List of extinct bird species since 1500

About 216 species of birds have become extinct since 1500, with increasing extinction rates due to human-caused influences such as direct harvest, habitat loss, the introduction of invasive species, and climate change. Currently there are approximately 11,000 living species of birds, with over 1,480 at risk of extinction and 223 critically endangered.
Island species in general, and flightless island species in particular, are most at risk. The situation is exemplified by Hawaii, where 30% of all known recently extinct bird taxa originally lived, and Guam, which lost over 60% of its native bird taxa in the decades following the introduction of the brown tree snake. The disproportionate number of extinctions in rails reflects the tendency of that family to lose the ability to fly when geographically isolated. Even more rails became extinct before they could be described by scientists.
The extinction dates given below are usually the dates of the last verified record, which are approximations of the actual date of extinction. For many Pacific birds that became extinct shortly after European colonization, however, this leaves an uncertainty period of over 100 years, because the islands on which they lived were only rarely visited by scientists. In certain unusual cases, it is possible to pinpoint the date of extinction to a specific year or even day; the San Benedicto rock wren represents an extreme example where its extinction could be timed with an accuracy of maybe half an hour coinciding with the eruption of Bárcena.
The year 1500 serves as one common threshold of the "modern" era in which species are described scientifically, extinctions are monitored, and globalization has led to increased pressure on species. Bird taxa which became extinct before 1500 are listed in List of Late Quaternary prehistoric bird species; prominent examples include the elephant birds and the moa.
File:Edwards' Dodo.jpg|thumb|alt=Painting of a dodo, with a red parrot on its left side, and a blue one at its right|The famous "Edwards' Dodo", painted by Roelant Savery in 1626

Extinct bird species

[Palaeognathae]

s and tinamous

Apterygiformes

The kiwis of New Zealand

West Coast spotted kiwi, Apteryx occidentalis
:A doubtfully distinct species; may be a subspecies of the little spotted kiwi or a hybrid between that species and the Okarito kiwi.

[Anseriformes]

s, geese and swansAnatidae – ducks, geese and swans

* Anatinae – ducks
** Tadornini – shelducks and sheldgeese
*** Extinct species of extant genera
**** Tadorna – shelducks
***** Crested shelduck, Tadorna cristata
*****:A likely relict species from Northeast Asia. Officially critically endangered due to unconfirmed reports made between 1985 and 1990 and poor survey coverage of the regions.
**** Alopochen – sheldgeese
***** Réunion sheldgoose, Alopochen kervazoi Poorly known; observed in 1672, declared extinct in 1710.
***** Mauritius sheldgoose, Alopochen mauritianus Last reported in 1693, declared extinct in 1698.
** Mergini – sea ducks
*** †Camptorhynchus – Labrador duck
**** Labrador duck, Camptorhynchus labradorius Possibly a relict species. Causes of extinction are poorly known, but at least partly driven by hunting.
*** Extinct species of extant genera
**** Mergus – mergansers
***** Auckland Island merganser, Mergus australis Driven to extinction by predation by introduced mammals and hunting.
** Aythyini – diving ducks
*** Extinct species of extant genera
**** Chenonetta
***** Finsch's duck, Chenonetta finschi
*****:Causes of extinction included predation by the Polynesian rat and overhunting. One unconfirmed record from 1870.
**** Rhodonessa – pink-headed duck
***** Pink-headed duck, Rhodonessa caryophyllacea – sometimes included in genus Netta, but this classification is not generally accepted.
*****:Population declined sharply in early 20th century due to habitat loss and hunting. Officially classified as critically endangered due to the possibility of remaining individuals in remote portions of northern Myanmar, where unconfirmed reports have continued into the 21st century.
**** Aythya
***** Réunion pochard, Aythya cf. innotata
*****:Undescribed extinct species only known from two subfossils and two historical reports of non-Mascarene teal ducks on Réunion.
** Anatini – dabbling ducks
*** Extinct species of extant genera
**** Mareca – wigeons
***** Amsterdam wigeon, Mareca marecula Driven to extinction by habitat destruction, hunting, and the introduction of invasive species.
**** Anas
***** Saint Paul Island duck, Anas sp.
*****: Only known by a single report from 1793. May be synonymous with the Amsterdam wigeon or a distinct species or subspecies.
***** Mascarene teal, Anas theodori Extinction caused by rapid habitat loss, hunting, and the introduction of invasive species.
***** Mariana mallard, Anas oustaleti – often considered a subspecies of the mallard or a hybrid between the mallard and the Pacific black duck Hunting and habitat loss were both responsible for its extinction. Captive breeding conservation efforts were unsuccessful.

[Galliformes]

s and relatives

See also Bokaak "bustard" under Gruiformes below

Megapodiidae – megapodes
* Extinct species of extant genera
** Megapodius
*** Pile-builder megapode, Megapodius molistructor
****:May have survived to the late 18th century, as evidenced by descriptions of the bird named "Tetrao australis" and later "Megapodius andersoni". Extinction likely driven by hunting.
*** Viti Levu scrubfowl, Megapodius amissus
****:Only concretely known from subfossils dating 2,900 to 2,700 years before present. Likely driven to extinction by hunting. Unconfirmed sightings from the 20th century.
*** Raoul Island scrubfowl, Megapodius sp.
****:A hypothetical species said to have inhabited Raoul Island until the population was wiped out in a volcanic eruption. It is not clear whether the birds represent a distinct taxon.
*Phasianidae – pheasants and allies
** Extinct species of extant genera
*** Coturnix
**** New Zealand quail, Coturnix novaezelandiae Causes of extinction involved introduced diseases, competition with invasive species, and agricultural burning.
*** Ophrysia – Himalayan quail
**** Himalayan quail, Ophrysia superciliosa
****:Last confirmed sighting in 1876. Officially critically endangered due to ongoing unconfirmed sightings and sparse survey coverage in the historical range. Reasons for decline and possible extinction not well known, but may include hunting and habitat destruction.

[Podicipediformes]

Extinct species of extant genera

* Tachybaptus
**Alaotra grebe, Tachybaptus rufolavatus
:Officially declared extinct in 2010, 25 years after the last official sighting in 1985. Its extinction was primarily due to habitat destruction, the introduction of invasive species and hybridization with the still-existing little grebe.
* Podilymbus
** Atitlán grebe, Podilymbus gigas Its extinction was driven by habitat destruction, an earthquake-driven drop in lake level in 1976, and hybridization with the still-existing pied-billed grebe.
* Podiceps
** Colombian grebe, Podiceps andinus The population rapidly declined beginning in the 1950s due to factors including habitat destruction, the introduction of carnivorous rainbow trout, hunting, and water pollution. Extensive surveys in the 1980s failed to observe any individuals.

[Charadriiformes]

s, gulls and auks

Haematopodidae – oystercatchers
* Extinct species of extant genera
** Haematopus – oystercatchers
*** Canary Islands oystercatcher, Haematopus meadewaldoi
***:Last confirmed sighting from 1913, reported extinct in 1940s. Repeated surveys in the 20th century failed to locate any evidence of the species. Extinction likely driven by overharvesting by humans of the intertidal zone, habitat destruction, and introduced predators.
Charadriidae – plovers and lapwings
* Extinct species of extant genera
** Vanellus – lapwings
*** Javan lapwing, Vanellus macropterus
***:Last recorded in 1940. Officially classified as critically endangered due to incomplete survey coverage in suitable habitat and unconfirmed sightings continuing into the early 21st century. Decline and possible extinction driven by hunting and habitat destruction.
Scolopacidae – sandpipers and allies
* Extinct species of extant genera
** Numenius – curlews
*** Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis
***:May still exist; officially classified as critically endangered, possibly extinct.
*** Slender-billed curlew, Numenius tenuirostris
***:A few birds were recorded in 2004 following several decades of increasing rarity. There was also an unconfirmed sighting in Albania in 2007. A survey to find out whether this bird still exists had been undertaken by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which led to the bird being declared extinct by the organization in November 2024. The bird was officially classified as extinct in October 2025.
** Prosobonia – Polynesian sandpipers
*** Tahiti sandpiper, Prosobonia leucoptera
*** Moorea sandpiper, Prosobonia ellisi
***:Doubtfully distinct from P. leucoptera.
***Christmas sandpiper, Prosobonia cancellata
***:Known only from an illustration and a description.
** Coenocorypha – austral snipes
*** North Island snipe, Coenocorypha barrierensis
*** South Island snipe, Coenocorypha iredalei
Alcidae – auks
* †Pinguinus – great auk
** Great auk, ''Pinguinus impennis''

