Monotypic prehistoric bird genera

Kelenken is a genus of phorusrhacid ("terror bird"), an extinct group of large, predatory birds, which lived in what is now Argentina in the middle Miocene about 15 million years ago. The only known specimen was discovered by high school student Guillermo Aguirre-Zabala in Comallo, in the region of Patagonia, and was made the holotype of the new genus and species Kelenken guillermoi in 2007. The genus name references a spirit in Tehuelche mythology, and the specific name honors the discoverer. The holotype consists of one of the most complete skulls known of a large phorusrhacid, as well as a

Genyornis is an extinct genus of large, flightless bird that lived in Australia during the Pleistocene Epoch until around 40-50,000 years ago. Over two metres in height, they were likely herbivorous. It is the last known member of the extinct flightless bird family Dromornithidae which had been part of the fauna of the Australian continent for over 30 million years. They are not closely related to ratites such as emus, and they are thought to be a gigantic type of fowl, likely an early diverging group within the Anseriformes, which contains ducks and geese. Genyornis. and many other Australian

Andalgalornis is a genus of flightless predatory birds of the extinct family Phorusrhacidae (often called "terror birds") that lived in Argentina. The type and only species is A. steulleti.

Waimanu is a genus of early penguin which lived during the Paleocene, soon after the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, around 62–60 million years ago. It was about the size of an emperor penguin (1 metre (3.3 ft)). It is one of the most important bird fossils for understanding the origin and evolution of birds because of the time period it comes from, and the position of penguins near the base of the bird family tree. alt=Artist's reconstruction of fossil penguin Waimanu manneringi|thumb|Artist's reconstruction Waimanu was a very early member of the Sphenisciformes, the order that include

Avisaurus (meaning "bird lizard") is a genus of enantiornithine avialan from the Late Cretaceous of North America.

Baptornis ("diving bird") is a genus of flightless, aquatic birds from the Late Cretaceous, some 87-80 million years ago (roughly mid-Coniacian to mid-Campanian faunal stages). The fossils of Baptornis advenus, the type species, were discovered in Kansas, which at its time was mostly covered by the Western Interior Seaway, a shallow shelf sea. It is now known to have also occurred in today's Sweden, where the Turgai Strait joined the ancient North Sea; possibly, it occurred in the entire Holarctic.

Argentavis is an extinct genus of teratornithid known from three sites in the Epecuén and Andalhualá Formations in central and northwestern Argentina dating to the Late Miocene (Huayquerian). The type species, A. magnificens, is sometimes called the giant teratorn. Argentavis was among the largest flying birds to ever exist, holding the record for heaviest flying bird, although it was surpassed in wingspan after the 2014 description of Pelagornis sandersi, which is estimated to have possessed wings some 20% longer than those of Argentavis.

Pachydyptes (Pachydyptes ponderosus), also known as the New Zealand giant penguin is an extinct genus of penguin. This taxon is known from a few bones from Late Eocene (37 to 34 MYA) rocks in the area of Otago, which were found in two clades near a base of a tree (Ksepka et al., 2006).

Inkayacu is a genus of extinct penguins. It lived in what is now Peru during the Late Eocene, around 36 million years ago. The only species, I. paracasensis, was named from a single nearly complete skeleton discovered in 2008. It includes fossilized feathers, the first known in penguins. A study of the melanosomes, pigment-containing organelles within the feathers, indicated that they were gray or reddish brown. This differs from modern penguins, which get their dark black-brown feathers from unique melanosomes that are large and ellipsoidal.

Kumimanu is an extinct genus of giant penguin, which lived around 56 to 60 million years ago. The type species is Kumimanu biceae, which arose after the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs. Fossils were found in New Zealand, and the discovery was announced in December 2017. A second species, Kumimanu fordycei, was named in February 2023, though some researchers consider it synonymous with the type species.

Alexornis was a genus of enantiornithine birds from the La Bocana Roja Formation of Baja California, Mexico. This geological formation has been dated to the late Cretaceous period, and more specifically to the Cenomanian and Turonian ages, about 93.6 mya. The type and only known species is Alexornis antecedens. The scientific name as a whole means "Alex's ancestral bird"; Alexornis from the given name of ornithologist Alexander Wetmore + Ancient Greek ornis, "bird", and antecedens, Latin for "going before" or "ancestral".

