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List of Late Quaternary prehistoric bird species

Late Quaternary prehistoric birds are avian taxa that became extinct during the Late Quaternary Ã¢Â€Â“ the Late Pleistocene or the Early Holocene Ã¢Â€Â“ and before recorded history, specifically before they could be studied alive by ornithological science. They had died out before the period of global scientific exploration that started in the late 15th century. In other words, this list deals with bird extinctions between 40,000 BC and AD 1500. For the purposes of this article, a "bird" is any member of the clade Neornithes; that is, any descendant of the most recent common ancestor of all currently living birds.

These birds are known from their remains, which are subfossil; as the remains are not completely fossilized, they may yield organic material for molecular analyses to provide additional clues for resolving their taxonomic affiliations. Some birds are also known from folk memory, as in the case of Haast's eagle in New Zealand.

The extinction of the taxa in this list was coincident with the expansion of Homo sapiens beyond Africa and Eurasia, and in most cases, anthropogenic factors played a crucial part in their extinction, be it through hunting, introduced predators or habitat alteration. It is notable that a large proportion of the species are from oceanic islands, especially in Polynesia. Bird taxa that evolved on oceanic islands are usually very vulnerable to hunting or predation by dogs, cats, pigs, goats or rats (animals commonly introduced by humans) as they evolved in the absence of mammalian predators, and therefore have only rudimentary predator avoidance behavior. Many, especially rails, have additionally become flightless for the same reason and thus present even easier prey.

Taxon extinctions taking place before the Late Quaternary happened in the absence of significant human interference. Rather, reasons for extinction are random abiotic events such as bolide impacts, climate changes, mass volcanic eruptions, etc. Alternatively, species may have become extinct due to evolutionary displacement by successor or competitor taxa Ã¢Â€Â“ it is notable for example that in the early Neogene, seabird biodiversity was much higher than today; this is probably due to competition by the radiation of marine mammals after that time. The relationships of these ancient birds are often hard to determine, as many are known only from very fragmentary remains and complete fossilization precludes analysis of information from DNA, RNA or protein sequencing.

Extinct birds differed from still-existing birds by being larger, mostly restricted to islands, and often flightless. These factors made them especially vulnerable to human prosecution and to other anthropogenically related declines.

Taxonomic list of Late Quaternary prehistoric birds

All of these birds are in Neornithes.

Palaeognathae

Struthioniformes

The ostriches

†Aepyornithiformes

The elephant birds of Madagascar

  • †Aepyornithidae – greater elephant birds
  • †Aepyornis
  • Giant elephant bird, Aepyornis maximus – a 2018 study moved the largest elephant bird specimens to the genus Vorombe, but a 2023 genetic study regarded Vorombe as synonymous with Aepyornis maximus
  • Hildebrandt's elephant bird, Aepyornis hildebrandti
  • †Mullerornithidae – lesser elephant birds
  • †Mullerornis
  • Lesser elephant bird, Mullerornis modestus

†Dinornithiformes

The moa of New Zealand

  • †Emeidae – lesser moa
  • †Anomalopteryx
  • Bush moa, Anomalopteryx didiformis (North and South Islands, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific)
  • †Euryapteryx
  • Broad-billed moa, Euryapteryx curtus (North Island, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific)
  • †Pachyornis
  • Crested moa, Pachyornis australis (western South Island, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific)
  • Heavy-footed moa, Pachyornis elephantopus (eastern South Island, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific)
  • Mantell's moa, Pachyornis geranoides (North Island, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific)
  • †Emeus
  • Eastern moa, Emeus crassus (South Island, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific)
  • †Dinornithidae – giant moa
  • †Dinornis
  • North Island giant moa, Dinornis novaezealandiae (North Island, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific)
  • South Island giant moa, Dinornis robustus (South Island, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific)
  • †Megalapterygidae – upland moa
  • †Megalapteryx
  • Upland moa, Megalapteryx didinus (South Island, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific) – may have survived into historic times (syn. Megalapteryx benhami)

Neognathae

†Gastornithiformes

An extinct order of giant flightless fowl.

  • †Dromornithidae – Australian mihirungs or "demon ducks of doom"
  • †Genyornis
  • Genyornis newtoni (Australia)

Anseriformes

The group that includes modern ducks, geese and swans.

Pangalliformes

The group that includes modern chickens and quails.

True Galliformes

Charadriiformes

Waders, gulls and auks

Charadrii

Scolopaci

Lari

Gruiformes

The group that includes modern rails and cranes, probably paraphyletic.

Eurypygiformes

Procellariiformes

The group that includes modern albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels and storm petrels.

Sphenisciformes

  • Spheniscidae – penguins
  • Extinct species of extant genera
  • Eudyptes – crested penguins
  • Chatham penguin, Eudyptes warhami (Chatham Islands, Southwest Pacific) – possibly still existed around 1871 or 1872
  • Extinct subspecies of extant species
  • Waitaha penguin, Megadyptes antipodes waitaha (North Island, South Island, Stewart Island and Codfish Island / Whenua Hou, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific)

Ciconiiformes

Suliformes

The group that includes modern boobies, gannets and cormorants.