[Gruiformes]

s and allies - probably paraphyletic

†Nesotrochis
* Antillean cave rail, Nesotrochis debooyi
:Known by pre-Columbian bones from Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands. Stories of an easy-to-catch bird named the carrao heard by Alexander Wetmore in 1912 on Puerto Rico may refer to this species.
†Diaphorapteryx
* Hawkins's rail, Diaphorapteryx hawkinsi
†Aphanapteryx
* Red rail, Aphanapteryx bonasia Extinct species of extant genera
** Réunion rail or Dubois' wood rail, Dryolimnnas augusti
** Rodrigues rail, Erythromachus leguati
** Bar-winged rail, Gallirallus poecilopterus
** Dieffenbach's rail, Gallirallus dieffenbachii
** Tahiti rail, Gallirallus pacificus
** Wake Island rail, Gallirallus wakensis
** Vavau rail, Gallirallus vavauensis
**:This bird was previously known only from a drawing from the 1793 Malaspina expedition, apparently depicting a species of Gallirallus. Subfossil remains belonging to this species were found in 2020.
** Eua rail, Gallirallus vekamatolu
**:Known from prehistoric bones found on Eua. It was probably a close relative of the Vava'u rail.
** Tongatapu rail, Gallirallus hypoleucus
** Sharpe's rail, Gallirallus sharpei
**:Only known from a type specimen, but scientists speculate that it originated from Indonesia. Possibly could be a color morph of the still-existing buff-banded rail.
** Hiva Oa rail, Gallirallus sp.
** Norfolk Island rail, Gallirallus sp.
**:May be the bird shown on a bad watercolor illustration made about 1800.
** Chatham Islands rail, Gallirallus modestus
** New Caledonian rail, Gallirallus lafresnanayanus
**:Officially classified as critically endangered, the last records were in 1984 and it seems as if all of the available habitat has now been overrun by feral pigs and feral dogs, which preyed on this bird.
** Ascension crake, Mundia elpenor – formerly Atlantisia
** Saint Helena crake, Zapornia astrictocarpus
** Laysan rail, Zapornia palmeri
** Hawaiian rail, Zapornia sandwichensis
** Kosrae crake, Zapornia monasa
** Tahiti crake, Zapornia nigra
**:Known only from paintings and descriptions; its taxonomic status is uncertain, as the material is often believed to refer to the still-existing spotless crake.
** Saint Helena rail, Aphanocrex podarces – formerly Atlantisia
** White swamphen, Porphyrio albus
** Réunion swamphen or oiseau bleu, Porphyrio coerulescens
**:Known only from descriptions. The former existence of a Porphyrio on Réunion is fairly certain, but it has not been proven to date.
** Marquesas swamphen, Porphyrio paepae
**:May have survived to c. 1900. In the lower right hand corner of Paul Gauguin's 1902 painting Le Sorcier d'Hiva Oa ou le Marquisien à la cape rouge, there is a bird which resembles native descriptions of P. paepae.
** North Island takahē, Porphyrio mantelli
**:Known from subfossil bones found in New Zealand's North Island; may have survived to 1894 or later.
** New Caledonian gallinule, Porphyrio kukwiedei
**:May have survived into historic times. The native name n'dino is thought to refer to this species.
** Samoan woodhen, Gallinula pacifica
**:Probably better placed in the genus Pareudiastes. Unconfirmed reports from the late 20th century suggest it still exists in small numbers and therefore it is officially classified as critically endangered.
** Makira woodhen, Gallinula silvestris
**:Only known from a single specimen, this rail is probably better placed in its own genus, Edithornis. Unconfirmed recent records suggest it still exists and therefore it is officially classified as critically endangered.
** Tristan moorhen, Gallinula nesiotis
** Mascarene coot, Fulica newtonii
** Fernando de Noronha rail, Rallidae gen. et sp. indet.
**:A distinct species of rail inhabited Fernando de Noronha Island, but it has not been formally described yet. It probably still existed at the time of the first Western contact.
** Tahitian "goose", Rallidae gen. et sp. indet.
:Early travelers to Tahiti reported a "goose" that was found in the mountains. Altogether, a species of rail in the genus Porphyrio seems to be the most likely possibility.
** Bokaak "bustard", Rallidae? gen. et sp. indet. "Bokaak"
**:An unidentified terrestrial bird is mentioned in an early report from Bokaak in the Marshall Islands. It was described as a "bustard" and may have actually been a rail or a megapode. In the former case, it may have been a vagrant of a still-existing species; in any case, no bird that could be described as "bustard-like" is found on Bokaak today.
** Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. "Amsterdam Island"
**:Unknown rail from Amsterdam Island; one specimen was found, but it was not recovered. Extinct by 1800, it may have been a vagrant of a still-existing species.

[Procellariiformes]

s, storm petrels, shearwaters and albatrosses

Olson's petrel, Bulweria bifax
Saint Helena petrel, Pterodroma rupinarum
Imber's petrel, Pterodroma imberi
:Described from subfossil bones.
Jamaican petrel, Pterodroma caribbaea
:Possibly a subspecies of the still-existing black-capped petrel ; unconfirmed reports suggest it may still exist. Officially classified as critically endangered, possibly extinct.Pterodroma cf. leucoptera
:A wing of a petrel carcass that was similar in appearance to the still-existing Gould's petrel was recovered on Mangareva in 1922, where it possibly bred. No such birds are known to exist there today.
Guadalupe storm petrel, Hydrobates macrodactylus
:Officially classified as critically endangered, possibly extinct, but a thorough survey in 2000 concluded this species was certainly extinct.

Sphenisciformes

Extinct species of extant genera

* Eudyptes – crested penguins
**Chatham penguin, Eudyptes warhami
**:Only known from subfossil bones, but a crested penguin kept in captivity sometime around 1871 or 1872 may refer to this species.

[Suliformes]

and related birds

Sulidae – gannets and boobies
*Mascarene booby, Papasula sp.
**An undescribed booby species that was formerly considered a population of the still-existing Abbott's booby. Known physically only from subfossil bones, but is likely the bird referred to as a boeuf by early settlers; the boeuf was last recorded on Rodrigues in 1832 and likely went extinct following the deforestation of the island.
Phalacrocoracidae – cormorants and shags
*Spectacled cormorant, ''Urile perspicillatus''

[Pelecaniformes]

s and related birds

Threskiornithidae – ibises and spoonbills
* Extinct species of extant genera
** Threskiornis
***Réunion ibis, Threskiornis solitarius
***:This species was the basis for the "Réunion solitaire" or "white dodo", a supposed relative of the dodo and the Rodrigues solitaire. Given the fact that ibis bones were found on Réunion and that old descriptions match a flightless African sacred ibis quite well, the "Réunion solitaire" hypothesis has been refuted.
Ardeidae – herons, egrets, and bitterns
*Botaurinae – bitterns
** Extinct species of extant genera
*** Botaurus
**New Zealand bittern, Botaurus novaezelandiae
**:Long considered to be vagrant individuals of the still-existing black-backed bittern ; bones recovered from Holocene deposits indicate that this was indeed a distinct taxon, but it may not be a distinct species.
*Ardeinae – herons and egrets
** Extinct species of extant genera
*** Nyctanassa
**** Bermuda night heron, Nyctanassa carcinocatactes
****:Sometimes assigned to the genus Nycticorax.
*** Nycticorax
****Réunion night heron, Nycticorax duboisi
****Mauritius night heron, Nycticorax mauritianus
****Rodrigues night heron, Nycticorax megacephalus
****Ascension night heron, Nycticorax olsoni
****:Known only from subfossil bones, but the description of a flightless Ascension Island bird by André Thévet cannot be identified with anything other than this species.

Columbiformes

s, doves and dodos

For the "Réunion solitaire", see Réunion ibis above.

†Ectopistes – passenger pigeon
* Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius
:The passenger pigeon was once among the most abundant wild bird species in the world, with a single flock numbering up to 2.2 billion birds. It was hunted close to extinction for food and sport in the late 19th century. The last individual, a mateless female named Martha after Martha Washington, died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914.
†Dysmoropelia – Saint Helena dove
* Saint Helena dove, Dysmoropelia dekarchiskos
:Known only from Late Pleistocene bones, but may have persisted until the 16th century.
†Raphus – dodo
* Dodo, Raphus cucullatus
:Called Didus ineptus by Linnaeus. A 1-meter-high flightless bird found on Mauritius. Its forest habitat was destroyed when Dutch settlers moved to the island and the dodo's nests and eggs were destroyed by the dogs, cats, pigs, rats and crab-eating macaques that the Dutch brought with them. The last claimed sighting was in 1662, only 44 years after the arrival of the new predators in 1638.
†Pezophaps – Rodrigues solitaire
* Rodrigues solitaire, Pezophaps solitaria Extinct species of extant genera
* Bonin wood pigeon, Columba versicolor
* Ryukyu wood pigeon, Columba jouyi
* Rodrigues pigeon, Nesoenas rodericanus
*:Formerly in Streptopelia. Possibly a subspecies of the still-existing Malagasy turtle dove, this seems to be the bird observed by François Leguat. Introduced rats may have caused it to become extinct in the late 17th century.
* Spotted green pigeon, Caloenas maculata
*:Also known as the Liverpool pigeon, the only known specimen has been in Liverpool's World Museum since 1851, and was probably collected on a Pacific island for Edward Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby. It has been suggested that this bird came from Tahiti based on native lore about a somewhat similar extinct bird called the titi, but this has not yet been verified.
* Sulu bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba menagei
*:Officially classified as critically endangered. Only known from two specimens taken in 1891. There have been a number of unconfirmed reports from all over the Sulu Archipelago in 1995; however, these reports stated that the bird had suddenly undergone a massive decline and, by now, habitat destruction is almost complete. If it is not extinct, this species is certainly very rare, but the ongoing Moro civil war prevents comprehensive surveys.
* Norfolk ground dove, Pampusana norfolkensis
* Tanna ground dove, Pampusana ferruginea
*:Only known from descriptions of two now-lost specimens.
* Thick-billed ground dove, Pampusana salamonis
*:Last recorded in 1927, only two specimens exist. Declared extinct in 2005.
* Choiseul pigeon, Microgoura meeki
* Red-moustached fruit dove, Ptilinopus mercierii
*:Two subspecies, the little-known nominate subspecies P. m. mercierii of Nuku Hiva and P. m. tristrami of Hiva Oa.
* Negros fruit dove, Ptilinopus arcanus
*:Known only from one specimen taken at the only documented sighting in 1953; the validity of this species has been questioned, but no good alternative to distinct species status has been proposed. Officially classified as critically endangered, it may still exist on Panay, but no survey has located it. One possible record in 2002 does not seem to have been repeated since then.
* Mauritius blue pigeon, Alectroenas nitidissima
* Réunion blue pigeon, Alectroenas sp.
* Providence blue pigeon, Alectroenas sp.
*:Only known from early reports; possibly a subspecies of either the still-existing Comoro blue pigeon or the still-existing Seychelles blue pigeon.
* Mauritian turtle dove, Nesoenas cicur
*:Similar to the Malagasy turtle dove but more terrestrial, with more robust legs and smaller wings. Disappeared by 1730 due to hunting, predation by introduced mammals, and deforestation.
* Mauritian wood pigeon, Columba thiriouxi
*:Described from subfossil remains, it is believed to have become extinct by 1730 due to hunting, predation by the introduced black rat, and deforestation. The species has been questioned due to the material being scarce and not completely distinguishable from rock doves introduced to the island in 1639. However, early historical accounts mention the existence of pigeons that were caught with ease.

