From Opus

Family: Tetraonidae

[edit] Description

Grouse, Ptarmigan, and Prairie-Chickens (now included in Phasianidae).

[edit] Taxonomy

Tetraonidae is a family (recognised by some authorities) in the order Galliformes.

The Tree of Life Web Project², however, indicates that this group is more closely related to Junglefowl, Peacocks and some Partridge and Francolins than are other Francolins and Partridge (all traditionally placed in the family Phasianidae).

Clements (2008)¹ now recognises this taxon as the subfamily Tetraoninae in the family Phasianidae.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.
2. Tree of Life Web Project. 2007. Phasianidae. Chickens, Grouse, Partridges, Quail, Pheasants, etc.. Version 07 March 2007 (temporary). Downloaded on 28 December 2008 from http://tolweb.org/Phasianidae/26302/2007.03.07 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/.