Phylogenetic analyses further show that the buttonquails were a basal clade of the neognathous birds (excluding galloanserine birds), and have no sister relationship with cranes.

• 三趾鹑类在系统发生中晚于鸡雁类和古腭型鸟类，早于今腭型鸟类中非鸡雁类鸟类，与鹤形目鸟类的亲缘关系较远。