Birds Flashcards
Birds are classified by
All birds belong to the kingdom animalia, phylum chordata and class aves
There are 29 different orders within this class
Make up the different ‘types’ of birds with different traits
Ex. waterfowl vs parrots vs falcons
Further subdivided into different families, genus and species
Galliformes are and look like
Landfowl
Heavy bodied, ground feeding birds
Chickens, turkeys, grouse
Males are typically more colourful
Typically 4 toes- 3 large in front, 1 small in back
Anseriformes are and look like
Waterfowl
Over 170 species in 3 families
Include ducks, geese, swans, etc
Adapted for aquatic life at the water surface
Webbed feet
Ratites are and look like
A ratite is any of a diverse group (includes several different orders) of large, flightless birds, most of them now extinct
Unlike flighted birds, they have no keel on their sternum (which is flat) so they lack a strong anchor for wing muscles (some other flightless birds still have a keel, however it is underdeveloped)
Poorly developed wings, will develop legs
Have 2,3, or 4 toes all point forward
Include the ostrich, emu, kiwi, rhea, and cassowary
raptors are
s
Diurnal (active during the day) or nocturnal (active during the night)
Multiple families in 3 orders
A bird of prey or raptor is a bird that hunts for food primarily using its talons
Carnivores
They display a characteristic curved tip to their beak and have superb vision
What are the 3 families of raptors
Falconiformes
Accipitriformes
Strigiformes
Psittaciformes (psittacines) are and look like
aka parrots
Most pet birds belong to the parrot order psittaciformes (psittacines)
Almost 400 different species in over 90 different genera
Overhanging, strong, curved upper beak
Both upper and lower beaks are mobile and sensitive
Opposing toes (2 by 2)
Eyes are placed high and wide on the skull
A uniquely wide field of vision
Tropical or subtropical
Why are parrots prized by people
Prized by their
Brightly coloured plumage due to special pigments and feather arrangements
Many species can talk
Intelligence
Parrots: diet and nesting
Most parrots eat
Seeds
Nuts
Especially those with very strong beals
Fruits
Buds
Other plant material
Most nest in hollow trees are nesting boxes
Parrots are divided into 3 ‘Superfamilies’
True parrots
Cockatoos
New Zealand parrots
What birds are true parrots
Lories and lorikeets
Nectar eating, brushed tongue
Macaws, conures, eclectus parrots, amazon parrots, african gray parrots, budgerigar and many others from africa/australasia
How do you know if the bird is a cackatoo
The only crested parrots
Cockatoos look like
Crested
Mobile
Raised for display
Not as colourful as other parrots
Where are cockatoos from and how many species are there
Native to Australasia
21 different species of cockatoos (eg. umbrella, Sulfur Crested, Goffins, Cockatiels)
These are not breeds, but truly different species
Cockatiel is
The smallest and easiest to keep of the cockatoos
Live in pairs or small groups in the wild
Popular
Difference between male and female cockatiels
Adult males are more brightly coloured
Females have grey faces
Differences only visible after the first moult
Newer “fancy cockatiels” may not be able to distinguish
When do cockatiels crests erect
When standing
During mating
When aroused
Lories and lorikeets characteristics
Live in trees
Feed on nectar and soft fruits
Colourful
From Australasia
Characteristics
Small to medium sized
Brush tipped tongue
Problems with lories and lorikeets
Messy eaters
Territorial so may bite
African greys are
Large parrots: african grey parrot
Feather dander gives a fine white powder coating to beaks
Endangered
Difference between male and female ecletus parrots
Females are red
More likely to bite
Males are green
Characteristics of Eclectus parrots
Quieter and less active than other birds
Long digestive tract require fiber
Eat fruits, figs, bubs
Australasia
macaws look like and characteristics
Larger beaks and longer tails then other parrots
Very strong beaks: crack hard, large nuts
Also eat fruits, leaves, flowers and stems
Active and vocal
Require a large cage
Make a lot of feces
Found in the americas
Budgerigar are
Small
Active and social
Sex based on the colour of the Cere
Native to Australia
Can have a huge vocabulary
1 000+ words
“Puck” - world record at 1 728