The dodo first named:

When eighteenth- and nineteenth-century scientists attempted to work out where the by-then-extinct bird, Raphuscucullatus, better known as the dodo, belongs in the order of things, they hadn't the advantage of our modern wealth of research into creatures both living and long-dead.

To add to their difficulties, at least two more birds native to the Mascarene Island group (of which Mauritius is the most widely known) came to be considered close relatives of the dodo: the Pzepophaps solitaria, or Rodrigues Solitaire, from Rodrigues Island, and the White Dodo or Réunion Solitaire, Raphus solitarius, of Réunion Island.

Unable to authoritatively relate the Mauritius, Rodrigues and Réunion species to other birds, the three were assigned a new genus Didus, referred to as didines, or didine pigeons, and given a family of their own: Raphidae.

New evidence:

With the gift of hindsight and some very old dodo bones, we are currently able to say that the dodo and its fellow extinct Mauritian are members of the family Columbidae: pigeons and doves.

The Science Direct link below gives the abstract of a 2005 paper by paleontologist, Dr Anwar Janoo which carries his comment: 'The familial status of the raphids is no longer valid in view of recent … analyses, and consequently the genus Raphus is included in the family Columbidae.'

This all goes to show the future difficulties involved in just giving creatures the first names that come to mind. The dodo retains its current scientific name, as does the Rodrigues Solitaire, however, in the 1840s it was concluded the Réunion Solitaire was an ibis, and so not didine after all. It is now called the Réunion Sacred Ibis, or Threskiornis solitarius; it now has at least three other scientific names now considered inappropriate. To add to its confusion, it was once known as the Réunion Flightless Ibis, but this is considered unfair since proper studies show it could, actually, get off the ground, provided it ran for a bit first.

And the dodo - which in 1800s Britain was considered by some to be merely an exotic myth - was earlier called Didus ineptus, which isn't very polite but was much better than the name given to it by Dutch colonists on Mauritius.

Which all leads us to:

The present, and future, of the dodo:

Spirited discussion has ensued following Dr Janoo 's paper; some authorities believe that while the dodo and the Rodrigues Solitaire are pigeons, they're more like some kinds of pigeons than others and really do need a (sub)family of their own.

So, to stay on fairly safe binomial ground until a definite decision is reached it's probably a good idea to refer to the birds as the only two currently-identified members of the:

Family: Columbidae

Subfamily: Raphinae

each with the separate genus of:

Raphus (dodo), and

Pezophaps (Rodrigues Solitaire),

which is where the birds have roosted since 2005, and will remain unless, or until, avian systematicians settle on a final branch for the pair. Who knows, archaeologists now digging in the Mascarene Islands might at any moment unearth evidence of a missing link between these two and yet another clearly-defined cousin which will bring new light and perhaps a happy, or happier, ending to this tale of three birds.

Last seen:

The dodo became extinct in the late 1600s, recorded as last sighted in 1681; the Rodrigues Solitaire about a century later, and the Réunion Solitaire was last reported in 1705.

Apterygidae (Kiwi)

o North Island Brown Kiwi, Apteryx mantelli

o Rowi or Okarito Brown Kiwi, Apteryx rowi

o Tokoeka, Apteryx australis

§ Southern Tokoeka, Apteryx australis australis

§ Haast Tokoeka, Apteryx australis lawryi

o Roa or Great Spotted Kiwi, Apteryx haastii

o Kiwi-pukupuku or Little Spotted Kiwi, Apteryx owenii

Spheniscidae

o King Penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus - rare/accidental

o Emperor Penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri - rare/accidental

o Gentoo Penguin, Pygoscelis papua - rare/accidental

o Adelie Penguin, Pygoscelis adeliae - rare/accidental

o Chinstrap Penguin, Pygoscelis antarctica - rare/accidental

o Rockhopper Penguin, Eudyptes chrysocome

o Tawaki or Fiordland Penguin, Eudyptes pachyrhynchus

o Snares Penguin, Eudyptes robustus

o Erect-crested Penguin, Eudyptes sclateri

o Macaroni Penguin, Eudyptes chrysolophus - rare/accidental

§ Royal Penguin, Eudyptes chrysolophus schlegeli - rare/accidental

o Hoiho or Yellow-eyed Penguin, Megadyptes antipodes

o Kororā or Blue Penguin, Eudyptula minor

§ White-flippered Penguin, Eudyptula minor albosignata

o Magellanic Penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus - rare/accidental