[Cuculiformes]

†Nannococcyx – Saint Helena cuckoo
* Saint Helena cuckoo, Nannococcyx psix Extinct species of extant genera
* Coua – couas, a genus endemic to Madagascar
** Delalande's coua, ''Coua delalandei''

[Cathartiformes]

"Painted vulture", Sarcoramphus sacra
* A bird supposedly similar in appearance to the still-existing king vulture identified by William Bartram on his travels in the 1770s. Skeptics have stated that it is likely based on a misidentification of the crested caracara, although evidence has increasingly shifted towards it being a valid taxon that once existed, either as a distinct species in its own right or as a subspecies of the king vulture, based on an independent illustration of a nearly identical bird made several decades earlier by Eleazar Albin. See the King vulture article for discussion.

Strigiformes">Owl">Strigiformes

True owls and barn owls
Strigidae – true owls

Pernambuco pygmy owl, Glaucidium mooreorum
:Officially classified as critically endangered, but it may still exist. A 2018 BirdLife study citing extinction patterns recommended reclassifying this species as possibly extinct.
Réunion scops owl, Otus grucheti
Mauritius scops owl, Otus sauzieri
Rodrigues scops owl, Otus murivorus
:The preceding three species were variously placed in the genera Bubo, Athene, "Scops", Strix and Tyto and even in their own genus, Mascarenotus, before their true affinity was realized.
Siau scops owl, Otus siaoensis
:Only known from the holotype collected in 1866. It may still exist, as there are ongoing rumors of scops owls at Siau.
New Caledonian boobook, Ninox cf. novaeseelandiae
:Known only from prehistoric bones, but it may still exist.
Laughing owl, Ninox albifacies
:Two subspecies: the nominate subspecies N. a. albifacies and N. a. rufifacies ; circumstantial evidence suggests that small remnants survived until the early or mid-20th century.

Tytonidae – barn owls

Puerto Rican barn owl, Tyto cavatica
:Known from prehistoric bones found in caves on Puerto Rico; it may have still existed up to 1912, given reports of the presence of cave-nesting owls on the island up to that year. Likely a subspecies of, or synonymous with, the still-existing ashy-faced owl.

Caprimulgiformes

Caprimulgidae – nightjars and allies

Jamaican poorwill, Siphonorhis americana
:Reports of unidentifiable nightjars from the 1980s in habitat appropriate for this cryptic species suggest that it may still exist. Research into this possibility is currently underway; pending further information, it is officially classified as critically endangered, possibly extinct.
Cuban pauraque, Siphonorhis daiquiri
:Described from subfossil bones in 1985. There are persistent rumors that this bird, which was never seen alive by scientists, may still exist. Compare the still-existing Puerto Rican nightjar and the preceding species.
New Caledonian nightjar, Eurostopodus exsul
:This species was sighted only once in 1939; due to its cryptic habits, it may still exist, but this is now considered to be unlikely.

Aegotheliformes

Aegothelidae – owlet-nightjars

New Caledonian owlet-nightjar, Aegotheles savesi
:Not to be confused with the New Caledonian nightjar. The type specimen was collected after the bird flew into a bedroom in the village of Tonghoué. This large owlet-nightjar is only known from two specimens taken in 1880 and 1915, two other confirmed sightings and two other partly disputed sightings and one unconfirmed debated sighting. The most recent report is from a 1998 expedition which saw a large nightjar foraging for insects at dusk in Rivière Ni Valley.

[Apodiformes]

s and hummingbirds

Letitia's thorntail, Discosura letitiae
:Known only from three trade specimens of unknown origin. It may still exist.
Brace's emerald, Riccordia bracei
Gould's emerald, Riccordia elegans
Turquoise-throated puffleg, Eriocnemis godini
:Officially classified as critically endangered, possibly extinct. Known only from six pre-1900 specimens, the habitat where it occurred has been destroyed. However, the bird's distribution remains unresolved.
Guanacaste hummingbird, Saucerottia alfaroana
:A possibly extinct species of hummingbird known only from a holotype collected in 1895 at the Miravalles Volcano in Costa Rica.

[Coraciiformes]

s and related birds

Saint Helena hoopoe, Upupa antaois
Guam kingfisher, Todirhmphus cinnamominus
:This species became extinct in the wild in 1986 when 29 birds were taken for a captive breeding program, which is still ongoing. Its decline was caused by predation by introduced brown tree snakes.

[Piciformes]

s and related birdsExtinct species of extant genera

* Colaptes
** Bermuda flicker, Colaptes oceanicus
**:Known only from fossil bones found in Bermuda and dated to the Late Pleistocene and the Holocene; however, a 17th-century report written by explorer Captain John Smith may refer to this species.
* Campephilus
** Imperial woodpecker, Campephilus imperialis
**:This 60-centimeter-long woodpecker is officially classified as critically endangered, possibly extinct. Occasional unconfirmed reports come up; the most recent was in late 2005.
** Ivory-billed woodpecker, Campephilus principalis
**:The nominate subspecies, the American ivory-billed woodpecker, is officially classified as critically endangered and considered possibly extinct by some authorities.
**:The Cuban ivory-billed woodpecker is generally considered to be extinct, but a few patches of unsurveyed potential habitat remain.

[Falconiformes]

Guadalupe caracara, Caracara lutosa
Réunion kestrel, ''Falco duboisi''

Psittaciformes

File:Karolinasittich 01.jpg|thumb|A mounted specimen of a Carolina parakeet, the Museum Wiesbaden, GermanyStrigopidae – New Zealand parrots

* Extinct species of extant genera
** Nestor
*** Chatham kākā, Nestor chathamensis
*** Norfolk kākā, Nestor productus Psittacidae – parrots, parakeets, and lorikeets
* Sinú parakeet, Pyrrhura subandina
*:This bird has a very restricted distribution and was last reliably recorded in 1949. It was not found during searches in 2004 and 2006 and seems to be extinct; efforts to find it again continue, but are hampered by the threat of armed conflict.
* Raiatea parakeet, Cyanoramphus ulietanus
* Black-fronted parakeet, Cyanoramphus zealandicus
* Lord Howe parakeet, Cyanorhamphus subflavescens
* Paradise parrot, Psephotellus pulcherrimus
* Oceanic eclectus, Eclectus infectus, known from subfossil bones found on Tonga, Vanuatu, and possibly Fiji, may have survived until the 18th century or even much later that that: a bird which seems to be a male Eclectus parrot was drawn in a report on the Tongan island of Vavau by the Malaspina expedition. Also, a 19th-century Tongan name āā for "a beautiful bird found only at Eua" is attested. This seems to refer to either E. infectus, which in Tonga is only known from Vavau and Eua, or the extirpated population of the still-existing collared lory, which also occurred there. It is possible, but unlikely, that this species survived on Eua until the 19th century.
* New Caledonian lorikeet, Vini diadema
*:Officially classified as critically endangered, there have been no reports of this species since the mid-20th century. It is, however, small and inconspicuous and is likely to have been overlooked.
* Seychelles parakeet, Psittacula wardi
* Newton's parakeet, Psittacula exsul
* Mascarene grey parakeet, Psittacula bensoni.
*:Formerly known as the Mauritius grey parrot. Known from a 1602 sketch by Captain Willem van Westzanen and by subfossil bones described by David Thomas Holyoak in 1973. It may have survived into the mid-18th century.
* Mascarene parrot, Mascarinus mascarinus
*:The last known individual was a captive bird which was alive before 1834.
* Broad-billed parrot, Lophopsittacus mauritianus
*:It may have survived into the late 18th century.
* Rodrigues parrot, Necropsittacus rodericanus
*:The species N. francicus is fictional, N. borbonicus is most likely so.
* Glaucous macaw, Anodorhynchus glaucus
*:Officially classified as critically endangered due to persistent rumors of wild birds, but probably extinct.
* Cuban macaw, Ara tricolor
*:A number of related macaw species have been described from the West Indies, but are not based on good evidence. Several prehistoric forms are now known to have existed in the region, however.
* Carolina parakeet, Conuropsis carolinensis
*:Although the date of the last captive bird's death in the Cincinnati Zoo, 1918, is generally given as this species' date of extinction, there are convincing reports of some wild populations persisting until later. Two subspecies, C. c. carolinensis and C. c. ludovicianus.
* Guadeloupe parakeet, Psittacara labati
*:Only known from descriptions; the former existence of this bird is likely both for biogeographic reasons and because details about it as described cannot be referred to any known species.
* Puerto Rican parakeet, Psittacara maugei
*:Formerly considered to be a weakly differentiated subspecies of the still-existing Hispaniolan parakeet.
* Martinique amazon, Amazona martinica
* Guadeloupe amazon, Amazona violacea
*:These two extinct amazons were originally described from travelers' descriptions. Their existence is still controversial.