Apsaravis is a Mesozoic avialan genus from the Late Cretaceous. The single known species, Apsaravis ukhaana, lived about 78 million years ago, in the Campanian age of the Cretaceous period. Its fossilized remains were found in the Camel's Humps sublocality of the Djadokhta Formation, at Ukhaa Tolgod in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. They were collected in the 1998 field season by the Mongolian Academy of Sciences/American Museum of Natural History Paleontological Expeditions. It was described by Norell and Clarke (2001).

Diogenornis is an extinct genus of ratites, that lived from the Middle Paleocene to the Early Eocene (Riochican to Casamayoran in the SALMA classification). It was described in 1983 by Brazilian scientist Herculano Marcos Ferraz de Alvarenga based on fossils found in the Itaboraí Formation in southeastern Brazil. The type species is D. fragilis. It grew to about two thirds the size of the modern greater rhea, at about of height.

Paleopsilopterus is an extinct genus of large, flightless, predatory birds classified within the order Cariamiformes. It is generally placed in the subfamily Psilopterinae of the family Phorusrhacidae, commonly known as "terror birds," although its precise taxonomic placement has been subject to debate.

Proapteryx micromeros is an extinct kiwi known from the 16–19 million-year-old early Miocene sediments of the St Bathans Fauna of Otago, New Zealand.

Cathayornis is a genus of enantiornithean birds, from the Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning, People's Republic of China. It is known definitively from only one species, Cathayornis yandica, one of the first Enantiornithes found in China. Several additional species were once incorrectly classified as Cathayornis, and have since been reclassified or regarded as nomina dubia.

Bathornis ("tall bird") is an extinct genus of birds related to modern day seriemas, that lived in North America about 37–20 million years ago. Like the closely related and also extinct phorusrhacids, it was a flightless predator, occupying predatory niches in environments classically considered to be dominated by mammals. It was a highly diverse and successful genus, spanning a large number of species that occurred from the Priabonian Eocene to the Burdigalian Miocene epochs.

thumb|left|Flora, fauna and depositional environment of the Nammoura locality, including Enantiophoenix Enantiophoenix is an extinct genus of enantiornithean birds known from fossil remains recovered from the Sannine Formation of Lebanon. Lumps of amber preserved with one specimen indicate it may have fed on tree sap.

Breagyps is an extinct genus of New World vulture in the family Cathartidae.

Ambiortus is an extinct genus of ornithuromorph dinosaurs. The only known species, Ambiortus dementjevi, lived sometime during the Barremian age between 136.4 and 125 million years ago in the Andaikhudag Formation of Mongolia. It was discovered by Yevgeny Kurochkin in 1982.

Kuszholia (meaning "Milky Way bird" after the Kazakh term for the Milky Way, құс жолы qus jolı) is the name given to a genus of primitive birds or bird-like dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous.

Gallinuloides is a prehistoric genus of pangalliform bird. It lived about 48 million years ago in North America. The type specimen was found in a Green River Formation deposit in Wyoming.

Boluochia is an extinct genus of enantiornithean bird. It lived during the Early Cretaceous in the time span 121.6-110.6 mya (late Aptian-early Albian) and is known from fossils found in the Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning province, People's Republic of China. Boluochia was first described by Zhou in 1995. A re-analysis of the specimen by Jingmai O'Connor and colleagues found that it was closely related to Longipteryx and could be assigned to the family Longipterygidae.

