BIRDS CLASS AVES

the study of birds ORNITHOLOGYRead 794-802Math Lab 802Feather Lab

Anatomy Lab

An Introduction to BirdsAn Introduction to Birds

KINGDOM :

PHYLUM :

CLASS :

Animalia

Chordata

Aves

Avian Characteristics

resemblance between birds and reptiles

• REPRODUCTION

• REPTILES BIRDS

• leathery eggs hard shells

• one ovary one ovary

• Int fert int fert

• ext and internal develop external develop

ANATOMY

• REPTILES BIRDS

• scales on legs scales on legs

• beak beak

• claws on feet claws on feet

• Feathers• Bills• Lightweight Bones• Flight• Eggs / Nests• Bipedal• High Metabolism• 4-chambered Heart

Avian Characteristics

• Unidirectional Lungs• Parental Care• Monogamy• Large-brained• Highly Communicative• Skilled Navigators• Color Vision• Sensitive Hearing

• Feathers• Bills• Lightweight Bones• Flight• Eggs * / Nests• Bipedal *• High Metabolism• 4-chambered Heart

Avian Characteristics

• Unidirectional Lungs• Parental Care• Monogamy• Large-brained• Highly Communicative• Skilled Navigators• Color Vision *• Sensitive Hearing

ALL Birds Have

• Feathers• Bills• Lightweight Bones• Flight• Eggs* / Nests• Bipedal *• Hallux• High Metabolism• 4-chambered Heart

Avian Characteristics

• Unidirectional Lungs• Parental Care• Monogamy• Large-brained• Highly Communicative• Skilled Navigators• Color Vision *• Sensitive Hearing

ONLY Birds Have

OTHER MAIN FEATURES OF BIRDS

• amniote egg encased in hard, calcium containing shell

• eggs incubated in a nest

• endothermic 400 to 420 C rapid breathing, heart rate, and metabolism is needed

• frequent feedings are necessary

EVOLUTION

• see film "The Case of the Flying Dinosaur"

• feathers do not preserve well

• unclear lineage and origin 230mya

• 150 mya

CLASSIFICATION

Class Aves

Order 27 Species 9,000

• Old evidence plumage, musculature, feet, beaks

• New evidence DNA, song, behavior

EXTERNAL ANATOMY

• see lab on feathers and chicken wing lab• preening- rubbing oil from a preen gland on

the feathers with their beak• molting- replacement of flight feathers• When do they molt?• spring in some before courtship• late summer- in prep for migration

Adaptations for Flight

• Enlarged sternum– Flight muscle

attachment

• Long neck– balance

INTERNAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Skeleton and Muscle

• many bones are fused to aid stability in flying (not many moving parts)

• extensive musculature for flying 50% of weight

•

Skull• Most bones fused

• Much lighter than reptile or mammal skull

Pneumatic Bones

flight is accomplished by

• muscles and skeleton of the wing

• tail movement for lift, steering and braking

• skin muscles to flex feathers for precise movement

• keel would be comparable to the ________________ to anchor muscles

flight is accomplished by

• muscles and skeleton of the wing

• tail movement for lift, steering and braking

• skin muscles to flex feathers for precise movement

• keel would be comparable to the

__sagittal crest____ to anchor muscles

FeathersFeathers

• In Class ASSIGNMENT• Read pages and comment about the features listed • READ 886-888• SKELETON 2 paragraphs beak design and use• READ 890-892 DIGESTION • describe the function of various parts• note cloaca- unites what three system?• READ 894-895• REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT

define the following terms ALTRICIAL, PRECOCIAL, BROOD PATCH EGG TOOTH, BROOD PARASITISM

• Answers the following questions about Migration• Three reasons WHY birds migrate.• Three explanations on HOW they navigate

Digestive and Excretory Systemsremaining slides in student binder

• rapid ie. magpie can digest a mouse in 3 hours (snake takes 3 days)

• thrush can digest blackberries in 45 min.

