Birds (class Aves) are bipedal, warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrate animals. Birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs during the Jurassic, and the earliest known bird is the Late Jurassic Archaeopteryx. Ranging in size from tiny hummingbirds to the huge Ostrich and Emu, there are between 9,000-10,000 known living bird species in the world, making them the most diverse class of terrestrial vertebrates. This does not cite any references or sources. ... A warm-blooded (homeothermic) animal is one that can keep its core body temperature at a nearly constant level regardless of the temperature of the surrounding environment (that is, to maintain thermal homeostasis) . This can involve not only the ability to generate heat, but also the ability to cool down... In most birds and reptiles, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ... Classes and Clades See below Male and female Superb Fairy-wren Vertebrates are members of the subphylum Vertebrata (within the phylum Chordata), specifically, those chordates with backbones or spinal columns. ... “Animalia” redirects here. ... This article is about evolution in biology. ... Subdivisions ?Eoraptor Herrerasauria Coelophysoidea Ceratosauria Cryolophosaurus Spinosauridae Carnosauria Coelurosauria Theropods (beast foot) are a group of bipedal saurischian dinosaurs. ... Orders & Suborders Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Theropoda Ornithischia Thyreophora Ornithopoda Marginocephalia Dinosaurs were vertebrate animals that dominated the terrestrial ecosystem for over 160 million years, first appearing approximately 230 million years ago. ... The Jurassic Period is a major unit of the geologic timescale that extends from about 199. ... Binomial name Archaeopteryx lithographica Meyer, 1861 Synonyms see text Archaeopteryx (from Ancient Greek αρχαιος archaios meaning ancient and πτερυξ pteryx meaning feather or wing;[1] pronounced ), from the late Jurassic Period (Kimmeridgian stage, 155-150 million years ago) of what is now Germany, is the earliest and most primitive known avian. ... Subfamilies Phaethornithinae Trochilinae For a taxonomic list of genera, see: List of hummingbirds in taxonomic order For an alphabetic species list, see: Alphabetic species list Hummingbirds are small birds in the family Trochilidae, native only to the Americas. ... Binomial name Struthio camelus Carolus Linnaeus, 1758 The present-day distribution of Ostriches. ... Binomial name Dromaius novaehollandiae (Latham, 1790) The Emu has been recorded in the areas shown in black. ... Animal environments are classified as either aquatic (water), terrestrial (land), or amphibious (water and land). ...

Modern birds are characterised by feathers, a beak with no teeth, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a light but strong skeleton. Most birds have forelimbs modified as wings and can fly, though the ratites and several others, particularly endemic island species, have also lost the ability to fly. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Two feathers Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds. ... The beak—otherwise known as the bill or rostrum—is an external anatomical structure which serves as the mouth in some animals. ... In most birds and reptiles, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ... A few of the metabolic pathways in a cell. ... It has been suggested that keel (bird) be merged into this article or section. ... A Laughing Gull with its wings extended in a gull wing profile Aircraft wing planform shapes: a swept wing KC-10 Extender (top) refuels a trapezoid-wing F/A-22 Raptor A wing is a surface used to produce lift and therefore flight, for travel in the air or another... Flight is the main mode of locomotion used by most of the worlds bird species. ... Families Struthionidae (ostriches) Rheidae (rheas) Casuariidae (emus etc. ... Endemic, in a broad sense, can mean belonging or native to, characteristic of, or prevalent in a particular geography, race, field, area, or environment; Native to an area or scope. ...

Many species of bird undertake long distance annual migrations, and many more perform shorter more irregular movements. Birds are social and communicate using visual signals and through calls and bird song, and participate in social behaviours including cooperative hunting and breeding, flocking. Birds are primarily socially monogamous, with engagement in extra-pair copulations being common in some species; other species have polygamous or polyandrous breeding systems. Eggs are usually laid in a nest and incubated and most birds have an extended period of parental care after hatching. Annual, from the Latin annuum, or year means pertaining to a year or happening every year. ... Flock of Barnacle Geese during autumn migration Many species of birds undertake seasonal journeys of various lengths, a phenomenon known as Bird migration. ... Communication allows people to exchange thoughts by one of several methods. ... Blackbird (Turdus merula), singing male. ... Helpers at the nest is a term used in behavioural ecology and evolutionary biology to describe a social structure in which juveniles, of one or both sexes, remain in association with their parents and help them in raising subsequent broods or litters, instead of dispersing and beginning to reproduce themselves. ... Flocking is a common demonstration of emergence and emergent behaviour, invented in 1987 by Craig Reynolds with his simulation program, Boids. ... Recent discoveries have led biologists to talk about the three varieties of monogamy: social monogamy, sexual monogamy, and genetic monogamy. ... Animal sexual behavior takes many different forms, even within the same species. ... The term polygamy (many marriages in late Greek) is used in related ways in social anthropology and sociobiology and sociology. ... In social anthropology and sociobiology, polyandry (Greek: poly- many, andros- man) means a female forming a sexual union with more than one male. ... A basket style nest A nest is place of refuge built to hold an animals eggs and/or provide a place to raise their offspring. ... The word incubate in the context of birds refers to the development of the chick (embryo) within the egg and the constant temperature required for the development of it over a specific period. ...

