Birds

Birds

*Ornithology is the

study of birds

“I wish the Bald Eagle had not been
chosen the Representative of our
country. He is a bird of bad moral
character. He does not get his living
honestly” ~Benjamin Franklin

Characteristics

1. Forelimbs modified into wings
2. Feathers
3. Hollow bones
4. Endothermic
5. 4 chambered heart
6. Scaly feet
7. Furculum (wishbone)

Multiple Choice

The study of birds is called

• herpetology

• myxomycology

• orthinology

• aviaology

Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Aves

Aviation = flight

Within this class, there are at least 30
groups which include:

Birds of Prey
(raptors)

Songbirds

Ducks

Open Ended

What is another bird group that wasn't listed?

Multiple Choice

Birds belong to Phylum:

• Arthropoda

• Cnidaria

• Chordata

• Porifera

Multiple Choice

Birds belong to class:

• Mammalia

• Amphibia

• Reptilia

• Aves

Types of feathers

Down feathers - provide insulation

* birds are endothermic (warm-blooded)

Multiple Choice

Feathers that cover the body of newly hatched birds to keep them warm

• down feathers

• colored feathers

• primary feathers

• contour feathers

Contour feathers - cover head and body, provide coloration

Males use colors and behaviors to impress potential mates.

Multiple Choice

Which type of feather is responsible for covering and streamlining a bird's body?

• Filoplume

• Contour

• Down

• Tail

Flight feathers - on wings and tail, provide lift

Multiple Choice

Big wings give a bird more ___________________ to let it fly.

• weight

• movement

• muscles

• lift

Feathers are covered in oil to keep them waterproof -
secreted from a preen gland

Multiple Choice

What do birds use during preening to keep their plumage water repellent? 

• Saliva

• Lipids stored in their liver

• Secretions from the uropygial gland

• Keratin from feather barbs

Barbs hold feathers
together, birds will
use their beaks to
repair and
reconnect feathers.

Multiple Choice

A bird's feathers are very similar to a reptile's scales. They are both made of this substance. 

• Dentin 

• Spicules

• Keratin

• Cartilage 

Multiple Choice

Male birds most often use the color of their feathers to do what?

• blend into their surroundings

• show off to find a mate

Multiple Choice

Female birds most often use the color of their feathers to do what?

• blend into their surroundings

• show off to find a mate

Evolution of Birds (from reptiles)

●Archaeopteryx - “ancient wing”
●A dinosaur with feathers!

●Reptile-like

○ teeth
○ bony tail
○ claws on wings

●Bird-like

○ feathers
○ wishbone

Multiple Choice

The word “archaeopteryx” means:

• “dino-bird”

• “ancient wing”

• “toothy bird”

• “mean beak”

Adaptations for flight:

● Feathers and wings
● Strong, lightweight bones
● Strong chest muscles

Multiple Choice

Many birds migrate when the seasons change. What does migrate mean?

• move

• nest

• flock

• eat

1. Furculum
(wishbone)

2. Keel-shaped sternum

Bird Skeleton

3. Tailbone
(pygostyle) for
feather
attachment.

Multiple Choice

The fused collar bone that helps bird balance when flying

• furcula

• keeled sternum

• cloaca

• proventriculus

FEEDING

-- shape of the beak related to food

Examples:

- Hooked beaks used for tearing meat

- Long sharp beaks for spearing fish

- Small beaks for seeds

Birds of prey use sharp
TALONS to grab food.

Their hooked beak tears
food apart.

Some birds swallow prey
whole.

Digestive System

● Birds lack teeth
● Crop stores and moistens food
● Gizzard grinds the food

What do you think this bird
is doing?

Mouth → esophagus → crop → gizzard (stomach) → small intestine
→ large intestine → cloaca

Other systems

Respiration

Mouth --> trachea --> air sacs --> lungs

Circulation

4 chambered heart (double-loop system)

Excretion

Kidneys (uric acid) & Cloaca

Nervous System - response

● Cerebrum = thinking, decision making
● Cerebellum = coordinate movement
● Medulla oblongata = basic body process
● Optic lobes = vision
● Olfactory lobes = taste and smell

Some babies hatch with
feathers and can follow their
mom around, swim and eat
on their own.

These birds often
IMPRINT on the first thing
they see after hatching.

Multiple Choice

Birds lay eggs so this means they are

• oviparous

• viviparous

• ovoviviparous

What do you do if you find a baby bird in the yard?

Some birds are born featherless and helpless.

Why are
zookeepers
feeding this bird
with a puppet?

Open Ended

Why are the zookeepers feeding the babies using a puppet?

Excretion

Birds uses their
KIDNEYS to filter
waste from the blood.

Urine often mixes
with solid wastes as it
leaves the body
through the cloaca.

Multiple Choice

Since birds don't have a bladder, a bird's kidneys release its nitrogenous wastes into its ____.

• crop

• gizzard

• cloaca

• syrinx