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This draft list is based on 2007 Clements Checklist (1) and is linked where possible to Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) (2). Thanks to Dave Nicolson and Jodie Martin for help compiling. For simplicity of use, the orders, families, and genera listed below are in alphabetic rather than taxonomic order.

Given the intensity of scientific study and public interest in birds, it is surprising there is no single authoritative world checklist. There is generally good agreement between world lists at the species level, including Clements, ITIS, and Howard and Moore Checklist (3). Approximately 5% of the names on these lists do not match, either due to alternate spellings, different generic assignments, or differences in recognition of forms at species or sub-species level.

For help in updating databases and preparing entries to BOLD, a draft ABBI checklist (Excel, 6 MB) including most author names and ITIS numbers and an "ABBI Name Lookup" (Excel, 8 MB) file for converting synonyms, alternate spellings, and flagging extinct species are available for download.

1. James F. Clements. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.  Updates posted on Cornell University website.
2. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
3. Edward C. Dickinson, ed. 2003, The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. 3rd edition. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.