Passeriformes

File:Xenicus lyalli.jpg|thumb|Lyall's wren, a victim of feral cats
Acanthisittidae – New Zealand wrens

Lyall's wren, Traversia lyalli
:A flightless species that was famously claimed to have become extinct due to predation by a single lighthouse keeper's cat named "Tibbles".
Bushwren, Xenicus longipes
:Three subspecies, X. l. stokesi ; the nominate subspecies X. l. longipes and X. l. variabilis.

Tyrannidae – tyrant flycatchers

San Cristóbal flycatcher, Pyrocephalus dubius
:Described as extremely rare by David W. Steadman in the 1980s and not found despite a six-month survey in 1998.

Furnariidae – ovenbirds

Cryptic treehunter, Cichlocolaptes mazarbarnetti
Alagoas foliage-gleaner, Philydor novaesi

Mohoidae – Hawaiian honeyeaters; family established in 2008, previously in Meliphagidae

Kioea, Chaetoptila angustipluma
Hawaii ōō, Moho nobilis
Oahu ōō, Moho apicalis
Bishop's ōō, Moho bishopi
Kauai ōō, Moho braccatus

Meliphagidae – honeyeaters and Australian chats

Chatham Islands bellbird, Anthornis melanocephala
:Sometimes regarded as a subspecies of the still-existing New Zealand bellbird. Unconfirmed records exist from the early to mid-1950s.
The identity of "Strigiceps leucopogon" described by Lesson in 1840 is unclear. Apart from the holotype supposedly from "New Holland", a second specimen from the "Himalaya" either may have existed or may still exist. Lesson tentatively allied it to the Meliphagidae, and Rothschild felt reminded of the kioea.

Acanthizidae – Australasian warblers, scrubwrens, thornbills, and gerygones

Lord Howe gerygone, Gerygone insularis

Pachycephalidae – whistlers, shrike-thrushes, pitohuis and allies

Mangarevan whistler, ?Pachycephala gambierana
:Tentatively placed here. A mysterious bird of which no specimens exist today. It was initially described as a shrike, then classified as an Eopsalteria "robin" and may actually be an Acrocephalus warbler.

Monarchidae – monarch flycatchers and paradise flycatchers

Maupiti monarch, Pomarea pomarea
Eiao monarch, Pomarea fluxa
:Previously considered a subspecies of the still-existing Iphis monarch, this is an early offspring of the Marquesan stock.
Nuku Hiva monarch, Pomarea nukuhivae
:Previously considered a subspecies of the still-existing Marquesan monarch, this is another early offspring of the Marquesan stock.
Ua Pou monarch, Pomarea mira
:Also previously considered a subspecies of the Marquesan monarch, this was a distinct species most closely related to that bird and the Fatu Hiva monarch.
Guam flycatcher, Myiagra freycineti
:Possibly a subspecies of the still-existing oceanic flycatcher.

Oriolidae – Old World orioles and allies

North Island piopio, Turnagra tanagra
:Not reliably recorded since about 1900.
South Island piopio, Turnagra capensis
:Two subspecies, T. c. minor from Stephens Island and the nominate subspecies T. c. capensis from the South Island mainland

Corvidae – crows, ravens, jays and magpies

Hawaiian crow, Corvus hawaiiensis
:This species is extinct in the wild, but it is being bred in captivity.

Callaeidae – New Zealand wattlebirds

Huia, Heteralocha acutirostris
South Island kōkako, Callaeas cinereus
:This species is usually considered to be extinct, as it has not been reliably recorded since 1967. However, recent reports from Fiordland suggest that it may still exist.

Hirundinidae – swallows and martins

White-eyed river martin, Pseudochelidon sirintarae
:Officially classified as critically endangered, this enigmatic species is only known from migrating birds and it was last seen in 1986 at its former roost site. Recent unconfirmed reports suggest that it may still exist in Cambodia.
Red Sea cliff swallow, Petrochelidon perdita
:Known from a single specimen found in 1984; this enigmatic swallow may still exist, but the lack of recent records is puzzling. It is also alternatively placed in the genus Hirundo.

Acrocephalidae – acrocephalid warblers or reed warblers, brush warblers, swamp warblers, marsh-warblers, and tree-warblers

Nightingale reed warbler, Acrocephalus luscinius
Pagan reed warbler, Acrocephalus yamashinae
:Previously considered a subspecies of the nightingale reed warbler.
Aguiguan reed warbler, Acrocephalus nijoi
:Also previously considered a subspecies of the nightingale reed warbler.
Mangareva reed warbler, Acrocephalus astrolabii
:Known only from two specimens found on Mangareva Island.
Garrett's reed warbler, Acrocephalus musae
:Two subspecies, A. m. garretti from Huahine and A. m. musae from Raiatea. Previously considered a subspecies of the still-existing Tahiti reed warbler.
Moorea reed warbler, Acrocephalus longirostris
:The last reliable sighting of this bird was in 1981. A survey in 1986 / 1987 was unsuccessful in finding it. A photograph of a warbler from Moorea in 1998 or 1999 taken by Philippe Bacchet remains uncertain, as do reports from 2003 and 2010. Also previously considered a subspecies of the Tahiti reed warbler.
Aldabra brush warbler, Nesillas aldabrana

Muscicapidae – Old World flycatchers and chats

Rück's blue flycatcher, Cyornis ruckii
:An enigmatic species known only from two or four possibly migrant specimens, last recorded in 1918. It may still exist in northeastern Indochina. Possibly a subspecies of the still-existing Hainan blue flycatcher.

Locustellidae – megalurid warblers or grass warblers

Chatham Islands fernbird, Poodytes rufescens
:Often placed in the genus Megalurus, but this is based on an incomplete review of the evidence.

Cisticolidae – cisticolas and allies

Tana River cisticola, Cisticola restrictus
:A mysterious species found in the Tana River Basin in small numbers at various dates but not seen since 1972. It is probably invalid; if so, it may be based on aberrant or hybrid specimens. An unconfirmed sighting was apparently reported in 2007 at the Tana River Delta.

Zosteropidae – white-eyes; probably belong in Timaliidae

Marianne white-eye, Zosterops semiflavus
Robust white-eye, Zosterops strenuus
White-chested white-eye, Zosterops albogularis

Pycnonotidae – bulbuls

Rodrigues bulbul, Hypsipetes cowlesi
:Known only from subfossil bones.

Sylviida incertae sedis

Rodrigues "babbler"
:Known only from subfossil bones. Provisionally assigned to Timaliidae, but its placement in this family is highly doubtful.

Sturnidae – starlings

Kosrae starling, Aplonis corvina
Mauke starling, Aplonis mavornata
Tasman starling, Aplonis fusca
:Two subspecies, the nominate subspecies A. f. fusca – Norfolk starling and A. fusca hulliana – Lord Howe starling.
Pohnpei starling, Aplonis pelzelni
:Only one reliable record since 1956, in 1995, leaves the species' survival seriously in doubt.
Raiatea starling, Aplonis? ulietensis
:Formerly called the bay thrush ; a mysterious bird from Raiatea now only known from a painting and some descriptions of a specimen. Its taxonomic position is thus unresolvable at present although, for biogeographic reasons and because of the surviving description, it has been suggested to have been a honeyeater. However, with the discovery of fossils of the prehistorically extinct Huahine starling on neighboring Huahine, it seems likely that this bird also belonged to this genus.
Hoopoe starling, Fregilupus varius
:Tentatively assigned to Sturnidae.
Rodrigues starling, Necropsar rodericanus
:Tentatively assigned to Sturnidae. The bird that was variously described as Necropsar leguati or Orphanopsar leguati and was considered to be identical with N. rodericanus was found to be based on a misidentified albino specimen of the still-existing grey trembler.

