Abstract: In the order of Herpesvirales and the family of Herpesviridae, herpeviruses of birds, grouped in the subfamily of Alphaherpesvirinae, infect many avians, including chickens, turkeys, ducks, pigeons, parrots, eagles, storks, falcons, cranes, bobwhites, cormorants, penguins, owls ... The main diseases are the oncogenic Marek's disease (Gallid herpesvirus 2, genus Mardivirus), infectious laryngotracheitis (Gallid herpesvirus 1, genus Iltovirus), duck virus enteritis or duck plague (Anatid Herpesvirus 1, not classified but closed to genus Mardivirus, Varicellovirus and Simplexvirus in the same subfamily). These alphaherpesvirinae may cause substantial economic and ecological losses.