Procellariidae

o Antarctic Giant Petrel, Macronectes giganteus - Vulnerable

o Hall's Giant Petrel, Macronectes halli - Near-threatened

o Southern Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialoides

o Antarctic Petrel, Thalassoica antarctica - Rare/Accidental

o Cape Petrel, Daption capense

o Great-winged Petrel, Pterodroma macroptera

o Tahiti Petrel, Pterodroma rostrata - Rare/Accidental

o White-headed Petrel, Pterodroma lessonii

o Phoenix Petrel, Pterodroma Alba - Rare/Accidental - Vulnerable

o Mottled Petrel, Pterodroma inexpectata - Near-threatened

o Providence Petrel, Pterodroma solandri - Rare/Accidental - Vulnerable

o Kermadec Petrel, Pterodroma neglecta - Rare/Accidental

o Taiko or Magenta Petrel, Pterodroma magentae - Breeding endemic - Critically endangered

o Soft-plumaged Petrel, Pterodroma mollis

o Juan Fernandez Petrel, Pterodroma externa - Rare/Accidental - Vulnerable

o White-necked Petrel, Pterodroma cervicalis - Rare/Accidental - Vulnerable

o Cook's Petrel, Pterodroma cookii - Breeding endemic - Endangered

o Gould's Petrel, Pterodroma leucoptera - Rare/Accidental - Vulnerable

o Black-winged Petrel, Pterodroma nigripennis

o Chatham Petrel, Pterodroma axillaris - Breeding endemic - Critically endangered

o Stejneger's Petrel, Pterodroma longirostris - Rare/Accidental - Vulnerable

o Pycroft's Petrel, Pterodroma pycrofti - Breeding endemic - Vulnerable

o New Zealand Storm Petrel, Oceanites Māorianus - recently rediscovered

o Blue Petrel, Halobaena caerulea - Rare/Accidental

o Broad-billed Prion, Pachyptila vittata

o Salvin's Prion, Pachyptila salvini

o Antarctic Prion, Pachyptila desolata

o Slender-billed Prion, Pachyptila belcheri

o Fulmar Prion, Pachyptila crassirostris

o Fairy Prion, Pachyptila turtur

o Grey Petrel, Procellaria cinerea - Near-threatened

o White-chinned Petrel, Procellaria aequinoctialis

o Parkinson's Petrel, Procellaria parkinsoni - Breeding endemic - Vulnerable

o Westland Petrel, Procellaria westlandica - Breeding endemic - Vulnerable

o Kerguelen Petrel, Aphrodroma brevirostris

o Cory's Shearwater, Calonectris diomedea - Rare/Accidental

o Pink-footed Shearwater, Puffinus creatopus - Rare/Accidental - Vulnerable

o Flesh-footed Shearwater, Puffinus carneipes

o Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Puffinus pacificus - Rare/Accidental

o Buller's Shearwater, Puffinus bulleri - Breeding endemic - Vulnerable

o Titi or Muttonbird or Sooty Shearwater, Puffinus griseus

o Short-tailed Shearwater, Puffinus tenuirostris

o Christmas Shearwater, Puffinus nativitatis - Rare/Accidental

o Manx Shearwater, Puffinus puffinus - Rare/Accidental

o Hutton's Shearwater, Puffinus huttoni - Breeding endemic - Endangered

o Fluttering Shearwater, Puffinus gavia

o Little Shearwater, Puffinus assimilis

Toroa or Albatross

o Wandering Albatross, Diomedea exulans

o Royal Albatross, Diomedea epomophora

o Black-footed Albatross, Diomedea nigripes

o Grey-headed Albatross, Thalassarche chrysostoma - Vulnerable

o Black-browed Albatross, Thalassarche melanophris

o Buller's Albatross, Thalassarche bulleri - Vulnerable

o Shy Albatross, Thalassarche cauta - Near-threatened

o Chatham Albatross, Thalassarche eremita - Critically endangered

o Yellow-nosed Albatross, Thalassarche chlororhynchos

o Sooty Albatross, Phoebetria fusca - Rare/Accidental - Vulnerable

o Light-mantled Albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata - Near-threatened

