However more recent genomic studies have confirmed these two branches as sister groups.

[6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Both primitive phoenicopteriformes and their closest relatives, the grebes, were highly aquatic.

[13] This indicates that the entire mirandornithe group evolved from aquatic, probably swimming ancestors.

[9] The term was coined by Sangster in 2005, in order to properly describe the new clade discovered with molecular analyses.

[4] According to Mayr (2004) and Sangster (2005) there are at least twelve distinct morphological synapomorphies that are unique to this clade:[4]