BIRD CLASSIFICATION. BIRDS Birds are classified as members of Class Aves. The major characteristics...
Transcript of BIRD CLASSIFICATION. BIRDS Birds are classified as members of Class Aves. The major characteristics...
BIRD CLASSIFICATION
BIRDS
• Birds are classified as members of Class Aves. • The major characteristics of this class are:
• Adaptations for flight• Appendages modified as wings• Feathers• Endothermy• High metabolic rate• Vertebral column modified for flight• Bones lightened by air spaces• Bill• No teeth
ORDER SPHENISCIFORMES
• Heavy body• Flightless• Flipperlike wings for swimming• Well-insulated with fat
• Example: penguins
ORDER STRUTHIONIFORMES
• Large and flightless• Wings have many fluffy plumes
• Example: ostrich
ORDER GAVIIFORMES
• Strong, straight bill• Adapted for diving (legs far back on body,
webbed feet, heavy bones).
• Example: Loons
ORDER PODICIPEDIFORMES
• Short wings• Soft and dense feathers• Webbed feet with flattened nails
• Example: Grebes
ORDER PROCELLARIIFORMES
• Tubular nostrils• Large nasal glands• Long and narrow wings
• Example: Albatross
ORDER PELECANIFORMES
• 4 toes joined in common web• Nostrils usually absent• Large gular sac
• Examples: Pelicans, Boobies
ORDER CICONIIFORMES
• Long neck, often folded in flight• Long-legged waders
• Examples: Storks, Flamingos
ORDER ANSERIFORMES
• Wide, flat bill• Undercoat of dense down• Webbed feet
• Examples: Ducks, Geese, Swans
ORDER FALCONIFORMES
• Strong, hooked beak• Large wings• Raptor-like feet
• Examples: Falcons, Vultures, Hawks, Eagles
ORDER GALLIFORMES
• Short beak• Short, concave wings• Strong feet and claws
• Examples: Quail, pheasants, turkeys
ORDER GRUIFORMES
• Many different characteristics.
• Example: Crane
ORDER CHARADRIIFORMES
• Many different characteristics.
• Examples: Shorebirds, Gulls
ORDER COLUMBIFORMES
• Dense feathers loosely set in skin• Well-developed crop
• Examples: Pigeons, Doves
ORDER PSITTACIFORMES
• Jaw hinged to skull• Thick tongue• Reversible 4th toe• Usually brightly colored
• Examples: Parrots, Lories, Macaws
ORDER CUCULIFORMES
• Reversible 4th toe• Soft, tender skin
• Examples: Roadrunners, Cuckoos
ORDER STRIGIFORMES
• Large head with eyes directed forward• Raptor-like foot
• Examples: Owls
ORDER CAPRIMULGIFORMES
• Owl-like head and plumage• Weak bill and feet• Beak with wide gape• Insectivore
• Examples: Whipporwills
ORDER APODIFORMES
• Long wings• Weak feet
• Examples: Hummingbirds
ORDER CORACIIFORMES
• Large head• Large beak• Metallic plumage
• Examples: Kingfishers, Bee eaters
ORDER PICIFORMES
• Usually long strong beak• Strong legs and feet with fourth toe permanently
reversed in woodpeckers
• Examples: Woodpeckers, Toucans
ORDER PASSERIFORMES
• Largest avian order• 69 families of perching birds• Perching foot• Varied external features
• Examples: Swallows, Larks, Crows, many others