Birds

Question 1

What is the taxonomic class of birds?

Answer 1

Class Aves

Question 2

What is the scientific study of birds called?

Answer 2

ornithology

Question 3

List and explain the functions of feathers

Answer 3

• Insulation
• Coloration
• Shedding

Question 4

Explain why birds change their plumage

Answer 4

• Varies within a species
• Shed regularly
• Feathers wear out

Question 5

Explain the body temperature of birds, how they regulate it, and compare the body temperature of birds to amphibians and reptiles.

Answer 5

• Endothermic
• Homeothermic
• Can live in a wider variety of habitats
• Body temperature varies (102° – 112°), but
  on average it is about 106°F.

Question 6

How do birds reproduce and how are eggs and nests unique to different species?

Answer 6

• Birds have internal fertilization and are oviparous.
• Nests and eggs are species specific.

Question 7

Define Endothermic

Answer 7

generate body heat from metabolism

Question 8

Define homeothermic

Answer 8

they maintain a steady body temperature

Question 9

Compare altricial and precocial birds.

Answer 9

• Altricial: Naked, blind, and helpless
• Precocial: Feathered, can see, and can feed themselves

Question 10

Compare bird songs and calls.

Answer 10

• Songs: produced by males to attract mates and their territory.
• Calls: are short vocalizations that are produced by both sexes

Question 11

What are calls used for?

Answer 11

danger warnings, calling to chicks, maintaining contact, etc.

Question 12

Compare ratites and carinates.

Answer 12

• ratites: flightless birds
• carinates: flying birds

Question 13

In a bird skeleton, what is a keel and what is it used for?

Answer 13

for muscle attachment

Question 14

Why do birds migrate, and what is a typical pattern?

Answer 14

• For food.
• South for the winter.
• North for the summer

Question 15

Explain what flyways are.

Answer 15

the specific route that birds take

Question 16

Explain the benefit of air sacks in birds.

Answer 16

For more efficient breathing

Question 17

Describe the bone structure

Answer 17

laced with air cavities; light yet strong

Question 18

Describe the metabolism of birds

Answer 18

fast metabolism

Question 19

Describe the heart of birds

Answer 19

4 chambered heart

Question 20

Explain the expression “Form Fits Function.”

Answer 20

Just by looking at its form you can tell what the bird eats, where it lives, how it flies, etc.

Question 21

What do birds use their beaks for? How does the form of a beak fit its function?

Answer 21

• Eat
• Defense
• Care fore feathers
• Build nests

Question 22

What do birds use their feet for? How does the form of a foot fit its function?

Answer 22

• Defense
• Getting food
• Walking
• 3 or 4 toes (never 5)

Question 23

What do birds use their wings and tail for?

Answer 23

• Flight

Question 24

List and describe the “Four keys to identifying birds”.

Answer 24

• Color pattern
• shape and size
• behavior
• habitat

Question 25

List and explain the function of the 6 main types of feathers.

Answer 25

• winged: flight
• Tailed: precision steering
• Contour: show off or camouflage
• Semiplume: insulation
• Down: insulation
• Filoplume: sensory feathers
• Bristles: protection of mouth and face

Question 26

Which bird was nearly wiped-out due to the use of the pesticide DDT, they have now recovered and are doing well.

Answer 26

Brown Pelican

Question 27

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.

Answer 27

Brown pelican

Question 28

Which bird swim on the water like a duck, but they are dense so they float low in the water.

Answer 28

Cormorant

Question 29

Which birds beaks have a slight hook at the tip to help them grip their prey

Answer 29

Cormorant

Question 30

Which bird is one of our largest marine birds (up to 4 feet tall)?

Answer 30

Great Blue Heron

Question 31

Which bird uses its long legs to wade in shallow bays, marshes, and estuaries to
hunt for small fish and other vertebrate prey?

Answer 31

Great blue heron

Question 32

Which bird once spotted, it stabs at its prey with its sharp beak?

Answer 32

Great Blue Heron

Question 33

Which bird is smaller than the Great Egret?

Answer 33

Snowy Egret

Question 34

Which bird has yellow bill and black feet?

Answer 34

Great Egret

Question 35

Which two birds use its long legs to wade in shallow water to hunt for fish and other vertebrate prey.

Answer 35

• Great Egret
• Snowy Egret

Question 36

Which Egret is smaller than the other?

Answer 36

The Snowy Egret is smaller than the Great Egret

Question 37

Which bird has a black bill and yellow feet. When wading, it uses its yellow feet as lures to attract fish.

Answer 37

Snowy Egret

Question 38

Which duck is the most common duck?

Answer 38

The mallard

Question 39

Which male and female ducks have different plumage?

Answer 39

Mallard

Question 40

Which birds are scavengers that soar high overhead looking for carcasses of animals to feed on?

Answer 40

Turkey Vulture

Question 41

Which bird is the largest raptor in north America with a wing span up to 9 feet across!

Answer 41

California Condor

Question 42

Which bird is very endangered due to eating lead bullets left in carcasses by hunters and other reasons?

Answer 42

California Condor

Question 43

Which small raptor is part of the falcon family?

Answer 43

American Kestrel

Question 44

Which bird is our state bird?

Answer 44

California Quail

Question 45

Which bird is not native to California?

Answer 45

Spotted Dove

Question 46

Which bird is non-native and it overcompetes for food and nesting areas?

Answer 46

European Starling

Question 47

Which European bird is non-native to California?

Answer 47

House Sparrow