Intro to Birds Flashcards
cursorial birds
ratites
ostrich, emu, rhea
3 characteristics of cursorial birds
flightless
young are precocial
lack of keelbone
precocial
more developed chick
hatch with eyes and ears open, walk within a few hours, eat on their own
keelbone
aka keeled sternum
breast muscles attached, helps to fly
psittaciformes
psittacines
parrots, parakeets, cockatiel, cockatoo, lovebirds
characteristics of psittaciformes
hooked bills
brilliant colors
ability to talk
young are altrical
altrical
opposite of precocial
passeriformes
perching/song birds (bird feeder)
canaries, zebra finches, gouldian finch
characteristics of passeriformes
highly developed syrinx
young are altricial
syrinx
organ similar to larynx, makes sounds
columbiformes
pigeons and doves
diamond/ringneck dove
characteristics of columbiformes
young are altrical
anseriformes
waterfowl
ducks, geese
characteristics of anseriformes
thick down for insulation
young are precocial
galliformes
chicken like birds
pheasants, guineas, turkeys, peafowl, chickens
bantams
miniature breeds of chickens
characteristics of galliformes
beautiful plumage
many used for sport, good runners and can fly short distances
few migrate
young are precocial
outer covering of fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds
fish: scales
amphibians: skin
reptiles: scales
birds: skin, scales and feathers
avian scales
scales on feet and legs of birds
temperature control of fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds
fish: heterothermic
amphibians: heterothermic
reptiles: heterothermic
birds: homeothermic
heart complexity of fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds
fish: 2-chambered
amphibians: 3-chambered
reptiles: 3 or 4-chambered
birds: 4-chambered
metamorphosis of fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds
only amphibians
birth process of fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds
fish: oviparous/ovoviviparous
amphibians: oviparous
reptiles: oviparous/ovoviviparous
birds: oviparous
breathing of fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds
fish: gills
amphibians: gills then lungs
reptiles: lungs
birds: lungs and air sacs
similarity between birds and reptiles
jaw hinged on a moveable bone, not as unattached as snakes
differences between birds and reptiles
feathers, homeothermic, flexible neck (more cervical vertebrae)
bird bones are
small, hollow, and thin
pneumatic bones
bones with air sacs, air is going into them
do humans have muscles that can push?
no, all muscles can only contract (pull)
how do birds lift their wings?
a tendon that goes over their shoulder pulls on the inner breast muscle
bird feathers
keep bird protected, warm and dry
molt to replace feathers
how do birds get air in?
in enters the lungs, passes through to the air sacs
do birds have a diaphragm?
no, their rib cage opens and closes
how do birds cool down?
respiration/panting, they don’t sweat
bird eyes are
very large, usually weigh more than the brain
can birds see colors?
yes, they see colors and UV
monocular vision
eyes on side of head
wider field of view to see predators
binocular vision
eyes on front of head
good depth perception for catching prey
bird sense of hearing
same as humans
sense of taste
12-20 taste buds
chemoreceptor senses
bird with more developed sense of smell
Vulture
bird with more developed sense of taste
Parrot
do birds have a bladder?
No, they produce uric acid instead of liquid urine, no bladder