• crop expanded esophagus for moistening and food storage

BillsBills

• stomach

• proventriculus gastric juices break down food

• gizzard- stones for kneading and grinding food

• small intestines-

• bile and enzymes continue digestion

• absorption into the blood stream

• cloaca- uric acid extracted by kidneys from the blood stream joins the undigested wastes of the intestines and is eliminated from the body (no urinary bladder)

Respiratory system

• Very efficient• 9 air sacs branch off the lungs (buoyancy)• inhaled air 75% goes directly to the air sac• 25% goes to the lungs• exhaled air releases CO2, posterior air sac air

fills the lungs• oxygen enters lungs by inhaling and exhaling

Bird circulatory system

Nervous system

• relatively large brains• major portion for flight coordination

___cerebellum_________• optic lobe- keen vision- color vision• sense of smell is poorly developed ( better

in _____________)• good hearing among _________ and

___________ birds

Nervous system

• relatively large brains• major portion for flight coordination

___cerebellum_________• optic lobe- keen vision- color vision• sense of smell is poorly developed ( better

in ___flightless__)• good hearing among ___nocturnal __ and

____song___ birds

Behavior

• Flocking-

• Confusing predator (hard to focus on 1 member)

• Many eyes can see predators (eyes on side)

• ROOSTING TOGETHER AT NIGHT

• Nesting for reproduction “rookery”

• Groups of eggs “clutch”

Reproduction

• Territoriality- male intimidates others to establish a nesting site.

• Once established Courtship begins -HUGE VARIETY OF BEHAVIORS

Caudipteryx

• Feathered dinosaur• Flightless• Transitional fossil

– Dinosaur arms

– Dinosaur teeth• Only front of upper jaw

– Bird feathers

Archaeopteryx

• 147 MYA• Transitional fossil

– Characteristics of reptiles

– Characteristics of birds

Archeopteryx

• Reptile characteristics– Teeth

– Boney tail

– Fingers with claws

• Bird characteristics– Feathers

– Furcula

Click Image for Movie

Evolution of FlightRunning Hypothesis

Microraptor gui

Evolution of FlightGliding Hypothesis

Benefits of Birds to Man

• Eat insects, rodents and weeds

• Spread seeds for flowers and trees

• Food • Sport• Pets

Fastest Animal

• Peregrine falcon• Strikes prey at 180

mph

Elephant Bird

• Eleven feet tall• 1100 pounds• Largest egg ever• Extinct in late 1600’s

Giant Moa

• New Zealand• Hunted to extinction

about 1600

Hummingbirds

• Fly up, down, left, right, backwards and upside down

• Wings beat 50 -200 times per second

• Heart rate =600 bpm• Eat 2/3 body weight

each day• Nectar, pollen &

insects

TEST TOPICS• Labs on ‘”Feet, habitat and behavior” be

able to associate all 3• and “Feather” draw and identify the parts of

a feather and types of feathers• Notes in Class (you can view the

PowerPoint in my PROJECTS folder• Notes students were to take from Blue

Zoology book• Biology Text reading 794-803• Video “Case of the Flying Dinosaurs

• EASY• 1. word for cleaning feathers• 2. 3 systems united in cloaca• 3. brood patch is what• 4. Name of Bird/reptile found in germany• 5. central portion of a feather (vain) • 6. chambers in heart• 7. pterodactyl means • 8. why was limestone in demand in the 1700s• 9. special feature of respiratory system• 10. cow birds and cuckoos have odd rearing practice

• MEDIUM

• 3 functions of feather

• 2 major lobes of brain

• change feathers? why?

• 2 skeletal features that aid in flight

• How are birds classified?

• Archeopteryx has reptile and bird features

• Why would birds have a broader range then reptiles

• DIFFICULT

• contrast precocial and altricial

• Describe the two theories of bird origin

• Factors that influence migration

• Resources that help in navigation

• List organs in the digestive system

• Compare and contrast Birds and Reptiles