1. This module covers the following 6 orders: GALLIFORMES — Fowl-like birds ANSERIFORMES — Waterfowl & Screamers

2. CHICKENS AND RELATIVES

3. Range: worldwide Morphology/ecology: short-beaked, terrestrial birds with short, rounded wings Behavior: most lay large clutches, precocial chicks; polygyny and lekking (group male display areas) is common Taxonomic notes: quite primitive unspecialized birds near the base of the tree of modern birds; this is group that Ken Dial used to test his new idea on the origin of flight Important families: *Phasianidae: pheasants, grouse, turkeys, peacocks *Odontophoridae: New world quails *Megapodidae: megapods or moundbuilders; eggs are buried and incubated by heat generated from composting (Australia and southern Asia) *ORDER GALLIFORMES — Fowl-like birds — 5 families; 258 species

4. Ocellated Turkey, Guatemala Family Phasianidae: pheasants, turkeys & grouse -Some species highly cryptic, others highly elaborate males -Lekking mating system common -Chicks highly precocial

5. - Lekking: Males defend display territories that do not have any resources. Females cruise through to make their choice. Sharp-tailed grouse, British Columbia

6. Rock Ptarmigan, Canadian arctic

7. Rock Ptarmigan live in treeless tundra — plumage color matters for crypsis

8. molt has to happen very quickly as habitat changes color with snow melt

9. female half way through molt

10. new female breeding plumage that is exquisitely camouflaged against tundra

11. rock ptarmigan nest with typical clutch size

12. Photo by Mike Danziger Family Odontophoridae: New World quails California Quail - California quail = our state bird -Several species have crests, called plumes or ‘topknots’ -After precocial young hatch, often form social groups called coveys

13. Australian Brush-Turkey Family Megapodidae: moundbuilders -Australian family -only birds that do not use body heat to incubate their eggs

14. Malleefowl mound where eggs are incubated Unique incubation strategies in megapodes: -Compost -Geothermal

15. WATERFOWL Ruddy Duck, B.C.

16. Range: worldwide Morphology/ecology: ancient group of swimming waterbirds; bill broad, flattened, lamellate or slender, serrate (mergansers); feet palmate; variety of foraging modes (filter feeders, fish eaters, shellfish eaters) Behavior: large clutches of unspotted eggs, only females incubate; precocial chicks leave nest upon hatching; brood parasitism within and between species is very widespread Other notes: Screamers have two knife-like spurs on leading edge of each wing, also very extensive air sacs that crackle when pressed, soar high into air and call (hence name) Important families: *Anatidae: swans, geese, ducks Anhimidae: screamers (South America) *ORDER ANSERIFORMES — Waterfowl & Screamers — 2 families; 161 species

17. Mallard, Santa Cruz Family Anatidae: ducks, geese & swans

18. Common Eider, Quebec

19. Common Eider nest

20. Barrow ’ s Goldeneye, B.C.

21. Adoption in Barrow ’ s Goldeneye

22. Interspecific nest parasitism Ruddy Duck Redhead

24. Black-headed Duck, Argentina

26. Black-headed Duckling in nest of Brown-hooded Gull

28. Magpie Geese, Australia

29. Southern Screamer, Argentina Family Anhimidae: screamers

31. photo Mo Hassan