Seed-crushersNote the short, wide, and deep bill long (“conical”); hooks absent

or tiny; rictal bristles typically absent; upper mandible can be curved or straight.

Alaudidae (Larks; 7+ species)

Thraupidae (Tanagers; 75+ species) Cardinalidae (Cardinals; 40+ species)

Passeridae (Old World Sparrows; 40 species)

Note relative bill size varies dramatically, depending on relative seed size

Fringillidae (Finches; 140+ species)

Emberizidae (Sparrows; 100+ species)

Seed-crushersNote the short, wide, and deep bill; hooks absent or tiny; rictal

bristles typically absent.

Ploceidae (Weavers; 20+ species)

Calcariidae (Longspurs; 6 species)

Viduidae (Whydahs; 20 species)

Note that although many families show this bill type, they are all closely related except Alaudidae, and all are in Passeriformes.

Estrildidae (Waxbills; 120+ species)

Icteridae (blackbirds; 4 species)

At least 11 families, 550+ species

CarnivoresNote the short, wide, and deep bill like seed-crushers, but strongly hooked for killing and tearing; upper mandible curved and typically much deeper than lower mandible. This bill is for tearing pieces out of prey too large to

swallow whole. The killing is done with the feet.

StrigiformesFalconiformes

Accipitriformes

Strigidae (Owls; 180 species)

Tytonidae (Barn Owls; 15 species)

Falconidae (Falcons; 65 species)

Pandionidae (Osprey; 1 species)

Accipitridae (Hawks; 230+ species)

With the exception of some of the big eagles, bills size in carnivores relative to body size is SMALL.

3 unrelated orders, ca. 500 species

Large insect/small vertebrate eaters

Note the relatively large bill in all dimensions, pronounced hook for holding and tearing, and (often) large rictal bristles.

Bucconidae (Puffbirds – ca. 35 spp.)

Alcedinidae (Kingfishers – 1 species)

Coraciidae (Rollers; 12 spp.)

Brachypteraciidae (Ground-rollers; 5 spp.)

PiciformesCoraciiformes

Large insect/small vertebrate eatersNote the relatively large bill in all dimensions, pronounced hook for holding and

tearing, and (often) large rictal bristles.

Thamnophilidae (Antbirds; ca. 50 species) Cotingidae(Cotingas – 1 or 2 genera)

Furnariidae (Ovenbirds – 1 species)

Grallariidae (Antpittas; ca. 60 species)

Tyrannidae (Tyrant-Flycatchers -1 genus)

Passeriformes

Large insect/small vertebrate eatersNote the relatively large bill in all dimensions, pronounced hook for holding and

tearing, and (often) large rictal bristles.

Passeriformes

Laniidae (Shrikes; ca. 30 species)

Corvidae (Crows and Jays; ca. 100 species)

Malaconotidae (Bush-shrikes; ca. 30 species)

Cracticidae (Butcher-birds; 6 species)

Large insect/small vertebrate eatersNote the relatively large bill in all dimensions, pronounced hook for holding and

tearing, and (often) large rictal bristles

Passeriformes

Laniidae (Shrikes; ca. 30 species) Cracticidae

(Butcher-birds; 6 species)

Malaconotidae (Bush-shrikes; ca. 30 species)Vangidae(Vangas;

2-3 species)

Nicatoridae (Nicators; 3 species)

Note: there is a continuum of variation between this bill type and the insectivore bill, with entire families such as Vireos and Old World Orioles not falling cleanly in either category

This bill is for grabbing and killing prey that is relatively large relative to the bird’s size. The large rictal bristles are primarily for protecting the eyes from struggling prey

At least 3 orders, 15 families, 350+ species

Gleaning insectivoresNote the relatively long, thin bill; many have slight hooks and

small rictal bristles. This bill is for gleaning relatively small prey.

Thamnophilidae (Antbirds; 100+ species) Furnariidae (Ovenbirds; 100+ species)Pittidae (Pittas; 25+ species)

Rhinocryptidae (Tapaculos; 50+ species)

Acanthisittidae (New Zealand Wren; 4 species)

Oldest lineage in Passeriformes

Atrichornithidae (Scrub-birds; 2 species)

Gleaning InsectivoresNote the relatively long, thin bill; many have slight hooks

and small rictal bristles.

Zosteropidae (White-eyes; ca. 100 spp.)

Turdidae (Thrushes; ca. 100 spp.)

Old World Warbler families; ca. 400 spp.)

Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls; ca. 120 spp.)

Maluridae (Fairy-wrens; ca. 30 spp.)

Timaliidae (Babblers; ca. 250 spp.)

… and many additional smaller families

Gleaning InsectivoresNote the relatively long, thin bill; many have slight hooks

and small rictal bristles.

Thraupidae (Tanagers; ca. 50 spp.)

Parulidae (Wood-warblers; ca. 100 spp.)

Motacillidae (Pipits and Wagtails; ca. 65 spp.)

Prunellidae (Accentors; 13 spp.)

Fringillidae (some species of Hawaiian honeycreepers)

Icteridae (some species of blackbirds and orioles)

Sallying Insectivores

Tyrannidae (tyrant-flycatchers; ca. 350 species)

Conopophagidae (Gnateaters; 8 species)

Dicruridae (Drongos; 22 species)

Rhipiduridae (Fantails; 45 species

Eurylaimidae (Broadbills; ca. 8 species)

Caprimulgidae (Nightjars; ca. 75 species

From side profile, like gleaning insectivores or, for some big species, large insect/small vertebrate-eaters. From above, base of bill much wider, giving it a triangular shape. Rictal bristles often prominent.

Sallying Insectivores

Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers; ca. 200 species)

Monarchidae (Monarchs; ca. 75 species)

Platysteiridae (Wattle-eyes; ca. 25 species)

From side profile, like gleaning insectivores or, for some big species, large insect/small vertebrate-eaters. From above, base of bill much wider, giving it a triangular shape. Rictal bristles often prominent.

At least 9 families; ca. 800 species