Avian Flashcards
To which bone do the majority of the flight muscles attach?
A. Sternum
B. Quadrate
C. Scapula
D. Femur
A. Sternum
What 2 activities have the bird’s skeleton primarily adapted to support?
- Walking
- Flying
True or False.
The birds powerful muscles not only aid with flight, but also the circulatory + respiratory system to become capable of very high metabolic rates and thus gain a greater oxygen supply.
True!
What type of pockets live inside the bird’s bones?
Air pockets!
Give the name used to describe bones filled with air.
Pneumatic boness
Why are most of the avian’s skeleton fused?
To help with aerodynamics, in flight
What does the raidus + ulna become in the bird?
The wing!
True or False.
The phalanges in the bird is shorter than the canine.
+
If so, why have they adapted this way?
False!
They are longer, adapting to allow the bird to grasp more easily
+
helps with treading water, swimming + aerodynamics in flight, when they are webbed!
What is the sternum called in the bird?
The Keel!
Give 3 reasons of how the bird’s neck has adapted to be so long + How does this help assist with their lifestyles?
They:
* Assist with flight
* Allows for preening
* Assists with avoiding predation, being able to monitor blind spots
Why have the bird’s pelvis adapted to become large + open?
To lay eggs!
Stating the obvious, what have the forelegs adapted to in the bird?
The wings
What is the purpose of the bird’s skeletal adaptation of having fused, plated bones?
To:
Fused
* Help with shock absorption
* Provide strength
Plates
* Supports lightweight structure for flight
* Simplifies movement - for ease
True or False.
Avian’s has an increased number of bones, in comparison to the dog.
False.
There are less, as many are fused!
True or False.
In comparison to the canine, the bird’s bone density is increased.
False.
It is reduced, as many are pneumatic!
Are avian bones thicker or thinner in comparison to the feline?
Much thinner!
What within the bone, maintains it’s strength?
(Stiff) Internal body braces
True or False.
Inside pneumatic bones, the air pockets/sacs can extend or overlap into other surrounding bones in the bird.
True!
What is the beak made of in birds?
Strong keratin
How has the beak + jaw of the bird adapted for flight?
- The beak is not made of dense bone, but of strong keratin
- There is no jaw, but a beak instead, which is more lightweight
Do birds have teeth?
No!
Name the wing that is formed from the reduced 1sst digit, that provides control during flight take-off + landing?
The Alula
Why has the developed to not have any teeth?
- Because teeth are heavy + can affect the balance required for flight
- Due to their differentiated diets, they’re beaks are adapted to their species-specific diet, to avoid the need of teeth
What does it mean when a bird’s wing is reffered to as ‘In pin’?
This means their wing is developing + still has a blood supply
(And should not be trimmed!)
What 2 restraints can be used to restrain + handle birds of prey?
- Hood
- Jesses (Attached to the legs)
Give another term used for feathers
Plumage
List the 6 characteristics common to all birds
- All vertebrates (backbone)
- Endothermic
- Wings (but not all can fly)
- All adults possess feathers/plumage
- Possess a beak
- Oviparaous (Egg laying)
What 2 ways does a bird’s blood differ from mammals blood?
- They have nucleated erythrocytes
- Heterophils replace neutrophils
How does the bird’s pelvis differ from mammals?
- They have an open pubis, for egg laying
- The open pubis = replaces pubic symphysis
Symphysis = Cartilaginous junction between the 2 pubis bones
Name the 2 anatomical features that are missing from aves, that are present in mammals
- Teeth
- Diaphragm
How many different orders of bird is there?
28
What is the common name given to birds that are a part of Passeriformes?
Perching birds
How do the toes of climbing birds differ to those belonging to perching birds?
- Climbing birds = 2 forward facing digits + 2 backward facing digits
- Perching birds = 3 forward facing digits + 1 backwards facing digit
What species of bird has a well-developed keel bone + why?
- The Parrot
- Produces 2 joints between upper + lower jaw = enables movement required to = climb more effectively + open fruits + nuts
Name the joint between the upper beak + the skull
Cranio-facial hinge
What is the alula wing formed from?
The reduced 1st digit
What are the 2 main functions of feathers?
- Flight
- Insulation
Name 3 types of feathers in birds
- Flight
- Contour
- Down
Name the other name given to down feathers
Filoplumes
Where are the Flight feathers located on the bird?
Wings + tail
What are the Contour feathers and where are they located on the bird?
Outer layer of short flexible feathers, covering most of the body
Where are the Down feathers located on the bird?
Located beneath the contour feathers
List 5 ways which the skeleton of the bird is adapted for flight
- Thin cortices (outer layers of the bone) to reduce weight of the bones
- Internal cavities within the bone (to reduce bone weight)
- Many pneumatic bones (to reduce bone weight)
- Reduction of joints (many are fused to stabilise trunk)
- Enlarged keel bone (sternum) to accomodate flight muscles
What season do birds start mating?
Later summer
What is the function of the preen gland in birds?
Production of oil + to keep plumage in good condition
Name 2 species of bird that produce a fine dust, to help keep their plumage in good condition
- Cockatiels
- Cockatoos
What is the function of the crop in some species of bird?
A storage organ for food
They both begin with p…
What 2 species of bird produce ‘crop milk’ to feed their young?
- Pigeons
- Parrots
Name the 2 chambers of the stomach that are present in the majority of most species of bird
- Proventriculus (Glandular)
- Ventriculus (Gizzard)
Name 1 species of bird that does not contain a ventriculus?
The Hummingbird, due to it’s liquid nectivorous diet
Why does a budgerigar posses 2 large caeca, whereas the sunbird does not posses any?
Because the budgerigar is herbivorous, therefore they require a greater site for bacterial digestion for their high-vegetable matter diet.
Whereas the sunbird, is nectivorous + therefore does not require one.
Why is GA more risky in birds, than mammals of a comparable size?
Because birds are particulary sensitive to alterations in the level of inhalation of anaesthetic agents
+
therefore will have rapid changes in levels of conciousness
Where should you administer an intra-muscular injection to a parakeet?
The Pectoral muscles, as they are strong + thick + muscular (either side of sternum/keel bone) or Leg muscles
What area should you be most aware of when restraining birds + why?
The chest, as they do not possess a diaphragm to breathe, they use their thoracic muscles for respiration.
Note = remember they have complete tracheal rings, so it is harder to cause damage or inhibit respiration by neck asphyxiation
How many air sacs do birds typically have?
9
Why are there air sacs attached to the lungs in birds?
To help supplement more oxygen for respiration
Name 2 unique characteristics of the bird’s lungs
They are:
* Spongy
* Inelastic
