distantly related to the Old World Quail, but named for their similar appearance and habits. The family ranges from Canada through to southern Brazil, and two species, the California Quail and the bobwhite Quail have been successfully introduced to New Zealand.
The family is Odontophoridae
There are 33 species placed in 10 genera
So far I have photographed 2 different species.
Updated 13/06/2020
O - R - Quail, new World California Quail - Callipepla californica Dark-backed Wood-Quail - Odontophorus melanonotus
Rheas are the largest birds in South America and are common residents of open grasslands or croplands throughout the southern part of the continent.
The family is Rheidae
There are 2 species placed in 1 genus
So far I have photographed 2 different species.
Updated 13/06/2020
O - R - Rheas Darwin's Rhea - Rhea pennata https://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Bird-Families/A-O-R/Darwins_Rhea_-_Rhea_pennata.jpg Greater Rhea - Rhea americana https://www.birdphotography.eu/images/Bird-Families/A-O-R/Greater_Rhea_-_Rhea_americana.jpg