1. Birds Classification and Characteristics

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

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

4. Thin skulls and hollow bones- weight saving

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

6.  Advanced lungs with air sacs

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

8. Classification

9. Kingdom Animalia  Heterotrophic  Multicellular  Motile

10. Phylum Chordata  Dorsal nerve cord

11. Class Aves  Feathers

12. Order Anseriformes  Wildfoul  Ducks, geese

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

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

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

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

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

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

19. Order Piciformes  Woodpeckers  Zygodactyl feet for climbing and perching

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

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