Bird Notes Taxonomy Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Subphylum

Bird Notes

Taxonomy • Kingdom – Animalia • Phylum – Chordata • Subphylum – Vertebrata • Class – Aves • Orders – 28 of them! • About 9, 600 species of birds! • 290 species visit Cook County – you will learn about 50 of them

• Long necks (balance & food gathering) Major Characteristic • Paired forelimbs usually for flying (wings) • Feathers (different kinds) s • Thin skin, scales on legs, no sweat glands • Hollow bones, beak with no teeth • Endothermic (warm-blooded) • No urinary bladder (solid uric acid instead of urine!) • Separate sexes, internal fertilization (females determine sex of offspring - ZW, males ZZ)

Bird Reproduction • Amniotic Egg (hard shell) • More advanced than reptiles • Chalaza – suspends yolk in the egg • Incubation is external • Monogamous (90%) or polygamous (10%) • Seasonal monogamy http: //www. ustream. tv/decoraheagles

Bird Classification • VERY similar to Reptiles BUT: • Only animal with feathers • Only vertebrate animal that truly flies (except bats) • How Classified? Very difficult… So, Scientists use: • Body structure • Beak differences • Foot structure • Behavior/Songs • 28 Orders of Class Aves

• Order Passeriformes 6 Bird (“sparrow form”) Orders • Largest order (~7, 000 You Need species, most diverse) to Know • Small to medium size • Perching, song birds • Examples: Sparrows, Cardinals, Swallows, Ravens, Crows, Jays, etc.

• Order Podicipediformes (“rump foot form”) 6 Bird • Grebes only Orders • Marine Bird You Need • Only 18 species to Know

• Order Piciformes (“woodpecker form”) 6 Bird • Woodpecker Orders • Toucans You Need • Barbets and Jacamars to Know • 380 species

• Order Casuariiformes (“cassowary form”) 6 Bird • Emus, cassowaries Orders • Big, flighless firds You Need • 3 related orders (ostriches, rheas, kiwis) to Know

• Order Ciconiiformes (“stork form”) 6 Bird • Tall waders (herons, storks, flamingos, ibises) Orders • Long neck, long legs You Need • 90 species to Know

• Order Falconiformes (“falcon form”) 6 Bird • Diurnal (daytime) birds of prey Orders • Strong fliers, keen vision You Need • Eagles, hawks, falcons, condors to Know • 270 species