Pelecaniformes

  • Ardeidae – herons, egrets, and bitterns, possibly paraphyletic
  • Extinct species of extant genera
  • Ardea
  • Bennu heron, Ardea bennuides (United Arab Emirates)
  • Nycticorax
  • Niue night heron, Nycticorax kalavikai (Niue)
  • Eua night heron, Nycticorax sp. ('Eua, Tonga)
  • Lifuka night heron, Nycticorax sp. (Lifuka, Tonga) – may be synonymous with the Eua night heron
  • Mangaia night heron, Nycticorax sp. (Mangaia, Cook Islands)
  • Placement unresolved
  • Ardeidae gen. et sp. indet. (Easter Island, Southeast Pacific)
  • Threskiornithidae – ibises and spoonbills
  • †Apteribis
  • Maui highland ibis, Apteribis brevis (Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
  • Molokai ibis, Apteribis glenos (Molokai, Hawaiian Islands)
  • Maui lowland ibis, Apteribis sp. (Maui, Hawaiian Islands)
  • Lanai ibis, Apteribis sp. (Lanai, Hawaiian Islands)
  • †Xenicibis
  • Jamaican ibis, Xenicibis xympithecus (Jamaica, West Indies)

Cathartiformes

  • †Teratornithidae – teratorns
  • †Teratornis
  • Merriam's teratorn, Teratornis merriami (Southwestern and Southeastern U.S.)
  • Teratornis woodburnensis (Northwestern U.S.)
  • †Oscaravis
  • Cuban teratorn, Oscaravis olsoni (Cuba, West Indies)
  • †Cathartornis
  • Cathartornis gracilis (California, U.S.)
  • Cathartidae – New World vultures
  • †Pampagyps
  • Pampagyps imperator (Argentina, South America)
  • †Wingegyps
  • Winge's vulture, Wingegyps cartellei (Brazil, South America)
  • †Pleistovultur
  • Brazilian condor, Pleistovultur nevesi (Brazil, South America)
  • †Geronogyps
  • Pampas king vulture, Geronogyps reliquus (Peru and Argentina, South America)
  • †Breagyps
  • La Brea condor, Clark's condor or long-legged vulture, Breagyps clarki (Southwestern U.S.)
  • Extinct species of extant genera
  • Cathartes
  • Emslie's vulture, Cathartes emsliei (Cuba, West Indies)
  • Coragyps
  • Pleistocene black vulture, Coragyps occidentalis (Southwestern and Western U.S.)
  • Cuban black vulture, Coragyps seductus (Cuba, West Indies)
  • Gymnogyps
  • Ancestral condor, Gymnogyps amplus (California, North America)
  • Peruvian condor, Gymnogyps howardae (Peru, South America)
  • Gymnogyps kofordi (Florida, North America)
  • Cuban condor, Gymnogyps varonai (Cuba, West Indies)

Phoenicopteriformes

The group that includes modern flamingos.

Mesitornithiformes

  • Mesitornithidae – mesites
  • Extinct species of extant genera
  • Monias
  • Monias sp. (Madagascar)

Columbiformes

Cuculiformes

Accipitriformes

Birds of prey

  • Accipitridae – hawks and eagles
  • †Bermuteo
  • Bermuda hawk, Bermuteo avivorus (Bermuda, West Atlantic)
  • †Gigantohierax
  • Suárez's giant eagle, Gigantohierax suarezi (Cuba, West Indies)
  • Itche's giant eagle, Gigantohierax itchei (Cuba, West Indies)
  • †Titanohierax
  • Bahama eagle, Titanohierax gloveralleni (Bahamas, West Indies)
  • Titanohierax sp. (Hispaniola, West Indies)
  • †Neophrontops
  • Neophrontops americanus (Western North America)
  • †Neogyps
  • Neogyps errans (Western North America)
  • Extinct species of extant genera
  • Powerful goshawk or greater New Caledonian goshawk, Tachyspiza efficax (New Caledonia, Melanesia)
  • Gracile goshawk or lesser New Caledonian goshawk, Tachyspiza quartus (New Caledonia, Melanesia)
  • Accipiter sp. 1 (New Ireland, Melanesia)
  • Accipiter sp. 2 (New Ireland, Melanesia) – one of these two extinct New Ireland species may actually be the still-existing Meyer's goshawk (Astur meyerianus)
  • Aquila sp. "large" (Madagascar)
  • Aquila sp. "small" (Madagascar)
  • Borrás's hawk, Buteogallus borrasi (Cuba, West Indies) – formerly in Aquila / Titanohierax
  • Daggett's eagle or walking eagle, Buteogallus daggetti (California and Mexico, North America)
  • Fragile eagle, Buteogallus fragilis (Cuba, West Indies) – formerly in Buteo / Geranoaetus
  • Buteogallus hibbardi (Peru, South America) – formerly in Amplibuteo
  • Wolf hawk, Buteogallus irpus (Cuba, Dominican Republic, West Indies)
  • Buteogallus milleri (California, North America) – formerly in Buteo / Geranoaetus
  • Roy's hawk, Buteogallus royi (Cuba, West Indies)
  • Woodward's eagle, Buteogallus woodwardi (North America and West Indies) – formerly in Amplibuteo
  • San Felipé's hawk, Buteo sanfelipensis (Cuba, West Indies)
  • Buteo sanya (Luobidang Cave, Hainan, China)
  • Buteo chimborazoensis (Ecuador, South America)
  • Wood harrier or mime harrier, Circus dossenus (Molokai, Hawaiian Islands)
  • Eyles's harrier, Circus teauteensis (New Zealand, Southwest Pacific)
  • Haast's eagle, Hieraeetus moorei (South Island, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific)
  • Hawaiian eagle, Haliaeetus sp. (Main Hawaiian Islands)
  • Malagasy crowned eagle or Madagascar crowned hawk-eagle, Stephanoaetus mahery (Madagascar)
  • Maltese vulture, Gyps melitensis (Malta, Sicily, Mediterranean Sea)
  • Extinct subspecies of extant species
  • Aquila chrysaetos simurgh (Crete, Mediterranean Sea) – sometimes considered a distinct species