Turdidae – thrushes and allies

Grand Cayman thrush, Turdus ravidus
Bonin thrush, Zoothera terrestris
Āmaui, Myadestes woahensis
Olomao, Myadestes lanaiensis
:Officially classified as critically endangered because a possible location on Molokai remains unsurveyed. Two subspecies are known from Lanai and Molokai and there may be a possible third subspecies from Maui.
Kāmao, Myadestes myadestinus

Mimidae – mockingbirds and thrashers

Cozumel thrasher, Toxostoma guttatum
:It is still unknown whether the tiny population rediscovered in 2004 survived Hurricanes Emily (2005)|Emily] and Wilma in 2005. There have also been unconfirmed records in April 2006 and October and December 2007.

Icteridae – New World blackbirds and allies

Slender-billed grackle, Quiscalus palustris

Parulidae – New World warblers

Bachman's warbler, Vermivora bachmanii
:Officially classified as critically endangered.
Semper's warbler, Leucopeza semperi
:Officially classified as critically endangered. Suitable habitat remains and there have been unconfirmed records within the last 10 years.

Ploceidae – weavers

Réunion fody, Foudia delloni
:Formerly Foudia bruante; the latter scientific name may actually be a color morph of the still-existing red fody.

Cardinalidae – cardinals and allies

"Townsend's dickcissel", Spiza townsendi
:Either an extinct species, a variant of the still-existing dickcissel, or a hybrid.

Fringillidae – true finches and Hawaiian honeycreepers

Bonin grosbeak, Carpodacus ferreorostris
Ōū, Psittirostra psittacea
Kona grosbeak, Chloridops kona
Lanai hookbill, Dysmorodrepanis munroi
Kauai palila, Loxioides kikuichi
Lesser koa finch, Rhodacanthus flaviceps
Greater koa finch, Rhodacanthus palmeri
Greater amakihi, Viradonia sagittirostris
Maui nukupuu, Hemignathus affinis
Kauai nukupuu, Hemignathus hanapepe
Oahu nukupuu, Hemignathus lucidus
Hawaii akialoa or lesser akialoa, Akialoa obscurus
Maui Nui akialoa, Akialoa lanaiensis
Oahu akialoa, Akialoa ellisiana
Kauai akialoa, Akialoa stejnegeri
Kākāwahie, Paroreomyza flammea
Oahu alauahio, Paroreomyza maculata
:Officially classified as critically endangered. The last reliable record of this bird was in 1985, with an unconfirmed sighting in 1990.
Maui akepa, Loxops ochraceus
Oahu akepa, Loxops wolstenholmei
Ula-ai-hawane, Ciridops anna
Black mamo, Drepanis funerea
Hawaii mamo, Drepanis pacifica
Laysan honeycreeper, Himatione fraithii
Poouli, Melamprosops phaeosoma

Thraupidae – tanagers

"Hooded seedeater", Sporophila melanops
:Officially classified as critically endangered. It is known only from a single male collected in 1823 and is now considered either an abnormal specimen of the still-existing yellow-bellied seedeater or a hybrid.

Passerellidae – New World sparrows

Bermuda towhee, Pipilo naufragus
:Known from subfossil bones and possibly from a travel report by William Strachey in 1610.

Extinct/possibly extinct/status unknown bird subspecies

The extinction of subspecies is a subject that is very dependent on guesswork. National and international conservation projects and research publications such as red lists usually focus on species as a whole. Reliable information on the status of vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered subspecies usually has to be assembled piecemeal from published observations, such as regional checklists. Therefore, the following list contains a high proportion of bird taxa that may still exist, but are listed here due to any one of, or any combination of, these three factors: absence of recent records, a known threat such as habitat destruction, or an observed decline.

[Palaeognathae]

s and tinamous

Struthioniformes

Struthio – ostriches
* Arabian ostrich, Struthio camelus syriacus
:The last record of this subspecies of the common ostrich was a bird found dead in Jordan in 1966.

Apterygiformes

Apteryx – kiwis

* North Island little spotted kiwi, Apteryx owenii iredalei
*:A doubtfully distinct subspecies of the little spotted kiwi.

Casuariiformes

Dromaius – emus
*King Island emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae minor
*:An island dwarf subspecies of the emu; extinct in the wild c. 1805, the last captive specimen died in 1822 in the Jardin des Plantes.
*Kangaroo Island emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae baudinianus
*:Another island dwarf subspecies of the emu; extinct since c. 1827.
*Tasmanian emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae diemenensis
*:Yet another island dwarf subspecies of the emu; the last wild bird was collected in 1845, but it may have survived in captivity until 1884. It may be invalid.

[Anseriformes]

s, geese and swans

Bering cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii asiatica
:A formerly recognised subspecies of the cackling goose which was not distinct from the similar-looking Aleutian cackling goose and is now considered to be invalid.
Rennell Island teal, Anas gibberifrons remissa
:A doubtfully distinct subspecies of the Sunda teal which disappeared due to predation on ducklings by introduced Mozambique tilapia.
Niceforo's yellow-billed pintail, Anas georgica niceforoi
:A subspecies of the yellow-billed pintail that has not been recorded since the 1950s.
Borrero's cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera borreroi
:A subspecies of the cinnamon teal known only from a restricted area in the Cordillera Occidental of Colombia, with a couple of records from Ecuador. It was discovered in 1946 and thought to have become extinct by 1956.
Coues's gadwall, Mareca strepera couesi
:This island subspecies of the gadwall was discovered and named in 1874 after two birds were shot and has not been recorded since, with none found by a 1924 expedition from Honolulu's Bishop Museum.

[Galliformes]

s and relatives

Lake Amik black francolin, Francolinus francolinus billypayni
:A doubtfully distinct subspecies of the black francolin.
Sicilian black francolin, Francolinus francolinus ssp.
:Another doubtfully distinct subspecies of the black francolin.
Heath hen, Tympanuchus cupido cupido,
:A subspecies of the greater prairie-chicken.
New Mexico sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus hueyi
:A subspecies of the sharp-tailed grouse last recorded in Colfax County in 1952.
Moroccan helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris sabyi
:A subspecies of the helmeted guineafowl. Reportedly still kept in captivity in Morocco in the late 1990s. Possibly extinct in the wild by 1950; three records from the 1970s may refer to feral-domestic hybrids.

[Charadriiformes]

s, gulls and auks
Turnicidae – buttonquails

Tawi-Tawi common buttonquail, Turnix sylvaticus suluensis
:A subspecies of the common buttonquail; it has not been recorded since the 1950s, but there have been few surveys and it may still exist.

[Gruiformes]

s and allies – probably paraphyletic

Goldman's yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis goldmani
:A subspecies of the yellow rail that has not been recorded since 1964 and has lost much of its wetland habitat since then.
Peruvian rail, Rallus semiplumbeus peruvianus
:A subspecies of the Bogota rail which is known from a single specimen collected in the 1880s. It may still exist.
Macquarie rail, Gallirallus philippensis macquariensis
:A subspecies of the buff-banded rail.
Raoul Island banded rail, Gallirallus philippensis ssp.
:Reports of the former occurrence of this subspecies on Raoul seem to be plausible enough, but they may refer to vagrant individuals of another subspecies of the buff-banded rail.
Western Lewin's rail, Lewinia pectoralis clelandi
:A subspecies of Lewin's rail not recorded since 1932 despite multiple surveys in the late 20th century.
Assumption white-throated rail, Dryolimnas cuvieri abbotti
:A subspecies of the white-throated rail.
Jamaican wood rail, Amaurolimnas concolor concolor
:The nominate subspecies of the uniform crake declined rapidly and became extinct following the introduction of the small Indian mongoose to Jamaica in 1872.
Intact rail, Gymnocrex plumbeiventris intactus
:A doubtfully distinct subspecies of the bare-eyed rail known from a single specimen, c. mid-19th century, either from the Solomon Islands or New Ireland. It may still exist.
Bornean Baillon's crake, Zapornia pusilla mira
:A subspecies of Baillon's crake known from a single 1912 specimen and not found since; it may be extinct, but the species is hard to find.
Moroccan bustard, Ardeotis arabs lynesi
:A subspecies of the Arabian bustard. Last observed in 1993 at Lac Merzouga / Lac Tamezguidat.
Luzon sarus crane, Antigone antigone luzonica
:A subspecies of the sarus crane which is not always accepted as valid by all authorities, possibly because the existing specimens have not been thoroughly studied since it was first described.

[Pelecaniformes]

s and related birds – possibly paraphyletic

Ardeidae – herons, egrets, and bitterns
* Bonin nankeen night heron, Nycticorax caledonicus crassirostris
*:A subspecies of the nankeen night heron.

