Birds Flashcards
characteristics
- two legged
- egg laying
- warm blooded animals
- believed to have evolved from prehistoric reptiles
avian anatomy
-Skeletal structure that has unique features that enable it to fly
-Sternum forms a large thin keel, providing foundation for flight muscles
-Many bones that make up the vertebrae and neck are fused
-Several rib bones are in turn fused to the vertebra
This in turn makes a strong rigid structure
“Forelimbs” are wings and the bones located here are hollow, lack marrow, and contain
The skull bones are elongated toward the front of the head
In some birds, the upper mandible is fused to the skull, in others the mandibles are hinged which allow it to have greater flexibility
cardiovascular/pulmonary systems
- renal blood supply is different in that two afferent (vessels that carry blood to an organ) pathways are present
- large heart, quicker paced rate than mammals which leads to greater cardiac output
- in lungs=unique anatomical arrangement called a countercurrent exchange system
thermoregulation
- During heat stress blood flow to the legs is greatly increased and the unfeathered areas of the legs are used as heat radiators
- Conversely, the avian circulatory system is also used to prevent heat loss
gastrointestinal system
- Birds have two “stomachs”
- -Proventriculus and ventriculus
- -Some species have a crop
- Birds lack a soft palate creating a single structure called an oropharynx
- Esophagus is on right side of the neck
raptor biology
- Raptors are birds of prey that belong to the orders of Falconiformes and Strigiformes
- Hawks, eagles, harriers, kites, falcons, ospreys, and vultures are falconiformes
- Owls compose the strigiformes
hawks
- diurnal
- broad wings
- short hooked bill
- strong talons
- long tail
- goshawk
- most fly high and circle when hunting
eagles
- Usually much larger
- Sexually dimorphic
- Hunts by day
- Incredibly keen eyesight
harriers
- Slender hawk
- Long wings and tail
- Hunts by flying low over marshland and grassland to catch mice, snakes, frogs, and fish
kite
- a small slim hawk that has long pointed wings and a forked tail
- hunts small prey during the day
- has amazing gliding ability
falcons
- related to the hawk
- with differences
- catch birds as they fly
osprey
- they “fish hawk”
- long wings (appear curved to some degree from the ground)
- white head with a dark strip around the eyes
vultures
- large
- Found Africa, Eurasia, and the Americas
- Feeds on carrion
- Circles in the air to find carrion
- Defensive Maneuver: projectile vomit
owls
- Nocturnal (not always, but usually)
- Large head
- Large front facing eyes, with ability to turn head almost ¾ of the way around
- Hooked and feathered talons
- Small beak, short neck
- Distinctive HOOT
differences between hawks and falcons
- Hawks (Family Accipitridae):
- -Round wings that are short and broad
- -Use talons to catch prey
- -Larger
- -Soar in the sky with a flap or two of the wings
- -Long, rounded tail
- -Sit near the road to wait for animals to cross
- Falcons (Family Falconidae)
- -Known for black hoods and markings on it’s body
- -Wings are long and pointed and bent at the “elbow” area
- -The beak is notched
- -Beaks are used more frequently with prey
- -Smaller
- -Fast flight with rapid continuous beats
- -Long slender tail
