Birds Classification and Characteristics

Bird Characteristics  Feathers/flight- made of keratin proteins, very light and strong

 Beaks- various shapes and sizes, very light and strong

Thin skulls and hollow bones- weight saving

 Oviparous/one ovary- weight saving  Keen eyesight- for finding prey and mates

 Advanced lungs with air sacs

 Communication- finding mates and establishing territory  Migratory behavior- move around in response to food availability

Classification

Kingdom Animalia  Heterotrophic  Multicellular  Motile

Phylum Chordata  Dorsal nerve cord

Class Aves  Feathers

Order Anseriformes  Wildfoul  Ducks, geese

Order Ciconiiformes  Storks, Ibises, Herons, Egrets  Usually wading birds

Order Pelecaniformes  Pelicans, Cormorants, Frigatebird  Seabirds with flexible throat pouches

Order Cathartiformes  Vultures  Birds of prey that often feed on carion.

Order Accipitriformes  Hawks, Osprey, Eagles  Large, hooked bill, talons

Order Charadriformes  Gulls, Plovers, Stilts, Avocets  Wading and shorebirds that often migrate long distances

Order Columbiformes  Doves, Pigeons  Medium sized, large bodied, often feed off of the ground

Order Piciformes  Woodpeckers  Zygodactyl feet for climbing and perching

Order Coraciformes  Kingfishers  Some perch over water and dive for prey  All nest in holes of some type

Order Passeriformes  Cardinals, Sparrows, Jays, Starlings, Mockingbirds, etc.  Four unwebbed toes with three facing forward and one backward