[Columbiformes]

s, doves and dodos

Madeiran wood pigeon, Columba palumbus maderensis
:A subspecies of the common wood pigeon.
Lord Howe pigeon, Columba vitiensis godmanae
:This subspecies of the metallic pigeon was last recorded in 1853 and almost certainly became extinct by 1869.
Tongan metallic pigeon, Columba vitiensis ssp.
:This subspecies of the metallic pigeon is only known from a footnote in John Latham's General History of Birds and seems to have become extinct some time before 1800; possibly, however, the location is erroneous and the footnote really refers to the still-existing population on Fiji.
Réunion pink pigeon, Nesoenas mayeri duboisi
:A subspecies of the pink pigeon, formerly in Streptopelia. There seems to have been at least another species of pigeon on Réunion, but bones have not yet been found. It became extinct at the same time as this subspecies did.
Amirante turtle dove, Nesoenas picturatus aldabrana
:This subspecies of the Malagasy turtle dove survived until at least 1974, after which it was hybridised out of existence through crossbreeding with the introduced nominate subspecies.
Catanduanes bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba luzonica rubiventris
:A subspecies of the Luzon bleeding-heart known from a single specimen collected in 1971. There have been recent reports of this bird and, as much of its forest habitat still remains, it is likely that it may still exist.
Basilan bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba crinigera bartletti
:A subspecies of the Mindanao bleeding-heart last reported in 1925 and, given the massive habitat destruction, is likely extinct.
Vella Lavella ground dove, Pampusana jobiensis chalconota
:A subspecies of the white-breasted ground dove or possibly a distinct species. Known from only four specimens; there are no recent records and the natives report that it has disappeared.
White-headed Polynesian ground dove, Pampusana erythroptera albicollis
:This subspecies of the Polynesian ground dove, often referred to as P. e. pectoralis, became extinct at an undetermined date, but it may still exist on some unsurveyed atolls. The identity of the northern Tuamotu population, which may also possibly still exist, is undetermined to date.
Ebon crimson-crowned fruit dove, Ptilinopus porphyraceus marshallianus
:A subspecies of the crimson-crowned fruit dove of doubtful validity known from a single specimen collected in 1859; it is not certain whether or not this bird actually did occur on Ebon. All that can be said with certainty is that this subspecies is no longer found anywhere.
Mauke lilac-crowned fruit dove, Ptilinopus rarotongensis "byronensis"
:A subspecies of the lilac-crowned fruit dove known only from the description of a now-lost specimen. The prehistorically extinct population on Mangaia likely belongs to another distinct subspecies also.
Negros spotted imperial pigeon, Ducula carola nigrorum
:A subspecies of the spotted imperial pigeon not recorded since the 1950s.
Norfolk pigeon, Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae spadicea
:A subspecies of the kererū or New Zealand pigeon not recorded since 1900. Similar birds were reported from Lord Howe Island; these seem to represent another extinct subspecies, but are undescribed to date.
Raoul Island kererū, Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae ssp. nov.
:Another undescribed subspecies of the kererū or New Zealand pigeon or possibly a distinct species; known from bones and a brief report.

[Cuculiformes]

Greater crested coua, Coua cristata maxima
:A subspecies of the crested coua, known only from a single specimen taken in 1950. It may be a hybrid but if it is not, it is probably extinct.
Assumption Island coucal, Centropus toulou assumptionis
:A subspecies of the Malagasy coucal last recorded in 1906. It is sometimes considered synonymous with the still-existing Aldabra subspecies, which has since recolonized Assumption Island.
Cabo San Lucas groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris pallidula
:A weakly differentiated and probably invalid subspecies of the groove-billed ani.
Bahia rufous-vented ground cuckoo, Neomorphus geoffroyi maximiliani
:A subspecies of the rufous-vented ground cuckoo.

Strigiformes">Owl">Strigiformes

True owls and barn owls
Strigidae – true owls

Sulu reddish scops owl, Otus rufescens burbidgei
:A subspecies of the reddish scops owl only known from a single questionable specimen. It may be invalid.
Virgin Islands owl, Gymnasio nudipes newtoni
:A subspecies of the Puerto Rican owl of somewhat doubtful validity, which occurred on several of the Virgin Islands. The last reliable records were in 1860; there were a number of unconfirmed reports during the 20th century, but it was not found in thorough surveys in 1995.
Socorro elf owl, Micrathene whitneyi graysoni
:A subspecies of the elf owl officially classified as critically endangered. The last specimen was taken in 1932, but there was apparently still a large population in 1958; it was not found in subsequent searches and it appears to have become extinct.
Antiguan burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia amaura
:A subspecies of the burrowing owl, last collected in 1890 and extinct by 1903.
Guadeloupe burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia guadeloupensis
:Another subspecies of the burrowing owl, extinct by 1890.
Lord Howe boobook, Ninox novaeseelandiae albaria
:A subspecies of the morepork last recorded in the 1950s.
Norfolk boobook, Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata
:Individuals of the nominate subspecies of the morepork from New Zealand were introduced in a last-ditch effort to save the local owl population. There now exists a hybrid population of a few dozen birds; the last certainly distinct individual of N. n. undulata, a female named Miamiti, died in 1996, though individuals descended from her remain.

Tytonidae – barn owls

Cave-nesting masked owl, Tyto novaehollandiae troughtoni
:Doubtfully distinct from the nominate subspecies of the Australian masked owl, but differed behaviorally.
Buru masked owl, Tyto sororcula cayelii
:A subspecies of the Moluccan masked owl last recorded in 1921; the identity of a similar bird found on Seram remains to be determined. It may still exist, as an owl matching this bird's description was encountered in August 2006.
Peleng masked owl, Tyto rosenbergii pelengensis
:A subspecies of the Sulawesi masked owl or a distinct species. It may possibly still exist, but the only known specimen was taken in 1938 and there have been no further records since then.
Samar bay owl, Phodilus badius riverae
:A subspecies of the Oriental bay owl or a possibly distinct species. Its taxonomy is doubtful, but the only known specimen was lost in a 1945 bombing raid, so its validity cannot be verified; no population exists on Samar today.

[Apodiformes]

s and hummingbirds

Miravalles indigo-capped hummingbird, Saucerottia cyanifrons alfaroana
:This subspecies of the indigo-capped hummingbird is only known from a specimen collected in Costa Rica in 1895. It is likely to have become extinct since then.
Alejandro Selkirk firecrown, Sephanoides fernandensis leyboldi
:A subspecies of the Juan Fernández firecrown last recorded in 1908.
Luzon Whitehead's swiftlet, Aerodramus whiteheadi whiteheadi
:The nominate subspecies of Whitehead's swiftlet is only known from four specimens collected at Mount Data in 1895. Because of the lack of further records and massive habitat destruction, it is usually considered extinct. Given the size of the island, though, it may still exist.

[Coraciiformes]

s and related birds

Sangihe dwarf kingfisher, Ceyx fallax sangirensis
:This subspecies of the Sulawesi dwarf kingfisher was last seen in 1997 but not during a thorough survey one year later; it is either close to extinction or already extinct. Sometimes it is said to occur on the Talaud Islands also, but this is erroneous.
Guadalcanal little kingfisher, Ceyx pusillus aolae
:A subspecies of the little kingfisher.
Rarotonga kingfisher, Todiramphus cf. tutus
:There exist reports of locals that kingfishers – probably a subspecies of the chattering kingfisher which is found on neighboring islands, but possibly vagrants from there – were found until around 1979 and there is a last record from 1984. Presently, no kingfishers are known to exist on Rarotonga.
"Ryukyu kingfisher", "Todiramphus cinnamominus miyakoensis"
:Previously considered as a distinct species, then reclassified as a subspecies of the Guam kingfisher. Only seen once by scientists in 1887; the specimen taken is somewhat damaged, making identification by anything other than molecular analysis difficult. It is now thought likely that the specimen came from Guam, where the aforementioned species was distributed, rather than Miyako, which would make this subspecies invalid.
Sakarha pygmy kingfisher, Corythornis madagascariensis dilutus
:This subspecies of the Madagascar pygmy kingfisher is only known from one specimen taken in 1974 in an area where most of its habitat had already been destroyed. However, there have been records of the species from near the type locality, suggesting it is likely that it may still exist.
Ticao hornbill, Penelopides panini ticaensis
:A subspecies of the Visayan hornbill of somewhat uncertain taxonomic status ; the last confirmed report was in 1971 and it became extinct shortly thereafter.

[Piciformes]

s and related birds

Grand Bahama West Indian woodpecker, Melanerpes superciliaris bahamensis
:A subspecies of the West Indian woodpecker of somewhat uncertain validity.
Guadalupe red-shafted flicker, Colaptes auratus rufipileus
:A subspecies of the northern flicker, it was last recorded in 1906 and not found again in both 1911 and 1922. It may be invalid. Recently, vagrant birds of a mainland red-shafted northern flicker subspecies have begun recolonizing the island as the habitat improved after the extirpation of feral goats in 2006.
Todd's jacamar, Brachygalba lugubris phaeonota
:A subspecies of the brown jacamar or possibly a distinct species, a color morph, or a hybrid. It may still exist, as it is only known from a remote and seldom-visited area.
Cebu white-bellied woodpecker, Dryocopus javensis cebuensis
:A subspecies of the white-bellied woodpecker known only by three specimens collected before 1900.

