Class Aves – “flyers”- birds

• 2nd largest class of vertebrates

Ornithology

• Study of birds

Traits

• feathers

Traits

• wings

Traits

• Supportive hind legs with scales and claws

Traits

• Light porous bones

Traits

• 4 chambered heart

Traits

• Endotherms – warm blooded

Traits

• Toothless beak

Traits

• Lay amniotic eggs with hard shells

Egg tooth

Classification

• Based greatly on beaks and feet, also parental care

Altricial

• More parental care, hatch out helpless, lay less than 6 eggs, tend to nest in trees

• E.g. – robin, eagle, hummingbird

Precocial

• Less parental care, hatch out better developed, lay 10-20 eggs, tend to nest on ground

• E.g. – ducks, pheasants, chickens

Altricial or Precocial?

Altricial or Precocial?

Altricial or Precocial?

Altricial or Precocial?

Altricial or Precocial?

Altricial or Precocial?

General types of birds

Waterfowl

• Swimming birds, webbed feet, rounded and flat beak

• E.g. – ducks, geese, swans

Raptors

• Birds of prey, sharp strong talons, sharp curved beaks

• E.g. – eagles, falcons, owls

Shorebirds

• Wading birds, long skinny legs, toes, necks, and beaks

• E.g. – cranes, flamingoes, ibis

Upland game birds

• Large, ground oriented, precocial

• E.g. – turkey, pheasants, grouse

Song birds

• Melodious (attract mate), small, perching birds

• Robins, sparrows, cardinals

Flightless birds

• Can’t fly, tend to be fast runners or skilled swimmers

• E.g. – penguin, ostrich, kiwi

Feathers

Down Contour

Quill

Down

• Fluffy, next to body, insulates

Contour

• Covers outside, streamline, protects

Quill

• Large feathers of wings and tail, used for flight

Feather Structure

Shaft

• Stiff, central column

SHAFT

Barbs

• Side branches from the shaft

BARBS

Barbules and hooks

• Cross branches off the barbs that hook together

Down feathers lack hooks

Fun Feathers

Preening

• Grooming and maintaining feathers, spreading oil

Preen gland

• Located on top of the rump, secretes oil to waterproof feathers

Molting

• Shedding old feathers and growing new ones