Avian Flashcards
how are birds important to the ecosystem?
they keep it in balance by pollinating plants, dispersing seeds, scavenging carcasses, and recycling nutrients back into the earth
bird class
aves
what are their feathers evolved from?
their feathers are modified scales
evolved from meat eating dinosaurs called theropods
psittacines
hookbills
parrots, budgies, etc
passerines
canaries, finches, toucans, mynahs
piciformes
woodpeckers
columbiformes
pigeons/doves
galliformes
poultry
anseriformes
waterfowl
geese, swans, ducks
falconiformes
hawk-like birds
raptors/birds of prey: falcons, hawks, owls, eagles
ratites
flightless birds in multiple orders and families
ostriches and emu
ratite: Latin word for raft, refers to shape of their keel-less sternum
sphenisciformes
flightless birds that aren’t ratities
penguins: lack flat breastbone and have strong wings for swimming
Australia origin birds
psittacines: 200 species
no more native to US left
domestic breeding, hand raised birds are recommended, inbreeding seen since not native to US anymore so no new blood for a while
parakeet: small parrot
parakeets, cockatiels, eclectus, cockatoo, rainbow lory
1993 law about exotic birds
law was passed in 1993 that prevented importing of wild caught birds to the US
eclectus parrot colors
have sexual dimorphism
males usually green and females are red and purple
sexual dimorphism
color varies between male and female
Central/South America origin birds
parrots/parakeets, macaws, conures
macaws: blue and gold, different species are multicolored and have long tails, largest parrots
conures: variety of colors, medium sized birds with long tails, love to screech
parrot/parakeet types
Amazon: many species, primary color green, short tails, good talkers and pets
Quaker
macaw types
Hyacinth: longest of all and most expensive
Africa origin birds
lovebird: Peach face lovebird is slightly larger than parakeet
African gray: Timnah - red tail, congo- orange longer tail
African gray most intelligent
adaptations to flight
light but strong skeleton, variable number of cervical vertebrae while most of the spine is fused for stability in flight, flapping of entire wing occurs primarily through actions of the highly developed pectoral chest muscles that attach to keel bone
pectoral girdle
clavicle, coracoid, scapula
coracoid bone: acts as a strut in flight (resists skeleton compression)
pneumatic bones
hollow bones
air filled spaces that are sometimes connected to air sacs
not in all birds but more extensive in large birds
femur, humerus, some vertebrae, skull
where should IO catheters be placed?
not in pneumatic bones because fluid could go to lungs
place in distal ulna or proximal tibia
remiges
flight feathers
asymmetrical which affects airflow and provides some of lifting and thrusting force required for flight
primary flight feathers
first 10
located at tip of the wing
secondary flight feathers
second 10
located closer to body, attach to forearm portion of wing and provide lift
contour or coverts part of flight feathers
4 or 5 layers found on body
reduce drag produced by wind resistance during flight
what are feathers made of?
keratin
how do birds keep their feathers groomed?
through preening
down feathers
specialized feathers that insulate by trapping air between each feather to reduce heat loss
pin feather
blood feather
apteri
featherless tract
pigeons don’t have
rachis
feather shaft
alula
like thumb, prevents stalling when breaking in flight
molting
once feathers are grown in they can’t be repaired if worn/damaged since each feather occupies a single feather follicle, the feathers need to be removed or fall out to stimulate new feather growth
molting: shedding of old feathers to make way for new ones
occurs gradually, bilaterally, and in a symmetrical sequence
creates need for protein for feather development, can be stressful
takes 6 weeks for new feathers to grow in
factors that influence molting time
changing of seasons/day length, temperature, food availability, general health/reproductive state
when do wild birds usually molt?
spring and fall
they continuously replace old/lost feathers between seasons
stress bars
darker pigmented areas that represent disruption in growth
sign of stress: weaning, nutritional problems, illness
wing trimming
don’t trim pin feathers!!
ingrowing pin feather or blood feather is fragile and should be protected
doesn’t stop bird from flying but slows them down so they land softly
usual practice: trim both wings high up under coverts and cut 5 or 6 primaries, leaving 1 or 2 outer feathers
use small scissors or suture scissors on small birds or bandage scissors on large birds
if pin feathers: leave 1 feather on each side for protection
if too many pin feathers: wait for molting first
trim every month or 2 depending on bird
what happens to the keratin sheath when a new feather grows in?
the keratin sheath on the grown in feather will fall off or be picked off by the bird
cere
fleshy pad on base of beck
contains nares on some species
infraorbital sinus
1 big sinus since the skull is pneumatic
difficult to drain so can trap particles and become the site of respiratory issues/abscesses
can perform sinus flushes either with saline or can administer antibiotics into sinus
what do birds have instead of an abdominal cavity?
