Family tree

 

 

Birds have family trees as well! And they hold many surprises tucked away in their branches, according to a new study. For example, in the family tree, parrots and pigeons are sort of sisters. And what’s more, Flamingos – which love to splash around – don’t seem to be on the same branch of the bird family tree as the rest of the water birds. There are three kinds of bird groups: land birds, like the sparrow; shore birds like seagulls; and water birds like deep-diving penguins. But there are a few cousins who have joined the water bird family despite the fact that their evolutionary grandparents were actually members of the land family.