Categories are provided to help identiy a bird. Species are grouped by Order and in some cases further grouped by Family. For example, the Passeriformes are grouped into Covidae, Icteridae, ... . For brevity, not all Orders have been listed.

ACCIPITRIFORMES-Eagle, Hawk, Kite, Vulture, Osprey  (see also Strigiformes for Raptors)
    

ANSERIFORMES - Duck, Goose, Shelduck, Swan
   

CHARADRIIFORMES - Gull, Tern, Skua, Skimmer
    
CHARADRIIFORMES - Plover, Sandpiper, Stilt, Godwit, Oystercatcher
    

CICONIIFORMES - Egret, Heron, Ibis, Spoonbill, Stork (some may be placed in a new order)
    

COLUMBIFORMES - Dove, Pigeon
 

CORACIFORMES - Kingfisher, Motmot
 

GRUIFORMES - Coot, Moorhen, Limpkin, Rail
  

PELECANIFORMES - Pelican, Frigate, Booby, Gannet, Cormorant   (This order is in a state of flux)
  

PICOFORMES- Barbet, Aracari, Toucan, Toucanet, Woodpecker
   

PODICIPEDIFORMES - Grebe


PROCELLARIIFORMES- Albatross, Shearwater, Petrel
  

STRIGIFORMES - Owls   (see also Acciipitriformes for more raptors)
   


PASSERIFORMES

ALAUDIDAE - Lark
 
CARDINALIDAE - Bunting, Cardinal, Grosbeak, Tanager      See also THRAUPIDAE
   
CORVIDAE - Jay

EMBERIZIDAE - Sparrow      See also   PASSERIDAE

FRINGILLIDAE - Goldfinch, Siskin
 
HIRUNDINIDAE - Martin, Swallow     See also TYRANNIDAE
 
ICTERIDAE - Blackbird, Cowbird, Grackle, Meadowlark, Oriole
    
MIMIDAE - Mockingbird

PASSERIDAE - Old World Sparrow   See also EMBERIZIDAE

PAULIDAE - Redstart, Warbler 
 
THRAUPIDAE - Cardinal, Tanagers   See also CARDINALIDAE

TROGLDYTIDAE -  Wren

TURDIDAE - Thrush, Veery   
   
TYRANNIDAE - Flycatcher, Kingbird, Pewee, Phoebe     See also HIRUNDINIDAE
   
VIREONIDAE -  Vireo