Humans make use of birds in a number of ways: many are important sources of food, acquired either through hunting or farming, often commercially. Some species, particularly songbirds and parrots, are popular as pets. Birds figure prominently in all aspects of human culture from religion to poetry and popular music. About 120–130 species have become extinct as a result of human activity since 1600, and hundreds more prior to this. Currently, numerous species of birds are threatened with extinction by human activities and efforts are underway to protect them. A hunt is an activity during which humans or animals chase some prey, such as wild or specially bred animals (traditionally targeted species are known as game), in order to catch or kill them, either for food, sale, or as a form of sport. ... Farming, ploughing rice paddy, in Indonesia Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and other desired products by cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals (livestock). ... A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Oscines of Passeriformes (ca. ... It has been suggested that True parrots be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Residential pets be merged into this article or section. ... // Lightning Bird Quetzalcoatl Noahs Dove Noahs Raven Garuda Feng-huang Shang-Yang ZhÅ« Què (Vermilion Bird) Ba Bennu Phoenix Griffin Harpies Garuda Jatayu and Sampaati Ho-o Kin-u Suzaku Yatagarasu Ju-jak Samjoko Albatross in Mopsa the Fairy, novel by Jean Ingelow. ... The Dodo, shown here in illustration, is an often-cited[1] example of modern extinction. ... The extinction of the Dusky Seaside Sparrow was caused by habitat loss. ...

Evolution and taxonomy

Main article: Bird evolution

Archaeopteryx, the earliest known bird.

The first classification of bird was developed by Francis Willughby and John Ray in their 1676 volume, Ornithologiae.^[1] That work, slightly modified, was the basis for today's classification system originally devised by Carolus Linnaeus in 1758.^[2] Paleornithology is the scientific study of bird evolution and fossil birds. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1062x828, 173 KB) Summary Archaeopteryx bavarica, Paläontologisches Museum, München Photograph: Luidger (2. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1062x828, 173 KB) Summary Archaeopteryx bavarica, Paläontologisches Museum, München Photograph: Luidger (2. ... Binomial name Archaeopteryx lithographica Meyer, 1861 Synonyms see text Archaeopteryx (from Ancient Greek αρχαιος archaios meaning ancient and πτερυξ pteryx meaning feather or wing;[1] pronounced ), from the late Jurassic Period (Kimmeridgian stage, 155-150 million years ago) of what is now Germany, is the earliest and most primitive known avian. ... Francis Willughby (November 22, 1635 - July 3, 1672) was an English ornithologist and ichthyologist. ... John Ray. ... Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 23, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ...

