Bird Morphology/Traits

Question 1

Hallux

Answer 1

Fourth toe on a bird’s foot, turned backwards to perch, UNIQUE to birds

Question 2

Anisodactyly

Answer 2

First toe backward, other three forward (passerines)

Question 3

Zygodactyly

Answer 3

First and fourth toe backward, second and third forward (parrots, owls, etc)

Question 4

Syndactyly

Answer 4

Small backwards first toe, second and third toes fused (kingfishers)

Question 5

Talons

Answer 5

Large, hooked claw on toes (raptors, birds of prey)

Question 6

Lobate toes

Answer 6

Toes with individual webbing in lobes

Question 7

Palmate webbing

Answer 7

Digits 2, 3, and 4 are connected by webbing

Question 8

Totipalmate webbing

Answer 8

All four digits are connected by webbing

Question 9

Syrinx

Answer 9

Enhanced voice box, UNIQUE to birds

Question 10

Remiges

Answer 10

Wing flight feathers (primaries, secondaries, tertials)

Question 11

Rectrices

Answer 11

Tail flight feathers

Question 12

Furcula

Answer 12

“Wishbone” that aids in flight, adds strength

Question 13

Keeled sternum

Answer 13

Attachment site for flight muscles in the breast

Question 14

Flight feathers

Answer 14

Remiges and rectrices

Question 15

Primaries

Answer 15

Outer feathers on the hand of the wing - typically ten

Question 16

Secondaries

Answer 16

Feathers on the forearm of the wing, adjacent to primaries - nine to twenty-five

Question 17

Tertials

Answer 17

Innermost feathers on the wing, equivalent to humerus/bicep position - essentially three innermost secondaries

Question 18

Coverts

Answer 18

Second layer of feathers that improve airflow - primary coverts over primaries, secondary coverts over secondaries

Question 19

Gizzard

Answer 19

UNIQUE digestive organ that contains grit/small stones for grinding/breaking down food

Question 20

Air sacs

Answer 20

9 sacs that facilitate maximum efficiency respiration, UNIQUE to birds

Question 21

Cranial kinesis

Answer 21

Mobility in the upper beak

Question 22

Semiplumes

Answer 22

Feathers with developed structure but no hooked barbs, creating insulation

Question 23

Brood patch

Answer 23

Featherless area for heat transfer to eggs

Question 24

Altricial chicks

Answer 24

Need care in the nest before they leave

Question 25

Precocial chicks

Answer 25

Quickly independent

Question 26

Calamus

Answer 26

Hollow attachment of feather to bird

Question 27

Rachis

Answer 27

Shaft of the feather that holds the barbs

Question 28

Barbs

Answer 28

Small extensions of feather

Question 29

Barbules

Answer 29

Smaller interlocking extensions of barbs

Question 30

Preening

Answer 30

When a bird cleans its own feathers