Seabird Diversity Flashcards
1
Q
Homeothermic
A
Birds way to keep a constant body temperature
2
Q
5 groups of Seabirds
A
- Penguins
- Gulls and relatives
- Tubenoses
- Pelicans and friends
- Shorebirds
3
Q
Penguin characteristics
A
- Flightless; high bone density to reduce buoyancy
- Pursuit diving
- Preen or oil glands to waterproof feathers
- Blubber
- Paddle like feet
4
Q
Largest penguin species
A
Emperor Penguin
5
Q
Smallest penguin species
A
Blue
6
Q
Gulls and relatives (species)
A
- Seagulls
- Auks
- Jaegers
- Skuas
- Terns
- Puffins
- Common murre
7
Q
Characteristics of ‘Gulls and Relatives’
A
- Diverse feeding strategies; Seagulls dip and jaegers aerial pursuit
- Puffins plunge dive
8
Q
Feeding method of Puffins
A
Surface divers
9
Q
Tubenoses
A
- Albatrosses, shearwaters, and petrels
- Surface predators
10
Q
Pelicans and Friends
A
- Pelicans
- Cormorants
- Gannets
- Boobies
- Frigate birds
11
Q
Characteristics of the ‘Pelicans and Friends’
A
- Prominent web between toes
- Feathers are not waterproof
12
Q
Albatross
A
Belongs to the group ‘Tubenoses’
- Characterized by high partner fidelity
- North Pacific and Southern oceans
13
Q
Where do Pelicans live?
A
Southern USA, Central and South America
14
Q
Double Crested Cormorant
A
Belongs to the group ‘Pelicans and Friends’
15
Q
Frigate bird
A
Belong to the group ‘Pelicans and Friends’
- Also called ‘Man-o-war’ or pirate of the sea
- Males grow a red balloon to intimidate other males
16
Q
Shorebird group
A
- Plovers
- Sandpipers
- Asian dowitcher
- Snipe
17
Q
Characteristics of Shorebirds
A
- Species have specialized bills for different feeding; diet varies slightly allowing diverse groups in one area
- Feed on low tide areas
18
Q
Two feeding strategies of Shorebirds
A
- Sandpiper way
- Small eyes high in head, long bill and legs
- Slow movements, probe below the surface
- Pressure sensitive pits on bills in some species - Plover way
- Large eyes, short bills
- Run and stop for visual detection
- Pick food off surface in ambush
