Bird Families of the World

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:

Oilbird

Ospreys

Ostriches

Owlet-Nightjar

Oxpeckers

Oystercatchers

Painted Snipes

Pelicans

Penguins

Pittas

Potoos

Quails, new World

Rheas

 

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

 

Steatornis Photographed 1 species of 1

 

 

 


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

 

Pandion Photographed 2 species of 2

 

 

 

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

 

Struthio Photographed 2 species of 2

 

 

 

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

 

Aegotheles Photographed 1 species of 10

 

 

 

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

 

Buphagus Photographed 2 species of 2

 

 

 

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

 

Haematopus Photographed 5 species of 12

 

 

 

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

 

Rostratula Photographed 1 species of 2

 

 

 

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

 

Pelecanus Photographed 5 species of 8

 

 

 

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

 

Aptenodytes Photographed 1 species of 2
Spheniscus Photographed 4 species of 4

 

 

 

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

 

Pitta Photographed 2 species of 14

 

 

 

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

 

Nyctibius Photographed 3 species of 7

 

 

 

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

 

Callipepla Photographed 1 species of 4
Odontophorus Photographed 1 species of 15

 

 

 

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

 

Rhea Photographed 2 species of 2