Birds Flashcards
What is the taxonomic class of birds?
Class Aves
What is the scientific study of birds called?
ornithology
List and explain the functions of feathers
- Insulation
- Coloration
- Shedding
Explain why birds change their plumage
- Varies within a species
- Shed regularly
- Feathers wear out
Explain the body temperature of birds, how they regulate it, and compare the body temperature of birds to amphibians and reptiles.
- Endothermic
- Homeothermic
- Can live in a wider variety of habitats
- Body temperature varies (102° – 112°), but
on average it is about 106°F.
How do birds reproduce and how are eggs and nests unique to different species?
- Birds have internal fertilization and are oviparous.
- Nests and eggs are species specific.
Define Endothermic
generate body heat from metabolism
Define homeothermic
they maintain a steady body temperature
Compare altricial and precocial birds.
- Altricial: Naked, blind, and helpless
- Precocial: Feathered, can see, and can feed themselves
Compare bird songs and calls.
- Songs: produced by males to attract mates and their territory.
- Calls: are short vocalizations that are produced by both sexes
What are calls used for?
danger warnings, calling to chicks, maintaining contact, etc.
Compare ratites and carinates.
- ratites: flightless birds
- carinates: flying birds
In a bird skeleton, what is a keel and what is it used for?
for muscle attachment
Why do birds migrate, and what is a typical pattern?
- For food.
- South for the winter.
- North for the summer
Explain what flyways are.
the specific route that birds take
Explain the benefit of air sacks in birds.
For more efficient breathing
Describe the bone structure
laced with air cavities; light yet strong
Describe the metabolism of birds
fast metabolism
Describe the heart of birds
4 chambered heart
Explain the expression “Form Fits Function.”
Just by looking at its form you can tell what the bird eats, where it lives, how it flies, etc.
What do birds use their beaks for? How does the form of a beak fit its function?
- Eat
- Defense
- Care fore feathers
- Build nests
What do birds use their feet for? How does the form of a foot fit its function?
- Defense
- Getting food
- Walking
- 3 or 4 toes (never 5)
What do birds use their wings and tail for?
- Flight
List and describe the “Four keys to identifying birds”.
- Color pattern
- shape and size
- behavior
- habitat
List and explain the function of the 6 main types of feathers.
- winged: flight
- Tailed: precision steering
- Contour: show off or camouflage
- Semiplume: insulation
- Down: insulation
- Filoplume: sensory feathers
- Bristles: protection of mouth and face
Which bird was nearly wiped-out due to the use of the pesticide DDT, they have now recovered and are doing well.
Brown Pelican
Which bird hunt fish from the air. Once they spot a fish, they dive into the water beak first. They use their large beak with its expandable pouch to scoop up their prey.
Brown pelican
Which bird swim on the water like a duck, but they are dense so they float low in the water.
Cormorant
Which birds beaks have a slight hook at the tip to help them grip their prey
Cormorant
Which bird is one of our largest marine birds (up to 4 feet tall)?
Great Blue Heron
Which bird uses its long legs to wade in shallow bays, marshes, and estuaries to
hunt for small fish and other vertebrate prey?
Great blue heron
Which bird once spotted, it stabs at its prey with its sharp beak?
Great Blue Heron
Which bird is smaller than the Great Egret?
Snowy Egret
Which bird has yellow bill and black feet?
Great Egret
Which two birds use its long legs to wade in shallow water to hunt for fish and other vertebrate prey.
- Great Egret
- Snowy Egret
Which Egret is smaller than the other?
The Snowy Egret is smaller than the Great Egret
Which bird has a black bill and yellow feet. When wading, it uses its yellow feet as lures to attract fish.
Snowy Egret
Which duck is the most common duck?
The mallard
Which male and female ducks have different plumage?
Mallard
Which birds are scavengers that soar high overhead looking for carcasses of animals to feed on?
Turkey Vulture
Which bird is the largest raptor in north America with a wing span up to 9 feet across!
California Condor
Which bird is very endangered due to eating lead bullets left in carcasses by hunters and other reasons?
California Condor
Which small raptor is part of the falcon family?
American Kestrel
Which bird is our state bird?
California Quail
Which bird is not native to California?
Spotted Dove
Which bird is non-native and it overcompetes for food and nesting areas?
European Starling
Which European bird is non-native to California?
House Sparrow
