HIGHTLIGHTS OF CHANGES in this 20th edition (2025)

I follow Avilist in merging the monotypic Yellow-breasted Chat into the Icteridae [New World Orioles and allies]. I have advocated for that change in prior version of this checklist. I believe that the divergence of just ~11 mya is too recent, especially compared to Old World passerines which tend to be elevated to Family level at something greater than ~18-20 mya. I follow Clements (2025) in merging the "Spindalidae" (genus Spinadlis) and the Puerto Rican Tanager (genus Nesospingus); "Nesospingidae"), which diverged about 10-12 million years ago (e.g., Barker et al. 2013), are better classified as members of the Phaenicophilidae. In addition, recent research suggests that Cinnamon Ibon (Hypocryptadius cinnamomeus) is not as ancient as previously believed (e.g., Fjeldså et al. 2010), and I now follow Avilist and Clements in considering the Ibon to be an early offshoot of the Passeridae. Finally, following Avilist, I merge the "Alcippeidae" (i.e., the Alcippe Fulvettas) into into the Leiothrichidae. Cai et al. (2019) has proposed this split but it has not been widely adopted. These decisions reduce my Family total from 260 Families to 255 extant Families.

I continue to maintain a few Families that Avilist has either merged or has not yet adopted. Avilist merges Bucorvidae [Ground Hornbills] into Bucerotidae [Hornbills] on genetic data that suggest clade ages may be over-estimated, and "obvious morphological affinities with other hornbills". I disagree. The genetic evidence is preliminary, and Avilist acknowledges that ground hornbills form "a divergent clade." Unlike all other hornbills, ground hornbills do not seal the female inside a nest cavity; they walk instead of hop; they lack a carotid artery (unique among all birds); and they have 15 instead of 14 neck vertebrae (Kemp 1995). As to "obvious morphological affinities with other hornbills," Avilist and Clements have four (4) Families of parrots, despite ""obvious morphological affinities with parrots" assigned to other parrot Families. Ground Hornbills are an exceedingly unique group, ancient and worthy of Family status. I continue to consider them a separate Family from the other hornbills.

I continue to maintain the Elanidae, following Starikov & Wink (2020) who opine, based on molecular evidence, that "mitochondrial and nuclear markers . . . combined with morphological, cytogenetic, and ecological date" warrant the elevation of the Elanin kites to family Elanidae. These involve the Elanus and Chelictinia kites, and Pearl Kite Gampsonyx swainsonii. Their data suggest these kites diverged from the rest of Accipitridae ~21 million years ago, similar to the divergence of many of the Families among the Charadriiformes. The Avilist team is reviewing the proposal. Likewise, I maintain the Eurocephaliidae [White-crowned Shrikes], proposed as a Family by Fuchs et al. (2019), which Avilist has not yet reviewed. These two Families have been recent proposals, so world birders should make an effort to focus on these groups

Finally, I continue to maintain the Pteruthiidae [Shrike-babblers], Erpornithidae [Erpornis], and Lamprolidae [Silktails] as Families, each of which are an ancient clade (see Jønsson et al. 2016), diagnostically distinctive from relatives, and have been proposed for Family status for some time. Accordingly, at the end of 2025, Clements (2025) had 249 extant Families, Avilist had 251 extant Families, and my 20th ed. list (here) has 255 extant Families. There are a few English name changes: the Erythrocercidae, which I had called "Bristle-Flycatchers," are now called Yellow Flycatcher by Avilist. The monotypic Urocynchramidae is called "Przevalski's Finch" by Avilist, but I much prefer to call it Pinktail, a distinctive name for a Family level taxon, and much easier to say.