[Accipitriformes]

Cape Verde kite, Milvus ''fasciicauda
:Considered either a subspecies of the red kite, a distinct species, or a hybrid between the red kite and the black kite, the validity of this taxon has recently been questioned on the basis of molecular analysis; however, hybridization and a confusing molecular phylogeny of red kite populations, coupled with the distinct phenotype of the Cape Verde birds, suggest that the taxonomic status of this form is far from resolved.
Car Nicobar sparrowhawk, Tachyspiza butleri butleri''
: The nominate subspecies of the Nicobar sparrowhawk – a species which is itself currently classified as vulnerable – is possibly extinct. It was last reliably recorded in 1901 and, despite searches, has not been sighted after an unconfirmed record in 1977; however, the species is known for being very shy and a population may persist unrecorded.

[Falconiformes]

Volcano Islands peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus furuitii
:A subspecies of the peregrine falcon from the Ogasawara Islands. No sightings have been reported since 1945. A survey in 1982 failed to record it. Only known from Iwo Jima and Torishima.

Psittaciformes

Sangir red-and-blue lory, Eos histrio histrio
:The nominate subspecies of the red-and-blue lory was hybridised out of existence through crossbreeding with escaped captive individuals of its other still-existing subspecies, Challenger's red-and-blue lory, with the last certainly distinct individuals disappearing in the 1990s or even much earlier than that.
Macquarie red-crowned parakeet, Cyanorhamphus novaezelandiae erythortis
:A subspecies of the red-crowned parakeet last recorded in 1890 and not found by surveys in 1894.
Réunion parakeet, Psittacula eques eques
:Known only from a painting and descriptions; the nominate subspecies of the echo parakeet, with the other one being the still-existing Mauritius parakeet.
Siquijor hanging parrot, Loriculus philippensis siquijorensis
:A subspecies of the Philippine hanging parrot or colasisi; it is either very rare or already extinct.
Sinú brown-throated parakeet, Eupsittula pertinax griseipecta
:A subspecies of the brown-throated parakeet known from only two specimens collected in 1949 which are of unclear taxonomic and conservation status.
Culebra Island amazon, Amazona vittata gracilipes
:A weakly differentiated subspecies of the Puerto Rican amazon, which is itself highly endangered.

Passeriformes

Pittidae – pittas

Bougainville black-faced pitta, Pitta anerythra pallida
:A subspecies of the black-faced pitta. Once common on Bougainville; not recorded since 1938, but it is likely to have been overlooked.
Choiseul black-faced pitta, Pitta anerythra nigrifrons
:Another subspecies of the black-faced pitta. Not found during recent searches; doubtful records from nearby islands, but it is also likely to have been overlooked.

Tyrannidae – tyrant flycatchers

Bogotá bearded tachuri, Polystictus pectoralis bogotensis
:A subspecies of the bearded tachuri that has not been recorded for some time and is now extinct.
Grenadan Euler's flycatcher, Lathrotriccus euleri flaviventris
:A subspecies of Euler's flycatcher formerly known as Empidonax euleri johnstoni. It has not been recorded since the 1950s.

Furnariidae – ovenbirds

Peruvian scale-throated earthcreeper, Upucerthia dumetaria peruana
:A subspecies of the scale-throated earthcreeper; it is known only from two specimens taken in the early 1950s at Puno, Peru and has not been seen or found since. It may still exist, as there is no obvious reason why it should have become extinct.
Northern stripe-crowned spinetail, Cranioleuca pyrrhophia rufipennis
:A subspecies of the stripe-crowned spinetail known only from a few specimens and not recorded since the 1950s; it may be endangered or possibly extinct.

Formicariidae – antpittas and antthrushes

Northern giant antpitta, Grallaria gigantea lehmanni
:A subspecies of the giant antpitta apparently not recorded since the 1940s. It may still exist in Puracé National Natural Park, where there is plentiful habitat remaining.
Antioquia brown-banded antpitta, Grallaria milleri gilesi
:A subspecies of the brown-banded antpitta recently described from a specimen collected in 1878. It has not been recorded since, despite surveys at a number of likely locations.

Maluridae – Australasian wrens

MacDonnell Ranges thick-billed grasswren, Amytornis modestus modestus
:The nominate subspecies of the thick-billed grasswren. The last record was a clutch of eggs taken in 1936.
Namoi thick-billed grasswren, Amytornis modestus inexpectatus
:Another subspecies of the thick-billed grasswren last recorded in 1886.
Large-tailed grasswren, Amytornis textilis macrourus
:A subspecies of the western grasswren last collected in 1910 and extinct since then.

Dasyornithidae – bristlebirds

Western rufous bristlebird, Dasyornis broadbenti littoralis
:A subspecies of the rufous bristlebird not recorded since 1940 despite a number of surveys since then, beginning in the 1970s.

Acanthizidae – Australasian warblers, scrubwrens, thornbills and gerygones

King Island brown thornbill, Acanthiza pusilla archibaldi
:A subspecies of the brown thornbill which has only been recorded about 10 times since its discovery and is considered extinct by some authorities. The latest record comes from 2002, suggesting a population is likely to still exist, but it is very rare.

Petroicidae – Australasian robins

Tiwi Island hooded robin, Melanodryas cucullata melvillensis
:A subspecies of the hooded robin last observed in 1992 and not found in exhaustive searches later in the 1990s.

Cinclosomatidae – whipbirds and allies

Mount Lofty spotted quail-thrush, Cinclosoma punctatum anachoreta
:A subspecies of the spotted quail-thrush last recorded in 1983 and not found in a survey the following year.

Artamidae – woodswallows, currawongs and allies

Western pied currawong, Strepera graculina ashbyi
:This subspecies of the pied currawong has been hybridised out of existence by crossbreeding with other subspecies, which probably came into contact with it following habitat destruction in the 1830s. The last certainly distinct individuals were recorded in 1927.

Monarchidae – monarch flycatchers and paradise flycatchers

Negros celestial monarch, Hypothymis coelestis rabori
:A subspecies of the celestial monarch; not uncommon on Negros in 1959, but not recorded since then. A single Sibuyan specimen from an unspecified locality taken in the 19th century is the only record for this island.
Hiva Oa monarch, Pomarea mendozae mendozae
:The nominate subspecies of the Marquesan monarch which was very rare by 1974 and not found during multiple surveys in the 1990s.

Rhipiduridae – fantails

Lord Howe fantail, Rhipidura fuliginosa cervina
:A subspecies of the New Zealand fantail that was considered virtually extinct in 1924 and not found by surveys four years later.
Guam rufous fantail, Rhipidura versicolor uraniae
:A subspecies of the Micronesian rufous fantail; a conspicuous bird which has not been recorded since 1984.

Campephagidae – cuckooshrikes and trillers

Cebu bar-bellied cuckooshrike, Coracina striata cebuensis
:A subspecies of the bar-bellied cuckooshrike not recorded since its collection in 1906.
Maros cicadabird, Edolisoma tenuirostre edithae
:A subspecies of the Sahul cicadabird known from a single specimen collected in 1931; quite possibly just a vagrant individual.
Cebu blackish cuckooshrike, Edolisoma coerulescens altera
:A subspecies of the blackish cuckooshrike; it may still exist, as this bird is rather unmistakable, and a 1999 record is therefore likely to be valid, though surveys since then have failed to record it.
Marinduque blackish cuckooshrike, Edolisoma coerulescens deschauenseei
:Another subspecies of the blackish cuckooshrike; described from specimens collected in 1971, but apparently not seen since then. As few ornithologists have visited Marinduque and forest remains on the island, it is likely that it may still exist.
Norfolk long-tailed triller, Lalage leucopyga leucopyga
:The nominate subspecies of the long-tailed triller.

Oriolidae – Old World orioles and allies

Cebu dark-throated oriole, Oriolus xanthonotus assimilis
:A subspecies of the dark-throated oriole not confirmed since 1906, though there were unconfirmed reports c. 2001, suggesting a possibility that it may still exist.

Corvidae – crows, ravens, jays and magpies
File:Corvus corax varius morpha leucophaeus.jpg|thumb|Pied raven, a color morph of the common raven

Pied raven, Corvus corax varius morpha leucophaeus
:A distinct local white-with-black-markings and light brown-billed color morph of the North Atlantic raven, a subspecies of the common raven, found only on the Faroe Islands and not seen since 1902. Birds currently living on the Faroe Islands and on Iceland are all-black and black-billed; this still-existing color morph is named Corvus corax varius morpha typicus.

Regulidae – kinglets

Guadalupe ruby-crowned kinglet, Corthylio calendula obscurus
:A subspecies of the ruby-crowned kinglet that has not been recorded since 1953.

Hirundinidae – swallows and martins

Jamaican golden swallow, Tachycineta euchrysea euchrysea
:The nominate subspecies of the golden swallow; endemic to Jamaica. The last major roost site was destroyed in 1987 and the last confirmed sighting was in 1989. It may still exist in the Cockpit Country.

Phylloscopidae – phylloscopid warblers or leaf warblers

Eastern Canary Islands chiffchaff, Phylloscopus canariensis exsul
:A subspecies of the Canary Islands chiffchaff; it was probably extinct by 1986.