Bauxitornis is an extinct genus of avisaurid enantiornithean birds which lived in what is now Hungary during the late Cretaceous period (Santonian age). Although first mentioned in a 2008 review of Hungarian Cretaceous bird fossils, it was named in a more comprehensive review by Gareth J. Dyke and Attila Ősi in 2010. The type species is Bauxitornis mindszentyae. The generic name "Bauxitornis" refers to the locality at which it was discovered, a Bauxite mine. The specific name "mindszentyae" honors Andrea Mindszenty, Ősi's advisor.

thumb|Reconstructed skull Bohaiornis is a genus of enantiornithean dinosaurs. Fossils have been found from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of western Liaoning, China. The only known species, Bohaiornis guoi, was named by Dongyu Hu, Li Li, Lianhaim Hou and Xing Xu in 2011 on the basis of a fully articulated and well-preserved skeleton of a sub-adult. This specimen, LPM (Liaoning Paleontological Museum) B00167, preserved two long, ribbon-like feathers attached to the tail rather than a fan of shorter pennaceous feathers. It was similar to the slightly older Eoenantiornis, but much large

Cuspirostrisornis is a genus of enantiornithean bird. Only one species is known, Cuspirostrisornis houi, though some researchers believe this to be a synonym of the similar species Cathayornis yandica. It is known from one fossil found in the Jiufotang Formation in Liaoning province, People's Republic of China. The Jiufotang Formation is dated to the Early Cretaceous period, Aptian age, 120.3 +/-0.7 million years ago.

Itaboravis is an extinct genus of land birds uncovered from the Early Eocene Itaboraí Formation of São José do Itaboraí, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Based on analysis of a coracoid and two humeri it was tentatively assigned to Cariamae (=Cariamiformes), due to similarities with Elaphrocnemus, but some morphological similarities of the humerus to the palaeognathous family Tinamidae were also noted.

Chongmingia is a genus of basal avialan belonging to Pygostylia that lived during the Aptian. It was found in the Jiufotang Formation in Chaoyang, China, and was described by Wang et al., 2016. The name comes from the word Chongming, referring to a Chinese mythological bird, and the specific epithet is in honor of Mr. Xiaoting Zheng.

Liptornis is an extinct genus of fossil birds of uncertain affinities. The type species is L. hesternus. It was described by Argentine palaeontologist Florentino Ameghino in 1894 from a large cervical vertebra from the Middle Miocene Santa Cruz Formation of Patagonia. At the time, it was referred to the Pelecanidae, though this is questionable. In his 1933 palaeornithological review, Lambrecht referred it only to the superfamily Sulides without placing it in a family. A later study has suggested family Anhingidae.

Inguza predemersus is an extinct species of penguin. It was formerly placed in the genus Spheniscus and presumed to be a close relative of the African penguin, but after its well-distinct tarsometatarsus was found, it was moved into its present monotypic genus. The known fossils specimens were found in Late Pliocene rocks in a quarry at Langebaanweg, South Africa, from about 5 million years ago.

Anthropodyptes is a poorly known monotypic genus of extinct penguin. It contains the single species Anthropodyptes gilli, known from a Middle Miocene humerus from Australia. The bone is somewhat similar to those found in members of the New Zealand genus Archaeospheniscus and thus this genus might, like them, belong to the subfamily Palaeeudyptinae.

Cimolopteryx (meaning "Cretaceous wing") is a prehistoric bird genus from the Late Cretaceous Period. It is currently thought to contain only a single species, Cimolopteryx rara. The only specimen confidently attributed to C. rara was found in the Lance Formation of Wyoming, dating to the end of the Maastrichtian age, which ended about million years ago. The dubious species "Cimolopteryx" maxima has been described from both the Lance Formation and the Hell Creek Formation of Montana. The humeral end of a left coracoid from the Frenchman Formation of southern Saskatchewan has also been attribut

Cryptogyps is an extinct genus of Old World vulture from the Pleistocene of Australia. It was relatively small for a vulture but still larger than the extant wedge-tailed eagle. Originally described as an eagle in 1905 (under the binomial name Taphaetus lacertosus), in 2022 it was reidentified as a vulture, the first known example from the continent. Phylogenetic analysis suggests it either being a sister species to the extant, widespread Eurasian vulture genus Gyps or as a more basal member of the subfamily. The identification of Cryptogyps as a vulture solves a longstanding mystery about the

Eremopezus is a prehistoric bird genus of uncertain affinities. It is known only from the fossil remains of a single species, the huge and presumably flightless Eremopezus eocaenus. This was found in Upper Eocene Jebel Qatrani Formation deposits around the Qasr el Sagha escarpment, north of the Birket Qarun lake near Faiyum in Egypt. The rocks its fossils occur in were deposited in the Priabonian, with the oldest dating back to about 36 million years ago (Ma) and the youngest not less than about 33 Ma.

