Why are there birds on the reptiles page?
Overwhelming physical, fossil, and molecular evidence has now convincingly established that birds, as a group, fall within the group Reptilia. Birds are the closest living relatives of crocodiles, which are traditionally included in Reptilia, so birds fall within that group as well. Please see our information on Reptilia for more information relevant to this debate, and our details on how animals are classified.
Because we have more specimens of birds than of reptiles (a function mainly of their popularity with people), these specimens seem to be weighted towards birds.
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Chuck-will's-widow Caprimulgus carolinensis |
Chuck-will's-widow Caprimulgus carolinensis |
Bornean ground cuckoo Carpococcyx radiceus |
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southern cassowary Casuarius casuarius |
northern cassowary Casuarius unappendiculatus |
northern cassowary Casuarius unappendiculatus |
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sage grouse Centrocercus urophasianus |
sage grouse Centrocercus urophasianus |
sage grouse Centrocercus urophasianus |
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sage grouse Centrocercus urophasianus |
coucals Centropus |
coucals Centropus |
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goliath coucal Centropus goliath |
goliath coucal Centropus goliath |
yellowbill Ceuthmochares aereus |
