Neornithes Gadow, 1893 - living birds
   Neognathae Pycraft 1900 see Cohort Neognathae Pycraft, 1900
     Neoaves Sibley et al. 1988 see Subcohort Neoaves Sibley et al., 1988
       [Order] Ciconiiformes Bonaparte, 1854
         Family Ardeidae Leach, 1820 - herons, bitterns and egrets
           Subfamily Botaurinae Bock, 1956
             Genus Ixobrychus Billberg, 1828
               ‡Ixobrychus novaezelandiae (Purdie, 1871) - New Zealand bittern