Sylviornis is an extinct genus of large, flightless bird that was endemic to the islands of New Caledonia in the Western Pacific. It is considered to constitute one of two genera in the extinct family Sylviornithidae, alongside Megavitiornis from Fiji, which are related to the Galliformes, the group containing the turkeys, chickens, quails and pheasants. Sylviornis was never encountered alive by scientists, but it is known from many thousands of subfossil bones found in deposits, some of them from the Holocene, on New Caledonia and the adjacent Île des Pins. It was likely hunted to extinction,

Beiguornis is a genus of bohaiornithid dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous Longjiang Formation of Inner Mongolia, China. The genus contains a single species, Beiguornis khinganensis. Beiguornis is the first and only enantiornithine known from the Longjiang Formation. In the phylogenetic analysis conducted by the describing authors, Beiguornis formed a monophyletic group with the bohaiornithids Sulcavis and Zhouornis. left|thumb|222x222px|Holotype specimen of the related Zhouornis

Shuilingornis (meaning "pretty and vivid bird") is an extinct genus of gansuid euornithean birds from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of China. The genus contains a single species, S. angelai, known from a nearly complete articulated skeleton. As a member of the Gansuidae, Shuilingornis represents one of the earliest known birds known to demonstrate semi-aquatic adaptations.

Polarornis is a genus of prehistoric bird, either a possible member of the Vegaviidae or Aequornithes. It contains a single species Polarornis gregorii, known from incomplete remains of one individual found on Seymour Island, Antarctica, in rocks which are dated to the Late Cretaceous (López de Bertodano Formation, about 66 Ma).

Chromeornis (; ) is an extinct genus of longipterygid enantiornithean bird known from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian age) Jiufotang Formation of China. The genus contains a single species, Chromeornis funkyi, known from most of an articulated skeleton preserved on a slab and counterslab. This specimen was found with a mass of gastroliths in the esophagus, but these were likely not the gizzard stones expected in the gizzard of some birds. Instead, they may have been the result of an illness, with the animal dying after attempting to regurgitate them.

Muriwaimanu is an extinct genus of early penguin from the Paleocene Waipara Greensand of New Zealand. Only the type species M. tuatahi is known.

Pterygornis is an extinct monotypic genus of enantiornithean dinosaur that lived in East Asia during the Aptian stage of the Early Cretaceous epoch.

Resoviaornis is an extinct genus of passerine bird from the Early Oligocene (28.5–29 Ma) of southern Poland. Only one species is recorded for the genus, Resoviaornis jamrozi. A 2024 study affirmed it as being an early songbird (suborder Passeri), with potential affinities to either the Passerides or Corvides.

Neobohaiornis is an extinct genus of bohaiornithid enantiornithean birds from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian-aged) Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning Province, China. The genus contains a single species, N. lamadongensis, known from a well-preserved skeleton with feather impressions. == Discovery and naming == thumb|left|Life restoration The Neobohaiornis holotype specimen, MHGU-0288, was discovered in sediments of the Jiufotang Formation near Lamadong in Jianchang County of Liaoning Province, northeastern China. The specimen is a nearly complete skeleton preserved in dorsal view. Feather traces ar

Wingegyps is an extinct genus of small condor from the Late Pleistocene of South America. The type species W. cartellei was described from cave deposits in the states of Bahia and Minas Gerais, Brazil, with more material having been found in the Mene de Inciarte tar seeps of Venezuela. The material was first discovered in the mid 19th century and eventually described by Danish ornithologist Oluf Winge, for whom it was later named, without initially attributing a new scientific name. While it is regarded as the smallest known New World Vulture, the anatomy of the cranium suggests that it was ac

Remiornis heberti is an extinct species of paleognath bird from the Paleocene of France. It is a species comparable in size to modern rheas, and possibly related to another European Paleogene ratite, Palaeotis. In spite of being one of the oldest ratites in the world, it is often ignored for Gondwana vicariance narratives.