Birds are categorised as the biological class Aves in Linnean taxonomy. Phylogenetic taxonomy places Aves in the dinosaur clade Theropoda. According to the current consensus, Aves and a sister group, the order Crocodilia, together are the sole living members of the reptile clade Archosauria. Phylogenetically, Aves is commonly defined as all descendants of the most recent common ancestor of modern birds (a specific modern bird species like Passer domesticus for the purposes of phylogenetic taxonomy), and Archaeopteryx lithographica.^[3] Archaeopteryx, from the Kimmeridgian stage of the Late Jurassic (some 155-150 million years ago), is the earliest known bird under this definition. Others have defined Aves to include only the modern bird groups, excluding most groups known only from fossils,^[4] in part to avoid the uncertainties about the placement of Archaeopteryx in relation to animals traditionally thought of as theropod dinosaurs.^{[citation needed]} Scientific classification or biological classification refers to how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Linnaean taxonomy classifies living things into a hierarchy, originally starting with kingdoms. ... In biology, phylogenetics (Greek: phylon = tribe, race and genetikos = relative to birth, from genesis = birth) is the study of evolutionary relatedness among various groups of organisms (e. ... A clade is a term belonging to the discipline of cladistics. ... Subdivisions ?Eoraptor Herrerasauria Coelophysoidea Ceratosauria Cryolophosaurus Spinosauridae Carnosauria Coelurosauria Theropods (beast foot) are a group of bipedal saurischian dinosaurs. ... In scientific classification used in biology, the order (Latin: ordo, plural ordines) is a rank between class and family (termed a taxon at that rank). ... black: range of Crocodilia Families Gavialidae Alligatoridae Crocodylidae Crocodilia is an order of large reptiles that appeared about 84 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous Period (Campanian stage). ... Subclasses Anapsida Diapsida Synonyms Reptilia Laurenti, 1768 Reptiles are tetrapods and amniotes, animals whose embryos are surrounded by an amniotic membrane, and members of the class Sauropsida. ... Groups Pterosauria Crocodylia (crocodiles) Dinosauria    Aves (birds) Archosaurs (Greek for ruling reptiles) are a group of diapsid reptiles that first appeared during the late Permian (roughly 250 million years ago). ... Phylogenetic groups, or taxa, can be monophyletic, paraphyletic, or polyphyletic. ... Binomial name Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a member of the Old World sparrow family Passeridae. ... In biology, phylogenetics (Greek: phylon = tribe, race and genetikos = relative to birth, from genesis = birth) is the study of evolutionary relatedness among various groups of organisms (e. ... Binomial name Archaeopteryx lithographica Meyer, 1861 Synonyms see text Archaeopteryx (from Ancient Greek αρχαιος archaios meaning ancient and πτερυξ pteryx meaning feather or wing;[1] pronounced ), from the late Jurassic Period (Kimmeridgian stage, 155-150 million years ago) of what is now Germany, is the earliest and most primitive known avian. ... The Kimmeridgian is a stage of the Late Jurassic Epoch. ... Upper Jurassic (also known as Malm) was an epoch of the Jurassic geologic period. ...

Modern birds are divided into two superorders, the Paleognathae (mostly flightless birds like ostriches), and the wildly diverse Neognathae, containing all other birds. Depending on the taxonomic viewpoint, the number of species cited varies anywhere from 8,800 to 10,200 known living bird species in the world. Scientific classification or biological classification refers to how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Orders Lithornithiformes Ambiornithiformes Gansuiformes Paleocursornithiformes Dinornithiformes Aepyornithiformes Struthoniformes Rheiformes Casuariiformes Apterygiformes Tinamiformes The Paleognathae or paleognaths (old jaws) are one of the two living superorders of birds. ... Binomial name Struthio camelus Carolus Linnaeus, 1758 The present-day distribution of Ostriches. ... Orders Anseriformes, waterfowl Galliformes, fowl Gaviiformes, loons Podicipediformes, grebes Procellariiformes, albatrosses, petrels, and allies Sphenisciformes, penguins Pelecaniformes, pelicans and allies Ciconiiformes, storks and allies Phoenicopteriformes, flamingos Accipitriformes, eagles, hawks and allies Falconiformes, falcons Turniciformes, button-quail Gruiformes, cranes and allies Charadriiformes, plovers and allies Pteroclidiformes, sandgrouse Columbiformes, doves and pigeons... Taxonomy, sometimes alpha taxonomy, is the science of finding, describing and naming organisms, thus giving rise to taxa. ...

Use of the term "bird"

This article uses "bird" to denote members of the Aves, but primarily deals with the living birds which are all Neornithes and thus unquestionably Aves. In popular science, the term "bird" is often used in an informal sense, denoting any theropod with feathers and wings. Thus, animals such as Microraptor and Rahonavis are sometimes called "birds" in news articles, although most scientists would not consider them to belong to Aves based on current evidence.^{[citation needed]} Orders Many - see section below. ... This article is not about the magazine, Popular Science Popular science is interpretation of science intended for a general audience, rather than for other scientists or students. ... Microraptor was a small, bird-like dinosaur related to the dromaeosaurs. ... Rahonavis, from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar, is the subject of some controversy as to its proper taxonomic position--whether it is a member of the crown clade Aves or a closely related dromaeosaur. ...

