diversity of birds Flashcards
how many species of bird
11, 001 according to IOC checklist
it depends on limpers and splitters
200-400 billion birds
44 orders
253 families
2376 genera
Passeriformes
most specious order (order with largest number of species)
e.g. black throated moon walker
this is perching birds including many UK garden birds
struthioniformes
flightless birds
inc ostrich, emu, rhea and kiwi
therefore can divert far from typical avian body form
pelecanifromes
pelican, gannets, cormorants, boobies
marine birds with webbed feet
forage in water
ciconiiformes
stork
freshwater species
fish eating
long legged and long legged to move through shallows
inc heron, stork and ibises
nest colonially
anseriformes
ducks, geese and swans
globally distributed
aquatic: webbed feet
ducks and geese are herbivorous grazers
sawbills are pursuit-foraging piscivores: serrated edge to bill to grip fish
falconifromes
includes vultures, hawks, eagles, osprey and falcons
birds of prey
sickle shaped talons and bills.
carnivores that hunt by sight and smell.
long lives and low annual breeding output
galliformes
grouse, pheasant and partridge (game birds)
Extreme sexual dimorphism. Herbivorous as adults but chicks eat insects and develop rapidly, flying more quickly post-hatch than those of any other order. Hens lay large clutches of eggs
Charadriiformes
Gulls, terns, auks & oystercatchers.
Diverse group including the waders that probe the mud in shallows, gulls that rob nests and scavenge, and auks and puffins that pursue fish underwater. Many species migratory
Strigiformes
owls
Usually nocturnal with rounded heads and large eyes. Facial discs focus noise and asymmetric ear openings allow stereophonic location of prey. Wing feathers are silent in flight to decrease detection by prey that include small mammals and birds, and frogs
Piciformes
All nest in cavities and have stiffened tails and very tough skins that allow them to live in abrasive environments. Diverse diet including insects, eggs and chicks of other birds, fruit and beeswax
Passeriformes
many garden birds.
Over half of bird species
AKA songbirds or perching birds.
Mainly small landbirds with comparatively high metabolic rates, they have relatively large brains and highly developed vocalisations. This allows high learning ability that may drive speciation
egg diversity
variation between eggs of species
- number of eggs laid in a clutch
- base colour
- size and shape
- speckles and spots
even large intraspecific differences exist
egg shape diversity
e.g. pyriform eggs (pointed) in common murre (cliff bird) due to ensure faeces washes off egg shell surface
94% calcium carbonate
nest diversity
pigeons and doves: very bad nests possibly due to regular nesting and small clutch size so saves time.
long-tailed tit: bottleneck nest out of web, lichen, moss etc: large investment
kingfisher: tunnels and chambers for nests due to riverbank habitat and safety from predator
wading bird
ground nesting, camouflage nest and eggs
