What Is the Scientific Name for Birds?

The name Aves is the Latin word for birds. Birds are considered part of Maniraptora because all members of that group have a specialized wrist bone found in no other animals. In birds, this bone allows them to flap their wing powerfully; its use in other maniraptors is obscure, but in some species it also was likely used for flight. Although birds are dinosaurs, they are still a distinct group within the dinosaur family tree and thus retain their special scientific name, Aves.