[edit] Pelecaniformes

Phaetontidae

o Amokura or Red-tailed Tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda

Pelecanidae

o Australian Pelican, Pelecanus conspicillatus - locally extinct

Sulidae

o Takapu or Gannet, Sula serrator

Phalacrocoracidae

o Kawau or Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo

o Karuhiruhi or Pied Cormorant, Phalacrocorax varius

o Little Black Cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

o Kawaupaka or Little Pied Cormorant, Phalacrocorax melanoleucos

o Parekareka or Spotted Shag or Blue Shag, Phalacrocorax punctatus

o Auckland Islands Shag, Phalacrocorax colensoi

o Campbell Island Shag, Phalacrocorax campbelli

o King Shag, Phalacrocorax carunculatus

o Bronze Shag, Phalacrocorax chalconotus

o Pitt Island Shag, Phalacrocorax featherstoni

o Chatham Island Shag, Phalacrocorax onslowi

o Bounty Islands Shag, Phalacrocorax ranfurlyi

Ardeidae

o White-necked Heron, Ardea pacifica - rare/accidental

o Kotuku or White Heron, Ardea Alba

o Intermediate Egret, Ardea intermedia - rare/accidental

o Cattle Egret, Ardea ibis

o White-faced Heron, Egretta novaehollandiae

o Little Egret, Egretta garzetta

o Matuku moana or Reef Heron, Egretta sacra

o Nankeen Night Heron, Nycticoraxcaledonicus

o Australian Little Bittern, Ixobrychus dubius - rare/accidental

o Matuku or Australasian Bittern, Botaurus poiciloptilus

Threskiornithidae

o Glossy Ibis, Plegadis falcinellus - rare/accidental

o Australian White Ibis, Threskiornis molucca - rare/accidental

o Kotuku-ngutupapa or Royal Spoonbill, Platalea regia

o Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Platalea flavipes - rare/accidental

[edit] Anseriformes

Anatidae

o Blue-billed Duck, Oxyura australis

o Whio or Blue Duck, Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos - Endangered

o Putangitangi or Paradise Shelduck, Tadorna variegata

o Papango or Black Teal or New Zealand Scaup, Aythya novaeseelandiae

o Auckland Islands Teal, Anas aucklandica - Endangered

o Campbell Islands Teal, Anas nesiotis - Critically endangered

o Pateke or Brown Teal, Anas chlorotis - Endangered

o New Zealand Crane, Grus vulpinus - Vulnerable

o Auckland Islands Rail, Lewinia muelleri - Vulnerable

o Pūkeko or Purple Swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio

o North Island Takahē, Porphyrio mantelli - extinct

o South Island Takahē, Porphyrio hochstetteri - Endangered

o Weka or Woodhen, Gallirallus australis - Vulnerable

Charadriidae

o South Island Oystercatcher, Haematopus finschi

o Chatham Island Oystercatcher, Haematopus chathamensis - Endangered

o Torea or Variable Oystercatcher, Haematopus unicolor

o Ngutuparore or Wrybill, Anarhynchus frontalis - Vulnerable

o Kaki or Black Stilt, Himantopus novaezelandiae - Critically endangered

o Tuturiwhatu or New Zealand Dotterel, Charadrius obscurus - Vulnerable

o Tuturuatu or Shore Plover, Thinornis novaeseelandiae - Endangered

o Chatham Islands Snipe, Coenocorypha pusilla - Vulnerable

o Hakawai or New Zealand Snipe, Coenocorypha aucklandica

o Huahou or Red Knot, Calidris canutus

Laridae

o Karoro or Southern Black-backed Gull or Kelp Gull, Larus dominicanus

o Silver Gull, Larus novaehollandiae

o Red-billed Gull, Larus scopulinus - Endemic

o Black-billed Gull, Larus bulleri - Endemic - Vulnerable

Sternidae

o Taranui or Caspian Tern, Hydroprogne caspia

o White-fronted Tern Sterna striata - Least Concern

o Tarapiroe or Black-fronted Tern, Chlidonias albostriatus - Endangered

o Tara-iti or New Zealand Fairy Tern, Sternula nereis davisae - Critically Endangered

