Bird Identification

Special Characteristics of Birds Excellent Vision BRIGHT COLORS ATTRACT MATES RAPTORS CAN SEE PREY MILES OFF Excellent hearing – INSTINCT FOR THE SPECIES SONGS LEARN VARIATIONS OLWS USE HEARING TO HELP FIND PREY IN THE DARK

Special Characteristics of Birds Warm blooded High energy demands!!! “Eat like a bird” – you eat a lot !! Need to keep eggs, young warm Feathers evolved first for insulation Most still just cover the bird’s body Later some feathers specialized for flight.

Special Characteristics of Birds High metabolism requires efficient respiratory system Air Flows through lungs Hollow bones to reduce weight Strong enough for flight, not for walking, etc. Flightless birds have heavier bones Typically do not store fat Too heavy for flight Need to eat all winter – many migrate

Wing Shapes Long Narrow Short, Wide SOARING, GLIDING Power flight, agility

Hollow bones – strong and light

Do birds have ears??? Can birds see in color??

Feathers Made of keratin Grow in distinct groups like our skin, nails and hair Grow in distinct groups All birds share these groupings of feathers Replaced in seasonal cycles Often before mating Have Breeding and Eclipsed Plumage types

Feathers Species differ in color and outline of feather markings Do not differ in shape or arrangement of feathers. Most important Flight Feathers are the Primaries and Secondaries, and Tail.

Flight Feathers

Feather groups:

Flight Wren

Forces for Flight

Riding Thermals

Hawks

Specialized adaptations to habitat Bill types for feeding Feet /leg types for Perching Wading Swimming Hunting

Spoon bills – dabbling ducks Filter out Plant debris

Hooked bills Hunting by Birds of prey

Long thin Sipping nectar

Dagger Like – with sharp edges Capture Fish Small prey

Long thin - strong Hunt mud sand

Conical – Strong for cracking seeds

Hard dagger bill for pecking wood

Thin dagger For catching Insects

Webbed feet for water Swimming Wading Protected from heat loss

Passerine Birds - Have talons that grasp branches. Can sleep – perching on branches

Other Feet types Climbing – nuthatch, woodpeckers Hunting & Grasping– hawk, eagle talons Scratching- stir up insects in soil, leaf litter Running- Quail, Road Runner