Summary
This study was based on self-grooming sequences, and
probabilistic methods to compose sequences of behavior. The
phylogenetic position of members of Orders Falconiformes and
Ciconiiformes was inferred. Seven taxa were studied: the
Great Egret, Ardea (= Casmerodius) alba, Family Ardeidae;
Harpy Eagle, Harpia harpyja, Family Accipitridae; the White-
tailed Hawk, Buteo albicaudatus, Family Accipitridae; the
White-headed Vulture, Trigonoceps occipitalis, Family
Accipitridae; the Palm-nut Vulture, Gypohierax angolensis,
Family Accipitridae; Yellow-headed Caracara, Milvago
chimachima, Family Falconidae; and American Black Vulture,
Coragyps atratus, Family Cathartidae. For the analysis of
behavioral sequences seven other taxa (Harpia was presented
twice) of previous study were added. The total numbers of
sequences of self-grooming for thirteen species arrive at
3,190, which were used as phylogenetic characteres. The
sequences composed the behavioral characters for the
phylogenetic analysis, and resulted in only one more
parsimonious tree (CI= 0,51, RI= 0,44). The cladogram
presents good scores in bootstrap analysis but displayed a
not very clear arrangement among the branches. It is possible
that the difficulties in acquiring behavioral acts caused the
problems seen in the cladogram. Based on this hypothesis
three species (more incongruent) were excluded and a new most
parsimonious tree (CI= 0,69 and RI= 0,47) was got. The last
analysis support that Falconiformes is not a monophyletic
group; the Cathartidae and Threskiornitidae are closely
related taxa of Falconiformes. Ardea was considered as out-
group and are not included as close to Threskiornitidae. In
addition, Falconiformes is presented as a Ciconiiformes
iv