Dapingfangornis was an enantiornithean bird. It lived during the Early Cretaceous and is known from fossils—including a complete skeleton—found in the Jiufotang Formation in Liaoning province, People's Republic of China. Small to medium-sized, it had a sternum with both long and short lateral processes, and a unique thornlike process on its nares.

Brevidentavis (meaning "short-toothed bird") is a genus of ornithuromorph dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) Xiagou Formation of Gansu Province, China. The genus contains a single species, Brevidentavis zhangi, known from a specimen including a partial skull and cervical vertebrae. The Brevidentavis holotype shows unusually blunt teeth in its lower jaw, which the describing authors suggest may indicate a specialized diet. Its dentition shows similarities with those of hesperornitheans, and indeed it may be an early member of that group.

Namibiavis is an extinct genus of bird related to the hoatzin from early Middle Miocene (about 16 mya) deposits of Namibia. It was collected from Arrisdrift, southern Namibia. It was first named by Cécile Mourer-Chauviré in 2003 and the type species is Namibiavis senutae.

Taubatornis is an extinct genus of teratorn from the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene (Deseadan) Tremembé Formation, in the Taubaté Basin, São Paulo state, Brazil. The type species is T. campbelli. It is the oldest known member of the family, about 25 million years old. The presence of a member of this family with this age supports the hypothesis of a South American origin for the Teratornithidae.

Bellulornis ("beautiful bird") is an extinct genus of ornithuromorph avialan. It is known from a complete postcranial skeleton lacking the skull which was unearthed from the rocks of the Early Cretaceous-aged Jiufotang Formation in Liaoning Province, China. It was originally given the genus name Bellulia, meaning "beautiful", in reference to the fact that the skeleton was preserved in a pose reminiscent of a dancer. However, it was discovered after publication that the genus Bellulia was preoccupied by an extant moth. The authors then amended the name to Bellulornis, adding the Ancient Greek s

genus of birds (fossil)

Piscivorenantiornis is a genus of enantiornithine bird from the Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning, China. It is known from a single species, P. insusitatus.

Australotadorna alecwilsoni is an extinct genus and species of bird, in the shelduck subfamily of the duck family, from the Late Oligocene of central Australia. The genus name comes from the Latin australis ("southern" or, derivatively, "Australian") and Tadorna (a genus of shelducks). The specific epithet honours Alec Wilson, pastoral lease holder of Frome Downs Station, who supported palaeontological access to, and investigation of, fossil sites on his property. The type locality is Lake Pinpa in the Lake Eyre Basin of north-eastern South Australia.

Masillastega is an extinct genus of aquatic bird from the Eocene of Germany. The only described species is Masillastega rectirostris. It is related to modern gannets and boobies, but unlike these birds it occurred in freshwater environments. It was found in the lake that would become the Messel Pit. thumb|Life restoration

Pujatopouli () is an extinct genus of neoavian birds from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian stage) Lopez de Bertodano Formation of Seymour Island (Marambio Island), Antarctica. The genus contains a single species, Pujatopouli soberana, known from a partially preserved skull and several associated postcranial elements, representing one of the most complete Neornithes (crown group bird) from the Mesozoic era.

Kizylkumavis is an extinct genus of enantiornithine birds known from the Late Cretaceous Bissekty Formation of the Kyzyl Kum in Uzbekistan.

genus and species of extinct bird

Lenesornis is a genus of enantiornithine birds which lived during the Late Cretaceous about 90 Ma and is known from fossils found in the Bissekty Formation in the Kyzyl Kum, Uzbekistan.

Ceramornis is a genus of ornithuran dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous. It lived shortly before the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event in the Maastrichtian, some Its remains were found in the Lull 2 location, a Lance Formation site in Niobrara County, Wyoming. A single species is known, Ceramornis major, and even that only from a proximal piece of coracoid. This is specimen UCMP V53957, which was collected by a University of California team in 1958. thumb|left|Size (lower middle right) compared to contemporary birds, pterosaurs, and a human

Sazavis was an enantiornithine bird from the Late Cretaceous. It might have been related to Nanantius and lived in what is now the Kyzyl Kum of Uzbekistan. There is a single species known to date, Sazavis prisca.