Birds

Ch. 4 Sect. 1

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Vocabulary Words

• Aves• Ornithology• Contour Feathers• Down Feathers• Preening• Crop• Gizzard

• Gastroliths• 4 Types of birds• Archaeopteryx• Protoavis

Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Chordata

• Class: Aves

• The study of birds is called Ornithology

Bird Characteristics1. Flight adaptations

– Flight is made possible because of their:• Strong but lightweight skeletons• Wings• Feathers• Strong flight muscles• Efficient respiratory system• Ability to quickly convert food into energy• Well developed senses (especially eyesight)

Lyre Bird

2. Hollow Bones– Most bones of birds that fly are almost

hollow• These bones have thin cross braces inside that

strengthen without adding weight. • The hollow spaces are filled with air

– Many bones are joined together for added strength

– Large sternum (breastbone) to support chest muscles need for flight

– Last bones in the spine support the tail feathers which are needed for steering and balancing

• Birds do NOT have bones in their tails

3. Feathers– Birds are the only animals that have feathers– Two types of feathers:

1. Contour Feathers– Strong, lightweight– Give the bird its coloring and smooth shape– Flight feathers– Developed after hatching

2. Down Feathers– Soft, fluffy– Developed before hatching (baby birds are born with

these)– Adults have them underneath their contour feathers– Work as insulation to help birds maintain their body

heat

– Preening • Birds have oil glands by the base of their tails• Using their beaks birds rub oil from this gland over

their feathers. • This oil makes their feathers water-repellant

Body Systems• Reproduction

– Internal fertilization– Lay amniotic eggs

• Eggs are typically laid in a nest• Group of eggs = clutch• Incubated (kept warm) by one/both parents

– Incubation period varies by species

• Young are cared for by one/both parents after they hatch

• Digestive System– Flying requires large amounts of energy to

supply this energy a bird’s digestive system changes food into energy very quickly

• Ex. Some birds can digest food in 1 hour Humans can take 24 hours to digest food

– Birds have powerful beaks for crushing but no teeth

Passage through a Bird’s digestive system:1. Mouth2. Crop

- Food waits here to absorb enough moisture to move on

3. Stomach- Food is partially digested

4. Gizzard- Food is ground and crushed by small stones the bird has swallowed- These stones are called gastroliths

5. Intestines6. Nutrients move into the blood stream and wastes

are secreted out the cloaca

The gizzard of a loonWARNING: This is kind of icky.

Can you spot the gastroliths?

• Respiratory System– Birds are endotherms

• Endotherms maintain their own internal body temperature

– Birds have two lungs• Each lung is connected to balloon-like air sacs that

reach into different parts of the body• Most of the air inhaled by a bird passes directly

into the air sacs behind the lungs• When a bird exhales the air with oxygen passes

from the air sacs into the lungs• This means that birds get oxygen when they inhale

and exhale!

• Circulatory System– Large 4 chambered heart

• Ex. A sparrow’s heart is 1.68% of its body weight a humans is only 0.42%

• The four chambers keep oxygenated blood separate from carbon dioxide blood.

• Bird’s hearts beat very rapidly– A hummingbird’s heart can beat over 1,000 times per

minute! The average human’s resting heart rate is only 72.

Groups of BirdsThere are 4 main groups1. Flightless Birds

- Ex. emu, ostriches

2. Water Birds

- Ex. swans, flamingos

3. Birds of Prey - Ex. owls and hawks

4. Song Birds

- Ex. cuckoo, nightingale

Kingfisher – A Bird of Prey

What we see What a fish sees

King Fisher

The Importance of BirdsBenefits:• Food• Raw Materials (ex. feathers)• Pets• Pest Control

– Ex. Owls eat mice

• Pollinators– Pollen is transferred from flower to flower by their feathers– Seeds can also be dispersed in their droppings

Negatives:• Droppings can damage buildings/cars • Their waste can contain harmful microorganisms

Origin of Birds• Scientists hypothesize that birds

developed from reptiles millions of years ago

• Archaeopteryx is the oldest birdlike fossil– 150 mya– Solid bones, teeth, bony tail

• Protoavis– 225 mya– Hollow bones, well developed sternum, teeth– May have been the first species of birds

Grouping Birds• Birds in general - A flock of birds

–Chickens - A peep of chickens –Crows - A murder of crows –Ducks - A paddling of ducks –Falcons - A cast of falcons–Parrots - A company of parrots –Swans- A ballet of swans–Turkey – A rafter of turkeys

The End!