1. *Ornithology is the study of birds

2. Characteristics 1. Forelimbs modified into wings 2. Feathers
3. Hollow, lightweight bones
4. Endothermic
5. Efficient respiration
6. Heart with a completely divided ventricle (4 chambers)
7. Scaley feet (birds are related to reptiles)
8. Furculum (wishbone)

3. Classification
Kingdom Animalia ---Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrata Class Aves
Aviation = flight

4. Types of feathers Down feathers - provide insulation
* birds are endothermic
Contour feathers - cover head and body, provide coloration
Flight feathers - on wings and tail, provide lift

5. Feathers are covered in oil to keep them water proof - "like water off a duck's back" - this oil is secreted from a preen gland
Preening is a behavior that replaces the oil on feathers, and repairs broken links on the vanes

7. Evolution of Birds (from reptiles)
Archaeopteryx - “ancient wing”
Reptile like - Had teeth in beak, bony tail, claws on wings
Bird like = Had feathers, & fused collarbone (wishbone)

9. Adaptations for flight:
Efficient digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems
Aerodynamic feathers and wings
Strong, lightweight bones
Strong chest muscles

10. FEEDING -- shape of the beak related to food Examples:
Hooked beaks used for tearing meat
Long sharp beaks for spearing fish

12. The shape of a beak and type of feet a bird has can tell you much about its lifestyle
What do you think this bird eats?
How does its feet help it in its habitat?

13. Digestive System Birds lack teeth Crop stores and moistens food
Gizzard grinds the food
Some birds will use their beaks to tear food into bits, most of these chunks of flesh are swallowed whole

14. Mouth  esophagus  crop  stomach/gizzard  small intestine large intestine cloaca

15. Other systems Respiration Mouth  trachea  air sacs and bones  lungs
A one way flow of oxygen
Circulation
4 chambered heart (double-loop system)
Excretion
Kidneys (uric acid) & Cloaca

16. Nervous System - response
Well develop sense organs
A large brain
Cerebrum = thinking, decision making
Cerebellum = coordinated movement
Medulla oblongata = basic body process
Optic lobes = vision
Olfactory lobes = taste and smell

18. Movement Flightless (ostrich, penguin…etc)
Forelimbs modified for flight = wings
Collarbones are fused making a strong base for flight muscles - fused bone is the furculum
Air spaces make the bones light in weight
Strong chest muscle attach to a keel of the sternum (breastbone)

19. Reproduction Internal Fertilization + Amniote Egg Incubation
“egg tooth”

20. Many baby birds are born helpless and without feathers
Many baby birds are born helpless and without feathers. These baby birds require lots of care from their parents.

21. Some babies hatch with feathers and can follow their mom around, swim and eat on their own.

22. Some babies IMPRINT on the first thing they see.

23. Bird Myths If you touch a baby bird, the mother won’t take it back
Reality – most birds have a poor sense of smell, there may be other reasons why mom has rejected the baby
Turkeys can’t fly.
Reality - wild turkeys can fly, just not long distances. Another myth is that turkeys drown in the rain, that one is also untrue.