Caprimulgiformes

Nightjars

  • Caprimulgidae – nightjars and allies
  • Extinct species of extant genera
  • Siphonorhis – Caribbean pauraques
  • Cuban pauraque, Siphonorhis daiquiri (Cuba, West Indies) – possibly still exists

Aegotheliformes

Owlet-nightjars

  • Aegothelidae – owlet-nightjars
  • Extinct species of extant genera
  • Aegotheles
  • New Zealand owlet-nightjar, Aegotheles novaezealandiae (New Zealand, Southwest Pacific) – formerly Megaegotheles novaezealandiae

Apodiformes

Swifts and hummingbirds

  • Apodidae – swifts
  • Extinct species of extant genera
  • Aerodramus
  • Mangaia swiftlet, Aerodramus manuoi (Mangaia, Cook Islands) – formerly Collocalia manuoi

Bucerotiformes

Hornbills and relatives, formerly included in Coraciiformes

Piciformes

Woodpeckers, puffbirds and jacamars

  • Picidae – woodpeckers
  • Extinct species of extant genera
  • Colaptes
  • Bermuda flicker, Colaptes oceanicus (Bermuda, West Atlantic) – known from Late Pleistocene and Holocene subfossil bones, but may have persisted until the 17th century

Coraciiformes

Strigiformes

True owls, barn owls and bay owls

Falconiformes

Psittaciformes

  • Oceanic eclectus, Eclectus infectus (Tonga, Vanuatu, possibly Fiji) – may have survived until the 18th century or even much later than that
  • Sinoto's lorikeet, Vini sinotoi (Marquesas Islands)
  • Conquered lorikeet, Vini vidivici (Mangaia, Cook Islands, Huahine, Society Islands and Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva, Ua Huka and Tahuata, Marquesas Islands)
  • Campbell parakeet, Cyanoramphus sp. (Campbell Island, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific)
  • Extinct subspecies of extant species
  • Virgin Islands amazon, Amazona vittata ssp. indet. (Virgin Islands, West Indies)
  • Placement unresolved
  • Psittacidae gen. et sp. indet. 1 (Easter Island, Southeast Pacific)
  • Psittacidae gen. et sp. indet. 2 (Easter Island, Southeast Pacific)
  • Psittacidae gen. et sp. indet. (Guam, Marianas, West Pacific) – cf. Trichoglossus / Vini?

Passeriformes

Perching birds

Taxonomic list of Late Quaternary extinct/possibly extinct/status unknown prehistoric birds

All of these birds are in Neornithes.

Palaeognathae

Struthioniformes

The ostriches

  • Struthionidae – ostriches
  • Extinct subspecies of extant species
  • Arabian ostrich, Struthio camelus syriacus (Arabia and Syria, Middle East) – survived until the 20th century

Neognathae

Charadriiformes

Waders, gulls and auks

  • Burhinidae – stone-curlews
  • Extinct species of extant genera
  • Burhinus
  • Dwarf thick-knee, Burhinus nanus (Bahamas, West Indies) – may have survived until the 17th century

Gruiformes

The group that includes modern rails and cranes, probably paraphyletic.

Procellariiformes

The group that includes modern albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels and storm petrels.

  • Procellariidae – petrels
  • Extinct species of extant genera
  • Bulweria
  • Olson's petrel, Bulweria bifax (Saint Helena, South Atlantic) – may have survived until the 17th century
  • Pterodroma
  • Saint Helena petrel, Pterodroma rupinarum (Saint Helena, South Atlantic) – may have survived until the 17th century

Accipitriformes

Birds of prey

Passeriformes

  • Monarchidae – monarch flycatchers and paradise flycatchers
  • Extinct species of extant genera
  • Myiagra
  • Myiagra sp. (Ua Huka, Marquesas Islands)
  • Turdidae – thrushes and allies
  • Extinct species of extant genera
  • Myadestes
  • Olomao, Myadestes lanaiensis (Maui, Hawaiian Islands) – may have survived until the 19th century

See also

References

Citations

General

External links