expanded_bird_flashcards
What is the unique feature that defines birds?
Feathers.
What are the forelimbs of birds adapted into?
Wings, though not all birds can fly.
What type of beak do birds have?
Horny, keratinized beaks without teeth.
What type of egg do all birds lay?
Shelled eggs.
What skeletal feature helps birds fly?
Light, hollow bones called pneumatized bones.
What respiratory adaptation do birds have?
Lungs with continuous airflow through parabronchi.
What are the two largest flight muscles in birds?
Pectoralis and supracoracoideus muscles.
What allows birds to grasp perches without falling?
The toe-locking mechanism in their feet.
What are contour feathers?
Feathers that streamline the bird’s body and aid in flight.
What are down feathers?
Feathers used for insulation.
What is molting?
The process of shedding old feathers and growing new ones.
What bone supports flight muscles?
The keel of the sternum.
How many bird species exist worldwide?
Over 10,400 species.
What are the two major bird classifications?
Paleognathae (flightless birds) and Neognathae (flying birds).
What is the crop in birds?
A storage organ in the esophagus.
What is the function of the gizzard?
Grinding food mechanically.
What are paired ceca?
Fermentation chambers in herbivorous birds.
What is the cloaca?
A common opening for excretion, reproduction, and waste elimination.
How many chambers does a bird’s heart have?
Four chambers.
What excretory product do birds produce?
Uric acid.
What is the function of salt glands in marine birds?
Removing excess salt from the body.
What part of the brain is well-developed in birds?
The cerebrum and dorsal ventricular ridge.
What special eye structure do birds have?
The pecten, which provides nutrients and oxygen to the eye.
How does bird vision compare to mammals?
Birds generally have better vision and larger eyes relative to their body size.
What is monogamy in birds?
Pairing with one partner for a breeding season or life.
What is polygyny?
One male mating with multiple females.
What is polyandry?
One female mating with multiple males.
What are precocial young?
Birds that hatch with feathers and can move shortly after birth.
What are altricial young?
Birds that hatch naked and helpless, requiring parental care.
What are elliptical wings?
Wings used by forest-dwelling birds for maneuverability.
What are high-speed wings?
Wings used by birds that feed during flight or migrate long distances.
What are soaring wings?
Wings used by seabirds for dynamic soaring over oceans.
What are high-lift wings?
Wings that provide high lift at slow speeds for soaring birds.
What are the benefits of migration for birds?
Increases breeding space, reduces competition, and avoids climate extremes.
How do birds navigate during migration?
Using the sun, stars, Earth’s magnetic field, and visual landmarks.
What is homing ability in birds?
The ability to return to a specific location over long distances.
What makes bird bones suitable for flight?
They are lightweight and filled with air cavities called pneumatized bones.
What is the furcula?
The fused clavicles of birds that act like a spring during flight.
What are the key flight muscles in birds?
Pectoralis for wing depression and supracoracoideus for wing elevation.
What are air sacs?
Structures in birds that help with continuous airflow and cooling.
How does air flow through bird lungs?
It flows unidirectionally through parabronchi, ensuring continuous oxygen supply.
What is the role of the syrinx?
The sound-producing organ located at the base of a bird’s trachea.
How does a bird’s heart rate relate to its size?
Smaller birds have faster heart rates than larger birds.
What type of red blood cells do birds have?
Nucleated and biconvex red blood cells.
How do birds regulate body temperature?
Through rapid breathing, panting, and using feathers for insulation.
What is oviparity?
Reproduction by laying eggs.
What is unique about bird testes during breeding season?
They enlarge up to 300 times their normal size.
Where does fertilization occur in birds?
In the oviduct.
What materials do birds use for nest building?
Mud, twigs, leaves, grass, and even feathers.
What is a brood patch?
A featherless area on a bird’s abdomen used to keep eggs warm.
What is hatching synchrony?
When all eggs in a clutch hatch at nearly the same time.
What is the Jacobson’s organ in birds?
A sensory organ used for detecting chemicals.
How do birds use ultraviolet light?
For navigation and mate selection.
What is flocking behavior?
Birds gathering in large groups for protection and easier mate finding.
What are euryphagous birds?
Birds that eat a wide variety of foods.
What are stenophagous birds?
Birds that specialize in specific types of food.
What is a raptor’s beak specialized for?
Tearing flesh.
What do nectar-feeding birds use for feeding?
Long, slender beaks and extendable tongues.
What type of wings do seabirds have?
Soaring wings with high aspect ratios.
Which birds have elliptical wings?
Birds living in forests, requiring maneuverability.
What birds have dynamic soaring wings?
Oceanic birds like albatrosses.
What is passive soaring?
Using thermals to gain height with minimal energy expenditure.
What is territorial behavior in birds?
Defending a specific area for feeding, mating, or nesting.
What is courtship display?
Behavior used by birds to attract mates, often involving dance or song.
What is cooperative breeding?
When birds work together to raise young.
What is lekking?
Males gathering to perform displays and attract females.
