BIRD CLASSIFICATION Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrate
BIRD CLASSIFICATION: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrate Class: Birds (Aves) Over 9700 different species divided into 29 different orders.
CHARACTERISICS OF BIRDS: Feathers: (modified scales) ØFlight ØInsulation ØMade of keratin Four different types of feathers: 1. Down feathers: v Soft and Fluffy v Entire body of young v Adult: Lies closest to body for insulation Down feather
2. Contour feathers: v Streamline shape v Bottom part similar to Down v Coloration § Camouflage § Identifies species/sex Contour Feather (insulation)
3. Flight feathers: (modified Contour) v Wings & tail v Helps provide lift for flight
4. Bristle feathers: v Located on Eyes, Nostrils & Around Face v Filter dirt v Similar to eyelashes/nose hair
PARTS OF A FEATHER: Follicle: Tiny pit in skin where feathers develop Shaft or quill: Develops from follicle & runs up center of feather Vanes: 2 vanes per feather on each side of shaft Barbs: Many make up a vane Hooks Hold barbules together Barbules: Have hooks on ends to hold barbs together
VANE
(deep)
Similar Structures…Amphibians…Reptiles…
Preening: Use beak to spread oil from preening gland, helps repel water Preening Gland: Base of tail, contains oil Molting: Shed feathers (once a year)
Skeletal System: v Light & Strong v. Thin, hollow, air filled, & rigid bones v. Humerus, radius, ulna, pectoral girdle, & sternum (keel) support wings v. Many bones fused
Muscular System: v. Large filament muscles for strength v. Flight muscles = 50% weight
Metabolism: v Very fast metabolism v Temperature: 104 -105º F Ø Endothermic metabolism: v Rapid breathing v Generate heat to warm body internally v Need large quantities of food v. Can’t go long periods of time w/o eating v Layer of fat for insulation
Digestive System: Passage of food: Mouth Esophagus Crop Two-part stomach Small intestines Proventriculus Gizzard Large Intestines (Caeca) Cloaca
Esophagus S t o m a c h Large Intestine
Crop: Storage for food; where it’s moistened Proventriculus: First part of stomach; where digestion starts Gizzard: Helps kneed the food (eat pebbles to help crush food) Small Intestines: Where most food is digested, absorbed and broken down by enzymes and bile Large Intestines: (Caeca/um) Water absorbed, waste separated from nutrients Cloaca: Where everything comes together 45 MINUTES TO DIGEST & REMOVE!!!
**Crop Has Been Removed
Gizzard with Pebbles
Lower Digestive System
Excretory System: v. Filters nitrogenous wastes from blood with kidney v. Urine contains uric acid (white) v NO URINARY BLADDER=LIGHTER FOR FLIGHT
Respiratory System: v. Elaborate and highly efficient v. Needs lots of oxygen continuously v. High metabolic rate
Passage of air: Pair of nostrils Located near base of beak Trachea Where air passes after entering nostrils Bronchi 2 bronchi, air goes in second; lead to air sacs Lungs 75% bypasses lungs Air Sacs 9 air sacs, extend from lungs; reduces density; stores air
Esophagus TRACHEA
Circulatory System: v 4 Chambered Heart v 2 -A v 2 -V (THICK) v Septum-Divides Ventricles…NO MIXING A M P E S TU V Humming Bird – 600 times/minute Chickadee – 1000 times/minute
Oxygenated blood (red) is pumped from the lungs to various parts of the body; Deoxygenated blood (blue) is returned for recycling.
Nervous System: v Very Large Brains v Coordinated movement v Contains large optic lobes (very good color) v Wide field of vision v Excellent depth perception
Reproduction: Males: v Sperm is produced in 2 testes v Sperm passes through small tubes called vasa deferntia into the phallus to the cloaca v Mating – male presses his cloaca to the female cloaca and releases sperm Retracted and Erect phallus of a male
Females: v Single ovary on left side of body v Ovary releases eggs into oviduct where they’re fertilized v Fertilized eggs move down the oviduct where they receive a protective covering and shell v Egg passes out cloaca
• For most birds, copulation involves a “cloacal kiss”, with the male on the female's back & twisting his tail under the female's -Copulation typically lasts just a few seconds
Oviparity: v. Lay eggs in nest which conceals young from predators & provides shelter
Parental Care: § Both parents incubate eggs by sitting on them § Feathered patch of skin (brood patch) for covering
Migration: § When cold and food is scarce-fly south
Diversity of the species: § Use beak, feet, plumage & DNA to classify
Navigation: § Use stars & sun; earths magnetic field; changes in air pressure; low frequency sounds; topographical landmarks
- Slides: 41