Birds info Flashcards
What are the different parts of a basic flight feather and where are they located?
The shaft is the narrow plastic like stick that runs up and down from the feather, also known as the Rachis.
The barb is the frilly part of the feather that sprouts from the shaft.
The vane is what all of the barbs combined is called.
What are the nine main bones inside a bird’s body?
The Skull, vertebrae, wishbone/collarbone, breastbone, leg bone, pelvis, tailbone, ribs, and the wing bone.
Describe the shape of the following birds beaks and describe why they are the shape they are in. Hummingbird, Spoonbill, Avocet, Toucan, and hornbill.
Hummingbird’s beaks are small and thin for harvesting nectar from flowers. Spoonbill’s beaks are large and flat. They use it to get food by swinging it back and forth through the water. An avocet’s beak is long and thin and used to swish through mud and water to get food. Toucans use their oversized beaks to reach and hold on to large fruits. The use for a Hornbill’s bill is currently unknown.
Describe how a bird of prey’s foot might look different than a waterfowl’s.
A waterfowl’s foot would probably have lots of webbing in between its toes to help is swim more efficiently through the water. A bird of prey’s feet would more than likely have large talons and thinner toes to snatch prey up better.
What is the difference between a songbird’s voice box and lungs and a human’s?
A birds voice box and voice isn’t altered by its tongue or cheeks. The noises a bird makes actually uses it’s beak and nostrils more than its mouth.
