Birds

Question 0

True or false: beaks are living tissue

Answer 0

False

Question 1

Describe a beak.

Answer 1

Non-living tissues.
Keratinized.
Light compared to bone (no blood vessels).
Decrease weight = better for flying.
Specialized based on eating/feeding patterns.
Lack teeth = lighter, but can’t do mechanical breakdown of food.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of bird beaks:
A) non-living tissue
B) heavier than bone
C) keratinized
D) Lack teeth
E) all of the above are characteristics or bird beaks

Answer 2

B)

Beaks are light compared to bone which is an important adaptation for flight.

Question 3

What are the advantages and disadvantages for birds of not having teeth?

Answer 3

Pro: lighter, better for flying, save energy by not having to make teeth.

Con: can’t do mechanical breakdown of food.

Question 4

What is the uropygial gland?

Answer 4

A gland at the back of some birds (especially aquatic birds) that secretes waxy molecules that the bird uses on the gym feathers to make them waterproof. The birds use their beak to put the wax on the feathers.

Question 5

What are claws used for in birds?

Answer 5

Grasping, swimming, locomotion, perching.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a role of bird claws:
A) grasping
B) swimming
C) locomotion
D) perching
E) all of the above are functions of bird claws.

Answer 6

E) all of the above.

Question 7

What are the main roles of feathers?

Answer 7

Flight and insulation

Question 8

What are feathers made of?

Answer 8

Keratin

Question 9

What are the types of feathers and what are their functions?

Answer 9

1) contour feathers: cover whole body
2) Primaries: (flight feathers)
3) Secondaries (flight feathers)
4) coverts: (flight feathers)
5) Down feathers: insulation (important for birds who live in cold temps). Found on many young birds when born (eventually lost)
6) bristle: fly catchers (often near eyes).

Question 10

What adaptations are important for birds’ ability to fly?

Answer 10

• hollow bones (light)
• beak (lighter than bone, not vascularized)
• lack teeth (lighter)
• feathers
• wings
• sternum: large to allow for more muscle attachment
• keel of sternum: better attachment of pectoral muscles
• large pectoral muscles
• fused sacrum and lumbar: stronger to handle landing
• rib processes: protrude to aid in muscle attachment and join to other ribs.
• thick ribs: well attached to the sternum to prevent collapse due to flight muscles and prevent moving around.
• no free digit on wing (would get in the way)
• feathers are not living tissue (don’t need blood vessels + nutrients like skin.

Question 11

What is structural coloration?

Answer 11

A type of colouration commonly found in bird feathers that using light refraction off surface cells (in feathers) to produce colour. If there is no light hitting the front of the feather, the colour will not be visible.

Question 12

Which of the following are characteristics of aves? 
A) beak
B) 4 chambered heart 
C) ectothermic 
D) lack teats 
E) all of the above

Answer 12

C) birds are endothermic, not ectothermic.

Question 13

Which of the following are characteristics of aves? 
A) beak
B) 4 chambered heart 
C) endothermic
D) teats 
E) all of the above

Answer 13

D) they do not have teats.

Question 14

What is a ratite? Example?

Answer 14

Flightless bird

Ex: ostrich, emu,

Question 15

True or false, penguins are ratites?

Answer 15

False. They are not considered flightless