1;Preface;5 2;Acknowledgements;6 3;Contents;7 4;Chapter 1 Introduction;12 5;Chapter 2 Stratigraphy and Major Fossil Localities;15 5.1;2.1 Europe;15 5.2;2.2 Asia;17 5.3;2.3 North America;18 5.4;2.4 Central and South America;19 5.5;2.5 Africa;20 5.6;2.6 Australia, New Zealand, and Antarctica;20 6;Chapter 3 Higher-Level Phylogeny of Extant Birds;22 7;Chapter 4 Mesozoic Neornithes;28 8;Chapter 5 Palaeognathous Birds;33 8.1;5.1 _Lithornithidae;34 8.2;5.2 _Palaeotididae, _Remiornithidae, and _Eleutherornithidae;36 8.3;5.3 _Eremopezidae;39 8.4;5.4 Rheidae (Rheas);40 8.5;5.5 Casuariidae (Emus and Cassowaries);41 8.6;5.6 Putative Ratite from the Eocene of Antarctica;41 9;Chapter 6 Galloanseres;42 9.1;6.1 Galliformes (Landfowl);42 9.2;6.2 _Gastornithidae;51 9.3;6.3 _Dromornithidae;54 9.4;6.4 Anseriformes (Waterfowl);55 9.5;6.5 _Pelagornithidae (Bony-Toothed Birds);62 10;Chapter 7 Aquatic and Semiaquatic Taxa;67 10.1;7.1 Fregatidae (Frigatebirds) and Suloidea (Gannets, Boobies, Cormorants, and Anhingas);67 10.2;7.2 _Plotopteridae;73 10.3;7.3 Sphenisciformes (Penguins);76 10.4;7.4 Gaviiformes (Loons);81 10.5;7.5 Procellariiformes (Tubenoses);82 10.6;7.6 Scopidae (Hamerkop), Balaenicipitidae (Shoebill), and Pelecanidae (Pelicans);86 10.7;7.7 Ardeidae (Herons);86 10.8;7.8 _Xenerodiopidae;87 10.9;7.9 Threskiornithidae (Ibises);87 10.10;7.10 Ciconiidae (Storks);90 10.11;7.11 _Prophaethontidae and Phaethontidae (Tropicbirds);90 11;Chapter 8 Charadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies);93 11.1;8.1 Lari (Gulls, Auks, and Allies);94 11.2;8.2 Charadrii (Plovers and Allies);95 11.3;8.3 Scolopaci (Sandpipers and Allies);96 12;Chapter 9 "Core-Gruiformes" (Rails, Cranes, and Allies);98 12.1;9.1 _Messelornithidae and _Walbeckornis;98 12.2;9.2 Ralloidea (Finfoots and Rails);101 12.3;9.3 Gruoidea (Trumpeters, Limpkins, and Cranes);104 13;Chapter 10 Phoenicopteriformes (Flamingos) and Podicipediformes (Grebes);109 14;Chapter 11 Columbiformes (Doves and Sandgrouse), Cuculiformes (Cuckoos), and Other Neoavian Taxa of Uncertain Affinities;114 14.1;11.1 Columbiformes (Doves and Sandgrouse);114 14.2;11.2 Opisthocomiformes (Hoatzin);115 14.3;11.3 _Foratidae;115 14.4;11.4 Musophagiformes (Turacos);116 14.5;11.5 Cuculiformes (Cuckoos);116 14.6;11.6 _Pumiliornis and _Morsoravis;117 14.7;11.7 _Parvicuculidae;118 14.8;11.8 Otididae (Bustards), Eurypygidae (Sunbittern), Rhynochetidae (Kagu), and Mesitornithidae (Mesites);119 15;Chapter 12 "Caprimulgiformes" and Apodiformes (Nightjars and Allies, Swifts, and Hummingbirds);121 15.1;12.1 _Fluvioviridavidae;121 15.2;12.2 Steatornithidae (Oilbirds);126 15.3;12.3 Podargidae (Frogmouths);126 15.4;12.4 _Protocypselomorphus;127 15.5;12.5 _Archaeotrogonidae;128 15.6;12.6 Nyctibiidae (Potoos) and Caprimulgidae (Nightjars);130 15.7;12.7 Aegothelidae (Owlet-Nightjars) and Apodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds);131 16;Chapter 13 Cariamae (Seriemas and Allies);141 16.1;13.1 _Phorusrhacidae;141 16.2;13.2 _Idiornithidae and _Elaphrocnemus;144 16.3;13.3 _Bathornithidae;148 16.4;13.4 _Ameghinornithidae;150 16.5;13.5 _Salmilidae;152 16.6;13.6 _Gradiornis;154 17;Chapter 14 "Falconiformes" (Diurnal Birds of Prey);155 17.1;14.1 Falconidae (Falcons);155 17.2;14.2 _Masillaraptor;157 17.3;14.3 _Teratornithidae and Cathartidae (New Word Vultures);158 17.4;14.4 _Horusornithidae;160 17.5;14.5 Sagittariidae (Secretary Birds), Pandionidae (Ospreys), and Accipitridae (Hawks and Allies);160 18;Chapter 15 Strigiformes (Owls);164 18.1;15.1 _Berruornis and _Sophiornithidae;164 18.2;15.2 _Protostrigidae;165 18.3;15.3 _Ogygoptyngidae;166 18.4;15.4 _Necrobyinae, _Palaeoglaucidae, and _Selenornithinae;167 19;Chapter 16 Arboreal Birds;170 19.1;16.1 Leptosomidae (Courols);170 19.2;16.2 Coliiformes (Mousebirds);172 19.3;16.3 Psittaciformes (Parrots);178 19.4;16.4 _Zygodactylidae and Passeriformes (Passerines);185 19.5;16.5 Trogoniformes (Trogons);192 19.6;16.6 Bucerotes (Hornbills, Hoopoes, and Woodhoopoes);192 19.7;16.7 Coraciidae/Brachypteraciidae (Rollers and Gr