BIRD CLASSIFICATION. BIRDS Birds are classified as members of Class Aves. The major characteristics...
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BIRD CLASSIFICATION
Transcript of BIRD CLASSIFICATION. BIRDS Birds are classified as members of Class Aves. The major characteristics...
BIRD CLASSIFICATION
BIRDS
• Birds are classified as members of Class Aves. • The major characteristics of this class are:
• Adaptations for flight• Appendages modified as wings• Feathers• Endothermy• High metabolic rate• Vertebral column modified for flight• Bones lightened by air spaces• Bill• No teeth
ORDER SPHENISCIFORMES
• Heavy body• Flightless• Flipperlike wings for swimming• Well-insulated with fat
• Example: penguins
ORDER STRUTHIONIFORMES
• Large and flightless• Wings have many fluffy plumes
• Example: ostrich
ORDER GAVIIFORMES
• Strong, straight bill• Adapted for diving (legs far back on body,
webbed feet, heavy bones).
• Example: Loons
ORDER PODICIPEDIFORMES
• Short wings• Soft and dense feathers• Webbed feet with flattened nails
• Example: Grebes
ORDER PROCELLARIIFORMES
• Tubular nostrils• Large nasal glands• Long and narrow wings
• Example: Albatross
ORDER PELECANIFORMES
• 4 toes joined in common web• Nostrils usually absent• Large gular sac
• Examples: Pelicans, Boobies
ORDER CICONIIFORMES
• Long neck, often folded in flight• Long-legged waders
• Examples: Storks, Flamingos
ORDER ANSERIFORMES
• Wide, flat bill• Undercoat of dense down• Webbed feet
• Examples: Ducks, Geese, Swans
ORDER FALCONIFORMES
• Strong, hooked beak• Large wings• Raptor-like feet
• Examples: Falcons, Vultures, Hawks, Eagles
ORDER GALLIFORMES
• Short beak• Short, concave wings• Strong feet and claws
• Examples: Quail, pheasants, turkeys
ORDER GRUIFORMES
• Many different characteristics.
• Example: Crane
ORDER CHARADRIIFORMES
• Many different characteristics.
• Examples: Shorebirds, Gulls
ORDER COLUMBIFORMES
• Dense feathers loosely set in skin• Well-developed crop
• Examples: Pigeons, Doves
ORDER PSITTACIFORMES
• Jaw hinged to skull• Thick tongue• Reversible 4th toe• Usually brightly colored
• Examples: Parrots, Lories, Macaws
ORDER CUCULIFORMES
• Reversible 4th toe• Soft, tender skin
• Examples: Roadrunners, Cuckoos
ORDER STRIGIFORMES
• Large head with eyes directed forward• Raptor-like foot
• Examples: Owls
ORDER CAPRIMULGIFORMES
• Owl-like head and plumage• Weak bill and feet• Beak with wide gape• Insectivore
• Examples: Whipporwills
ORDER APODIFORMES
• Long wings• Weak feet
• Examples: Hummingbirds
ORDER CORACIIFORMES
• Large head• Large beak• Metallic plumage
• Examples: Kingfishers, Bee eaters
ORDER PICIFORMES
• Usually long strong beak• Strong legs and feet with fourth toe permanently
reversed in woodpeckers
• Examples: Woodpeckers, Toucans
ORDER PASSERIFORMES
• Largest avian order• 69 families of perching birds• Perching foot• Varied external features
• Examples: Swallows, Larks, Crows, many others