Dinosaurs and the origin of birds

Main article: Origin of birds

Confuciusornis, a Cretaceous bird from China

There is significant evidence that birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs, specifically, that birds are members of Maniraptora, a group of theropods which includes dromaeosaurs and oviraptorids, among others.^[5] As more non-avian theropods that are closely related to birds are discovered, the formerly clear distinction between non-birds and birds becomes less so. Recent discoveries in Liaoning Province of northeast China, demonstrating that many small theropod dinosaurs had feathers, contribute to this ambiguity.^[6] A model of Archaeopteryx lithographica on display at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History The current scientific consensus holds that birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 681 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (872 × 768 pixel, file size: 51 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Autor: Bleistiftzeichnung aus dem Jahr 2003 von Frederik Spindler. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 681 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (872 × 768 pixel, file size: 51 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Autor: Bleistiftzeichnung aus dem Jahr 2003 von Frederik Spindler. ... Species (type) Hou , 1999 (disputed) (disputed) Confuciusornis is a genus of crow-sized prehistoric bird from the Early Cretaceous of China, approximately 120 million years ago. ... A model of Archaeopteryx lithographica on display at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History The current scientific consensus holds that birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs. ... Subdivisions ?Eoraptor Herrerasauria Coelophysoidea Ceratosauria Cryolophosaurus Spinosauridae Carnosauria Coelurosauria Theropods (beast foot) are a group of bipedal saurischian dinosaurs. ... Orders Saurischia    Sauropodomorpha    Theropoda Ornithischia Dinosaurs are giant reptiles that dominated the terrestrial ecosystem for most of their 165-million year existence. ... Subgroups Alvarezsauria Aves Deinonychosauria Oviraptorosauria Therizinosauria Maniraptora is a group used in biological classification to cover the birds and the dinosaurs that were related to them. ... Genera Achillobator Adasaurus Bambiraptor Cryptovolans Dromaeosaurus Deinonychus Gracilraptor Microraptor Pyroraptor Saurornitholestes Sinornithosaurus Utahraptor Variraptor Velociraptor Among the dinosaurs, the Dromaeosaurids or Dromaeosauridae (running lizards) were fast and agile dominant carnivores throughout the Cretaceous period. ...   (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Liáoníng) is a northeastern province of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Sinornithosaurus by Jim Robins Feathered dinosaurs are regarded by many paleontologists as transitional fossils between birds and dinosaurs (see Dinosaur-bird connection). ...

The basal bird Archaeopteryx from the Jurassic is well-known as one of the first "missing links" to be found in support of evolution in the late 19th century, though it is not considered a direct ancestor of modern birds. Confuciusornis is another early bird; it lived in the Early Cretaceous. Both may be predated by Protoavis texensis, though the fragmentary nature of this fossil leaves it open to considerable doubt if this was a bird ancestor. Other Mesozoic birds include the Enantiornithes, Yanornis, Ichthyornis, Gansus and the Hesperornithiformes, a group of flightless divers resembling grebes and loons. Binomial name Archaeopteryx lithographica Meyer, 1861 Synonyms see text Archaeopteryx (from Ancient Greek αρχαιος archaios meaning ancient and πτερυξ pteryx meaning feather or wing;[1] pronounced ), from the late Jurassic Period (Kimmeridgian stage, 155-150 million years ago) of what is now Germany, is the earliest and most primitive known avian. ... The Jurassic Period is a major unit of the geologic timescale that extends from about 199. ... A transitional fossil or transitional form is the fossilized remains of a life form that illustrates an evolutionary transition. ... This article is about evolution in biology. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Species (type) Hou , 1999 (disputed) (disputed) Confuciusornis is a genus of crow-sized prehistoric bird from the Early Cretaceous of China, approximately 120 million years ago. ... The Early Cretaceous (timestratigraphic name) or the Lower Cretaceous (logstratigraphic name), is the earlier of the two major divisions of the Cretaceous period. ... Binomial name Protoavis texensis Chatterjee, 1991 Protoavis texensis (First bird from Texas) is the name given to archosaurian fossil bones from the Late Triassic found near Post, Texas. ... FOSSIL is a standard for allowing serial communication for telecommunications programs under DOS. FOSSIL is an acronym for Fido Opus Seadog Standard Interface Layer. ... The Mesozoic Era is one of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon. ... The Enantiornithes, or opposite birds (because their foot bones are fused differently than in modern birds), are an extinct group of flying birds. ... Yanornis was an early Cretaceous bird, thought to be closely related to the common ancestor of all birds. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Binomial name Gansus yumenensis Hou & Liu, 1984 Gansus is a genus of aquatic birds that lived during the Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous period (around 110 million years ago) in what is now Gansu province, western China. ... Families Hesperornithidae Hesperornithiformes are an extinct and highly specialized order of Cretaceous toothed birds. ... Genera Podiceps Tachybaptus Podilymbus Aechmophorus Poliocephalus Rollandia Grebes are members of the Podicipediformes order, a widely distributed order of freshwater diving birds, some of which visit the sea when migrating and in winter. ... Global distribution of Gaviidae (breeding and winter ranges combined) Species Gavia stellata Gavia arctica Gavia pacifica Gavia immer Gavia adamsii The Loons (N.Am. ...