Cettiidae – cettiid warblers or typical bush warblers

Babar stubtail, Urosphena subulata advena
:A subspecies of the Timor stubtail that has been considered extinct, but was recorded as common on Babar in 2009 and 2011.
Western Turner's eremomela, Eremomela turneri kalindei
:The West African subspecies of Turner's eremomela has not been recorded since the end of the 1970s, but there is unsurveyed habitat in its range where it is likely that it may still exist. Its placement in Cettiidae requires confirmation.

Acrocephalidae – acrocephalid warblers or reed warblers, brush warblers, swamp warblers, marsh-warblers and tree-warblers

Marshall Islands reed warbler, Acrocephalus rehsei ssp.?
:Oral tradition and some early reports mention a bird called the annañ which inhabited some of the Marshall Islands. The best match is the Nauru reed warbler; the annañ might have been an undescribed subspecies of that species or a distinct but related species of reed warbler.
Laysan millerbird, Acrocephalus familiaris familiaris
:The nominate subspecies of the millerbird.

Pycnonotidae – bulbuls

Sumatran blue-wattled bulbul, Brachypodius nieuwenhuisii inexspectatus
:A subspecies of the blue-wattled bulbul known only from a single specimen taken in 1937; however, this entire "species" may actually be a hybrid.

Cisticolidae – cisticolas and allies

Northern white-winged apalis, Apalis chariessa chariessa
:The nominate subspecies of the white-winged apalis remains known only from the Tana River, a centre of endemism. It was last recorded in 1961.

Sylviidae – sylviid warblers and parrotbills

Vanua Levu long-legged thicketbird, Cincloramphus rufus clunei
:A subspecies of the long-legged thicketbird; it was found only once, but there was an unconfirmed sighting in 1990, suggesting that it may still exist. Its placement in Sylviidae is doubtful.
Fayyum warbler, Curruca melanocephala norissae
:A doubtfully distinct subspecies of the Sardinian warbler. It has not been recorded since 1939.

Zosteropidae – white-eyes; probably belong in Timaliidae

Guam bridled white-eye, Zosterops conspicillatus conspicillatus
:The nominate subspecies of the bridled white-eye or possibly a monotypic species. It was last recorded in 1983.
Mukojima white-eye, Apalopteron familiare familiare
:The nominate subspecies of the Bonin white-eye not recorded since its last specimen was collected in 1930.

Timaliidae – Old World babblers

Vanderbilt's babbler, Malacocincla sepiaria vanderbilti
:An enigmatic subspecies of Horsfield's babbler known from a single specimen. It has not been seen since the 1940s at the latest.
Burmese Jerdon's babbler, Chrysomma altirostre altirostre
:The nominate subspecies of Jerdon's babbler was last confirmed in 1941, but as there has been little fieldwork in its range and a possible sighting occurred in 1994, it is considered likely that it may still exist.

Macrosphenidae – African warblers

Chapin's white-browed crombec, Sylvietta leucophrys chapini
:A subspecies of the white-browed crombec or possibly a distinct species. Restricted to the Lendu Plateau; it is probably rare, though unsurveyed forest remains where it is likely that it may still exist.

Troglodytidae – wrens

San Benedicto rock wren, Salpinctes obsoletus exsul
:A subspecies of the rock wren which became extinct c. 9:00 AM, August 1, 1952, when its island habitat was destroyed by a massive volcanic eruption.
Guadalupe Bewick's wren, Thryomanes bewickii brevicauda
:A subspecies of Bewick's wren. An extinction date of "1903" seems to be in error; the last unquestionable record dates from 1897 and a thorough search in 1901 failed to record it.
San Clemente Bewick's wren, Thryomanes bewickii leucophrys
:Another subspecies of Bewick's wren last recorded in 1941.
Daito wren, Troglodytes troglodytes orii
:A disputed subspecies of the Eurasian wren; it is known from a single specimen that may have been a vagrant individual and, therefore, it is possibly invalid.
Martinique Kalinago wren, Troglodytes martinicensis martinicensis
:The nominate subspecies of the Kalinago wren that was last found in 1886.
Guadeloupe Kalinago wren, Troglodytes martinicensis guadeloupensis
:Another subspecies of the Kalinago wren that was found in 1914, 1969 and the 1970s; now either very rare or already extinct.

Paridae – tits, chickadees and titmice

Daito varied tit, Sittiparus varius orii
:A subspecies of the varied tit last recorded in 1938 and not found in subsequent surveys in 1984 and 1986.
Zagros coal tit, Periparus ater phaeonotus
:A subspecies of the coal tit only known by the type specimen from 1870.

Cinclidae – dippers

Cyprus white-throated dipper, Cinclus cinclus olympicus
:A formerly recognised subspecies of the white-throated dipper that is now considered invalid. It became extinct in 1945.

Muscicapidae – Old World flycatchers and chats

Tonkean jungle flycatcher, Cyornis colonus subsolanus
:A subspecies of the Sula jungle flycatcher that is known from a single specimen. It may be invalid.
Chinijo stonechat, Saxicola dacotiae murielae
:A subspecies of the Canary Islands stonechat.

Turdidae – thrushes and allies

Norfolk thrush, Turdus poliocephalus poliocephalus
:The nominate subspecies of the Tasman Sea island thrush last seen in 1975.
Lord Howe thrush, Turdus poliocephalus vinitinctus
:Another subspecies of the Tasman Sea island thrush last recorded in 1913 and extinct by 1928.
Maré thrush, Turdus vanikorensis mareensis
:A subspecies of the Vanikoro island thrush last collected in 1911 or 1912 and not found again after 1939.
Saint Lucia forest thrush, Turdus lherminieri sanctaeluciae
:A subspecies of the forest thrush. It has been thought to be extinct, but it was recorded at Des Chassin in 2007.
Peleng red-and-black thrush, Geokichia mendeni mendeni
:The nominate subspecies of the red-and-black thrush; little is known about it.
Kibale black-eared ground thrush, Geokichia camaronensis kibalensis
:A subspecies of the black-eared ground thrush or possibly a distinct species; known only from two specimens, both from 1966. It is likely that it still exists in suitable habitat, but it could already be extinct.
Choiseul russet-tailed thrush, Zoothera heinei choiseuli
:A subspecies of the russet-tailed thrush known from a single specimen found in 1924. It could have been wiped out by introduced feral cats, but the island is poorly known and so it should not be presumed extinct just yet.
Isle of Pines solitaire, Myadestes elisabeth retrusus
:A subspecies of the Cuban solitaire. The last confirmed records were in the 1930s, with unconfirmed reports in the early 1970s.

Mimidae – mockingbirds and thrashers

Barbados scaly-breasted thrasher, Allenia fusca atlantica
:A subspecies of the scaly-breasted thrasher last recorded in 1987. Most of its range has been searched since then, with no records known.

Estrildidae – estrildid finches

Southern star finch, Bathilda ruficauda ruficauda
:The nominate subspecies of the star finch last recorded in 1995 and not found during later searches in the 1990s. It is not known to survive in captivity.

Fringillidae – true finches and Hawaiian honeycreepers

San Benito house finch, Haemorhous mexicanus mcgregori
:A subspecies of the house finch.
Lanai alauahio, Paroreomyza montana montana
:The nominate subspecies of the Maui alauahio, it was last recorded in 1937 and was certainly extinct by 1960.

Icteridae – New World blackbirds and allies

Grand Cayman oriole, Icterus leucopteryx bairdi
:A subspecies of the Jamaican oriole last recorded in 1967.

Parulidae – New World warblers

New Providence yellowthroat, Geothlypis rostrata rostrata
:The nominate subspecies of the Bahama yellowthroat; it is either extinct or almost extinct.

Thraupidae – tanagers

Gonâve western chat-tanager, Calyptophilus tertius abbotti
:A subspecies of the western chat-tanager last recorded in 1977 and probably extinct.
Samaná eastern chat-tanager, Calyptophilus frugivorus frugivorus
:The nominate subspecies of the eastern chat-tanager; the last record was in 1982 and concerted efforts to record it ever since have failed.
Darwin's large ground finch, Geospiza magnirostris magnirostris
:The nominate subspecies of the large ground finch collected by Charles Darwin in 1835; he gave no precise location for it. A similar bird was found in 1957, but no others have been seen since then.
Saint Kitts bullfinch, Melopyrrha portoricensis grandis
:A subspecies of the Puerto Rican bullfinch.

Passerellidae – New World sparrows

Todos Santos rufous-crowned sparrow, Aimophila ruficeps sanctorum
:A subspecies of the rufous-crowned sparrow once common but not recorded during surveys in the 1970s or since then.
Santa Barbara song sparrow, Melospiza melodia graminea
:A subspecies of the song sparrow last seen in 1967; it became extinct due to a severe wildfire in 1959 and subsequent predation by feral cats. Officially declared extinct by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 1983.
Dusky seaside sparrow, Ammospiza maritima nigrescens
:A subspecies of the seaside sparrow last recorded in the wild in 1987.
Guadalupe spotted towhee, Pipilo maculatus consobrinus
:A subspecies of the spotted towhee.