1. Elective Ornithology
Spring
Semester

2. What is Ornithology?
Ornithology is the study of birds.

3. Class Aves
The taxonomic group to which birds belong.

4. Characteristics of Birds
Bipedal – walk on two legs
Vertebrates – have a backbone
Feathers – a unique body covering
Bill – varies in structure and function, but always toothless and covered in a hard sheath

5. Avian Body is Structured for Flight
Hollow bones, fused together for strength
Furcula (wishbone) that helps spring the wings back out
Wings are specialized for flight and nothing else

6. Feet of tree dwelling (aboreal) species
When they bend to squat, tendons lock the toes around a branch

7. Order Passeriformes Songbirds Most advanced with this “foot” locking
Lock stable enough to perch and roost

8. Halux
Most birds have a large, opposable toe known as a halux

9. Body Temperature
Birds maintain a high internal temperature, degrees C ( degrees F)

10. Respiratory and Circulatory Systems
Large heart
Efficient flow through the lungs

11. Reproduction Make large, elaborate external eggs
Most species mate for life (monogamous)
A few are promiscuous

12. Intelligent! Large brains (6-11) times larger than like-sized reptiles
Good learning ability

13. Voice
Birds have the most advanced sound producing abilities of all vertebrates

14. Navigation
Birds use patterns of earth’s magnetism, celestial clues, and polarized light (in theory) to navigate

15. Sight Birds have good color vision
Birds can see into the near ultraviolet range of the spectrum

16. Hearing Better abilities than humans
They can hear sounds of lower frequency than humans are able to hear

17. Birds
Form and Function

18. Biodiversity
Estimated 300 billion birds of roughly 10,000 species currently living on earth

19. Evolutionary View
Oldest bird-like fossil is Archaeopteryx lithographica
155 million years old
Had feathers, could possibly “fly”
Said to have evolved to from dinosaurs to what we know today

20. Archaeopteryx lithographica

21. Diversity of Size Size can vary greatly Smallest is 2 g (hummingbird)
Largest is 100,000 g (240 lbs) (ostrich)

22. Different Ecologies and Behaviors
Bill shape and function is a good example
Diets vary; leaves, buds, fruits, nectar, invertebrates, vertebrates and carrion

23. Wing Shapes Vary Vary according to the bird’s lifestyle
Long and narrow are good for soaring (northern harrier)
Short and rounded are good for agile flight in thick vegetation

24. Foot Anatomy
Shows the diversity of lifestyles birds utilize

25. Bird Names and Classification

26. Names and Classification
Class Aves currently has about 10,000 species
All have a two part scientific name
Ex: Bald Eagle: Haliaetus leucocephalus (means sea eagle with a white head)

27. Orders Currently birds are grouped into 29 different orders
Anseriformes – Ducks, geese, swans
Ciconiiformes – Storks, herons, cranes
Falconiformes – Raptors
Piciformes – Woodpeckers
Passeriformes - Songbirds

28. Biogeography
The study of the geographical distribution of life on earth
Birds are found practically everywhere on earth
Avifaunas – regional assemblages of bird species

29. Thomas Huxley
An evolutionist that said birds are merely “glorified dinosaurs”
He gave many reasons for this statement

30. Huxley’s Evidence Both birds and reptiles have:
A single ball and socket joint between the skull and first vertebrae
Only one middle ear bone, the stapes
Scales on bird feet are similar to scales on a reptile
Both lay amniote eggs

31. Archaeopteryx – The Flight Debate
Could Archaeopteryx fly? Scientists argue about this.

32. The “No Flight” Argument
Some scientists argue that because Archaeopteryx lacks the supracoracoideus muscle that lifts the wing after a flight stroke, it could not fly.

33. The “Pro-Flight” Argument
Had a large furcula
Had feathers that resemble flying birds and not flightless birds

34. Evolution of Feathers
On hypothesis is that they first evolved for temperature regulation.
Another is that they first evolved for flight

35. Process of Feather Evolution

36. Evolution of Avian Flight

37. How did wings evolve?
It is thought that wings evolved to help in leaping and balance in jumping to catch prey.

38. After Archaeopteryx Next Sinornis santensis was found
Lived 140 mill years ago
Was saw toothed and sparrow sized

39. Modern Birds First modern birds were flightless
A good example is the 2m tall diatrymas
Had clawed toes, a horse-sized skull and eagle-like beak