a coelomic cavity because they don’t have a diaphragm
bird respiratory system characteristics
very large trachea, higher lung surface area, have air sacs that store and warm air
air can go from trachea to lungs as well as air sacs to lungs so oxygen exchange occurs during inspiration and expiration
air sacs connected to hollow interior of bones
8-9 air sacs
lungs are non-expandable
circuit of breathing
- inspiration: air goes through trachea to posterior air sacs
- expiration: caudal air sacs to lungs
- inspiration: lungs to anterior or cranial air sacs
- expiration: air sacs out of body
2 full breaths needed to complete the circuit
GI system characteristics
short length so decreased volume
esophagus on right side of neck
crop
dilation of esophagus so bird can store food
sits at thoracic inlet
absent in some species
proventriculus
“true stomach”
ventriculus
aka gizzard
mechanical breakdown of food
gizzard
aka ventriculus
most wild birds need grit to break down food in stomach, but not pets - we can cause blockage
casting
seen in raptors
mechanism to eliminate indigestible components, pellet contains skin, feathers, fur and bones - formed in the ventriculus and vomited out
cloaca
termination for digestive and urogenital system - vent external opening, eliminate urine and feces
normal eyes
free of discharge, shouldn’t be sunken, have nictating membranes
can do hydration test on upper eyelid
bristle feathers
eyelashes
striated muscle in eye
when nervous will constrict pupils
normal ears
short external opening caudal to eyes
have ear coverts which is a feather cover
ear should be free of debris
beak trims
can become overgrown so trim
beak grinding before sleep is normal
oral cavity
have syrinx instead of larynx: voice box
choana: v-shaped opening in hard palate connecting oropharynx and nasal cavity (internal nares), closes during swallowing
papillae should be sharp (next to glottis): moves food into esophagus
have dry tongue
oral plaques
seen in vitamin A deficiency, trichomoniasis parasite, overgrowth of yeast: candidasis (“canker”) in pigeons and doves
what is a common parasite that can be seen in the trachea?
Syngamus trachea (gape worm)
type of roundworm
worms bright red when alive from sucking on the host’s blood
low numbers tolerated, high numbers cause respiratory signs (coughing, gaping, weight loss)
uropygial gland
“preen gland” with wick feather
preen gland: located at base of tail, has small tuft of “greasy” feathers; absent from some species; impactions, infections, neoplasia common
wick feathers: feathers on preen gland, material released contains waterproofing oil, can live without
sexing
used to do laparoscopic identification but now can do zoogen test with small amount of blood from feathers
bird reproduction basics
most are monogamous
eggs laid on successive days is a clutch
clutches are separated by no egg days
clutch size is individual to bird: can be 2-100 eggs
bird testes
bean shaped bodies located against backbone at front of kidney
size not constant and become larger when birds are actively mating, left testes usually larger
how do birds reproduce?
sperm enter through cloaca into oviduct
most species have only 1 functional ovary (usually left)
ovary follicles each contain an ovum/yolk
release of ovum from follicle —> yolk moves into oviduct which produces albumen, shell membranes, and shell around yolk
uterus part of oviduct known as shell gland: produces shell with calcium carbonate that is absorbed from diet
egg binding
seen in cockatiels, finches, canaries, budgies
causes dystocia and blood in feces
chronic egg laying
serious, nutritional deficiency if owners take eggs away - bird becomes exhausted and causes osteoporosis
husbandry
bigger cage better (longer width than height)
allow exercise, self-expression, entertainment
make sure caging and perch materials are non-toxic
perch should be a size where bird can wrap feet around it
need regular misting/baths
beware of predators, alcohol, tobacco, lead/zinc, salt, onion, avocado, pistachio, windows/mirrors, other animals, fans, chemicals, burning cooking oil/butter, paint fumes
dishes should be made of sturdy, non-toxic material that is easy to clean
nutrition
majority of birds suffer from malnutrition and vitamin A/calcium deficiency
all seed diet is bad; low in calcium, vitamin A, and protein
seed okay as treats
vitamin supplements okay for high stress (sick) birds if seed eater but don’t give on a pelleted diet
give varied diet/washed veggies
different prepared diets available by species
hallux
1st digit
retriles
tail feathers
illness
hide signs of illness
visual exam: tail bobbing (slight normal, pronounced not normal), breathing silent with little effort?, perching?, cage appearance?, droppings?, feathers?
signs: sleepy, droopy eyed, wobbling, droopy wings, fluffed feathers (way to conserve energy and heat, usually requires immediate attention)
slurry
oatmeal, baby food, nutri-Cal and warm water
parts of bird droppings
formed fecal (usually green in seed eaters from bile since seeds don’t have color), off-white urate crystal portion, and liquid urine portion
restraint
watch stress level!!
if mouth breathing: put back in cage, too stressed
capture in sealed room, turn off lights if it escapes
use towel to reduce fear of hands, get control of head, pin back wings, watch pressure on keel
specific things to know based on classification for restraint
ratites: may try to kick with long sharp inner claw
galliformes: watch spurs and beaks; restrain legs, then abdomen, place large bird under arm
anseriformes: will pinch with bill
raptors: use gloves - talons are dangerous, ball up gauze in talons and wrap with vet wrap for extended procedures
herons: dangerous beaks
anesthesia induction
use mask and isoflurane
can be intubated after anesthetized
no cuff because they have tracheal rings
have very visible glottis: no epiglottis and non-rigid trachea
use flexible tubes in long necked birds
phelbotomy
parrots: usually use right jugular (bigger); find area of no feathers (aptyrea), wet with alcohol, hold off, can easily see vein
other veins that can be used: medial metatarsal vein or basilic/cutaneous ulnar vein (“wing vein”, “brachial vein”)
can do hydration check on vein
can’t do function tests like BUN or creatinine but can do uric acid and bile acid tests
radiology
anesthetize first
can use masking tape to position
wings taped behind bird for lateral rads
feather picking
medical/nutritional causes: all seed diet, sexual dominance/frustration, feather/skin disease, skin parasites, viruses, internal parasites
if medical causes ruled out could be psychological: environment stress, type and location of cage, noisy/too quiet, large temperature fluctuations, decreased humidity leading to itchy skin, presence of other animals, other birds competing for attention, changes in owner habits
behavior issues
regurgitation is normal part of courtship behavior and may do it to show love for owner (very common in budgies and lovebirds)
accidentally rewarding bad behavior by laughing
cage aggression
