Bird Taxonomy Sheet #1 Flashcards
Superorder Palaeognathae
Immobile structure of the upper bony palate
Ratites
Group of flightless birds, reduced wing bones, and sternum lacks keel
Order Struthioniformes
Ostriches: Largest living bird in Africa
Order Rheiformes
Rheas: High-speed runners in South America
Order Apterygiformes
Kiwis: Miniscule wings, poor vision, hair-like plumage
Order Casuariiformes
Cassowaries and Emus: Dagger-like claw on second toe in Australia
Order Tinamiformes
Tinamous: (reluctant) Flighted birds in Central and South America
Superorder Neognathae
All other taxa of extant birds
Order Galliformes
Fowl-like birds: Medium to large, terrestrial; short, rounded wings, well-developed keel found worldwide
Family Odontophoridae
New world quails: Throaty, whistling calls found in the New World
Family Phasianidae
Pheasants, grouse, turkey, Old World quails: Brilliant plumage due to intense sexual selection found worldwide
Order Anseriformes
Waterfowl: Precocial young found worldwide except Antarctica
Family Anatidae
Ducks, geese, swans: webbed feet, aquatic birds found worldwide except Antarctica
Family Anhimidae
Screamers: Vestigial webbing on feet, loudly vocal, found in swampy wetlands in neotropics
Order Caprimulgiformes
Nightjars and allies, swifts, hummingbirds: Small, weak bill and wide gap to capture insects found worldwide except Antarctica
Family Caprimulgidae
Nightjars: Nocturnal insectivores with rictal bristles, longer bills, and cryptic plumage found worldwide except Antarctica
Family Steatornithidae
Oilbirds: Nocturnal, fruit-eating feeders in neotropics
Family Podargidae
Frogmouths: Nocturnal birds with strong, wide bill found in Asian and Australasian regions
Family Nyctibiidae
Potoos: Nocturnal insectivores without rictal bristles, large heads, and massive bills found in neotropics
Family Aegothelidae
Owlet-nightjars: Nocturnal birds with wide but rather weak bill found in Australasia
Family Hemiprocnidae
Treeswifts: Branch-perching swifts, partly glossy, with long wingtips that fold scissor-like across deeply forked tail found in Asia
Family Apodidae
Swifts: Fast fliers, long bones in outer portion of wing found worldwide except Antarctica
Family Trochilidae
Hummingbirds: Smallest birds, wings beat at high frequencies, highest mass-specific metabolic rate of homeotherms found in the New World