Stercorariidae or Hakoakoa

o Arctic Skua, Stercorarius parasiticus - Migratory visitor

o Brown Skua or Subantarctic Skua, Catharacta lonnbergi

Podicipedidae

o Australasian Grebe, Tachybaptus novaehollandiae

o Weweia or New Zealand Dabchick, Poliocephalus rufopectus - Endemic - Vulnerable

o Hoary-headed Grebe, Poliocephalus poliocephalus - Rare/Accidental

o Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus

[edit] Falconiformes

Accipitridae

o Kahu or Swamp Harrier, Circus approximans

Falconidae

o Karearea or New Zealand Falcon, Falco novaeseelandiae

Strigidae

o Ruru or Morepork, Ninox novaeseelandiae

Aegothelidae

Cuculidae

o Koekoea or Longtailed Cuckoo, Eudynamys taitensis

o Pipiwharauroa or Shining Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx lucidus

Strigopidae

o Kea or Mountain Parrot, Nestor notabilis - vulnerable

o Kākā or Bush Parrot, Nestor meridionalis - endangered

o Kākāpō or Owl Parrot, Strigops habroptila - critically endangered

Psittacidae

o Red-fronted Parakeet or Kākāriki, Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae

o Malherbe's Parakeet or Orange-fronted Parakeet, Cyanoramphus malherbi - critically endangered

o Yellow-crowned Parakeet or Kākāriki, Cyanoramphus auriceps

o Antipodes Island Parakeet, Cyanoramphus unicolor

o Forbes' Parakeet, Cyanoramphus forbesi

Acanthisittidae

o Rock Wren, Xenicus gilviventris

o Titipounamu or Rifleman, Acanthisitta chloris

Motacillidae

o Pīhoihoi or New Zealand Pipit, Anthus novaeseelandiae

Sylviidae

o Matata or Fernbird, Megalurus punctatus - endemic

Petroicidae

o Miromiro or Tomtit, Petroica macrocephala - endemic

o Toutouwai or New Zealand Robin, Petroica australis - endemic

o North Island Robin, Petroica longipes - endemic

o Black Robin or Chatham Robin, Petroica traversi - endemic - endangered

Pachycephalidae

o Popokotea or Whitehead, Mohoua albicilla - endemic

o Mohua or Yellowhead, Mohoua ochrocephala - endemic

o Pipipi or Brown Creeper, Mohoua novaeseelandiae - endemic

Acanthizidae

o Riroriro or Grey Warbler, Gerygone igata - endemic

o Chatham Gerygone, Gerygone albofrontata - endemic

Meliphagidae

o Tui or Parson Bird, Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae - endemic

o Red Wattlebird, Anthochaera carunculata - rare/accidental

Notiomystidae

o Hihi or Stitchbird, Notiomystis cincta - endemic - threatened

Callaeidae

o Kōkako, Callaeas cinerea - endemic

§ North Island Kōkako, Callaeas cinerea wilsoni - endemic - endangered

§ South Island Kōkako, Callaeas cinerea cinerea - endemic - probably extinct

o Tieke or Saddleback, Philesturnus carunculatus - endemic

§ North Island Saddleback, Philesturnus carunculatus rufusater - endemic - near threatened

§ South Island Saddleback, Philesturnus carunculatus carunculatus - endemic - near threatened

Pardalotidae

o Korimako or New Zealand Bellbird, Anthornis melanura - endemic

Dicruridae

o Piwakawaka or New Zealand Fantail, Rhipidura fuliginosa

Zosteropidae

o Tauhou or Silvereye, Zosterops lateralis

Muscicapidae

Artamidae

o Masked Woodswallow, Artamus personatus - rare/accidental

o White-browed Woodswallow, Artamus superciliosus - rare/accidental

Cracticidae