Lab practical study guide Flashcards
What is the word we use to describe the parts and features on an organism?
topography
What do we call the feathers around the mouth of nightjars and swifts and what is their function?
they are called rictal bristles and their function is to provide sensory information and funnel food towards the mouth
What type of feathers cover the entire body and retain heat?
down feathers
What is the uropygial gland and what does it do?
the uropygial gland produces preen oil, which is spread over the feathers to prevent wear and tear as well as waterproof and protect against ectoparasites
Describe the asymmetry of the primaries. why are they like that?
primary 10 (most distal primary feather at the tip of the wing) is the most asymmetrical. It is asymmetrical to help create the airfoil shape of the wing (which generates lift and thrust). It is also asymmetrical to increase its strength and resilience. Primaries that are more proximal are not as asymmetrical or even symmetrical.
What taxonomic group is important for us to know in lab?
order
what does a field guide tell you about a bird (3 things)
scientific name
location
visual description
Name 3 skeletal adaptations for flight
- fused bones
- center of mass/reduction of weight
- other specific modifications (pneumatic bones?)
what are some features of a bird’s skeleton that reduce mass (3 things)
loss of teeth
loss of jawbones
pneumatic bones
describe molt
plumages will be numbered, molts are not
- natal down
prejuvenal molt - juvenal plumage
first prebasic molt - 1st basic plumage
2nd prebasic molt - definitive basic plumage
prebasic molt
What is convergent evolution?
convergent evolution describes organisms that have similarities but NO shared ancestry (birds and bats)
Describe where the nape of a bird is
the nape is the back of the head
describe where the rump of a bird is
the rump is right above the tail
Describe where the malar stripe of a bird is
the malar stripe extends from the corner of the mouth and goes down alog the throat
describe where the undertail coverts of a bird are
on the underside of the tail, NOT the retrices (tail feathers)
describe where the flanks of a bird are
the flanks are on the sides of the body and do not include the belly - think between the underside of the wings and the abdomen
describe where the lores of a bird are located
the lore is the region between the eye and the beak
think about drawing a straight line between the corner of the eye and the beak
describe where the crown of a bird is
the crown is the top of the head
Describe where the supercillium of a bird is
the supercillium is the area above the eye but under the crown
think of this as the ‘eyebrow’ of the bird
What are the retrices?
the tail feathers of a bird
What are the remiges?
the wing feathers of a bird including primaries and secondaries
What are the characteristics of a down feather? Where is it found on the body and what is its function?
down feathers lack a central rachis and are plumulaceous (barbs do not ‘zip’ together to form a vane). Their barbs lack barbicels.
These feathers have a thermoregulatory function and appear all over the body
What are the characteristics of a semiplume feather? Where is it found on the body and what is its function?
semiplumes have no barbicels and are plumulaceous, but DO have a central rachis that is longer than the longest barb
these feathers are found all over the body and have a thermoregulatory function
What are the characteristics of a filoplume feather? Where is it found on the body and what is its function?
these feathers have a tuft at the tip but are thin and hairlike otherwise
these feathers have a sensory function
What are the characteristics of a bristle feather? Where is it found on the body and what is its function?
Bristles are thin and hairlike, but have a tuft at the base
these feathers have a sensory and protective function (think eyelashes or whiskers) and can funnel food towards the mouth
these are found around the mouth and eyes
What are the characteristics of a contour feather? Where is it found on the body and what is its function?
these feathers have a vane and an aftershaft (like a smaller, second feather attached to the base), note that they are pennaceous
these feathers cover the body and wings, are symmetrical and
what is special about owl feathers and why are they adaptive?
owl feathers have fringed edges that enable them to be silent during flight
this is adaptive because it allows them to sneak up on prey
What is the equation for aspect ratio and what does it mean?
aspect ratio is (wing span^2)/(wing surface area)
birds with a high aspect ratio have long and skinny wings
birds with a small aspect ratio have short/elliptical wings
What is the equation for wing loading and what does it mean?
the equation for wing loading is (body mass)/(wing surface area)
birds with high wing loading need to go faster to carry the same weight as a bird with smaller wing loading
I think of it as “the more a bird weighs compared to the size of its wings, the higher the wing loading, and the less maneuverable the bird is”
If you see this card, go look at the pigeon dissection powerpoint
If you see this card, go look at the skeleton powerpoint and worksheet from lab
What is the difference between a mobbing and a warning call?
mobbing call
- broadbrand (wide range of frequencies)
- carries farther
- calls other birds to your location
warning call
- high frequency
- hard to localize (predator cannot find you based on the call)
- short range
- tells other birds to stay alert