The dromaeosaurids Cryptovolans and Microraptor may have been capable of powered flight to an extent similar to or greater than that of Archaeopteryx. Cryptovolans possessed a sternal keel and had ribs with uncinate processes. In fact, Cryptovolans makes a better "bird" than Archaeopteryx which is missing some of these modern bird features. Because of this, some paleontologists have suggested that dromaeosaurs are actually basal birds, and that the larger members of the family are secondarily flightless, i.e. that dromaeosaurs evolved from birds and not the other way around. Evidence for this theory is currently inconclusive, as the exact relationship among the most advanced maniraptoran dinosaurs and the most primitive true birds are not well understood. Genera Achillobator Adasaurus Bambiraptor Cryptovolans Dromaeosaurus Deinonychus Gracilraptor Microraptor Pyroraptor Saurornitholestes Sinornithosaurus Utahraptor Variraptor Velociraptor Among the dinosaurs, the Dromaeosaurids or Dromaeosauridae (running lizards) were fast and agile dominant carnivores throughout the Cretaceous period. ... Cryptovolans pauli is a 90 cm long feathered dromaeosaurid dinosaur recently discovered in the Jiufotang site, China. ... Microraptor was a small, bird-like dinosaur related to the dromaeosaurs. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into bird skeleton. ... An uncinate process is a hook shaped process on the lateral borders of the superior surface of the bodies of C3-C6 (T1). ...

Although ornithischian (bird-hipped) dinosaurs share the same hip structure as birds, birds actually originated from the saurischian (lizard-hipped) dinosaurs, and thus arrived at their hip structure condition independently. In fact, the bird-like hip structure also developed a third time among a peculiar group of theropods, the Therizinosauridae. Suborders Thyreophora Cerapoda    Ornithopoda    Marginocephalia Ornithischia is an order of beaked, herbivorous dinosaurs. ... Bones of the Hip In anatomy, the hip is the bony projection of the femur, known as the greater trochanter, and the overlying muscle and fat. ... Groups Sauropodomorpha    Saturnalia    Prosauropoda    Sauropoda Theropoda    Eoraptor    Herrerasauridae    Ceratosauria    Tetanurae       Aves(extant) Saurischians (from the Greek Saurischia meaning lizard hip) are one of the two orders/branches of dinosaurs. ... Genera Alxasaurus elesitaiensis Chilantaisaurus zheziangensis Enigmosaurus mongoliensis Erlikosaurus andrewsi Nanshiungosaurus brevispinus Nanshiungosaurus bohlini Nothronychus mckinleyi Segnosaurus galbinensis Therizinosaurus cheloniformis Falcarius utahensis Therizinosauridae is a family of dinosaur species with related characteristics, belonging to the more including group of the Therizinosauroidea. ...

An alternate theory to the dinosaurian origin of birds, espoused by a few scientists (most notably Larry Martin and Alan Feduccia), states that birds (including maniraptoran "dinosaurs") evolved from early archosaurs like Longisquama,^[7] a theory which is contested by most other scientists in paleontology, and by experts in feather development and evolution.^[8] Larry Martin (born 1943) is an American vertebrate paleontologist and curator curator of the Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center at the University of Kansas. ... Subgroups Alvarezsauria Aves Deinonychosauria Oviraptorosauria Therizinosauria Maniraptora is a group used in biological classification to cover the birds and the dinosaurs that were related to them. ... Binomial name Longisquama insignis Sharov, 1970 Longisquama (long scales) was a lizard-like reptile of the early Triassic Period 240 million years ago, which lived in what is now Turkestan. ...

Radiation of modern birds

Modern birds are classified in Neornithes, which are now known to have evolved into some basic lineages by the end of the Cretaceous (see Vegavis). The Neornithes are split into the Paleognathae and Neognathae. The paleognaths include the tinamous of Central and South America and the ratites. The ratites are large flightless birds, and include ostriches, cassowaries, kiwis and emus (though some scientists suspect that the ratites represent an artificial grouping of birds which have independently lost the ability to fly in a number of unrelated lineages). The basal divergence from the remaining Neognathes was that of the Galloanseri, the superorder containing the Anseriformes (ducks, geese and swans), and the Galliformes (the pheasants, grouse, and their allies). The dates for the splits are a matter of considerable debate amongst scientists. It is agreed that the Neornithes evolved in the Cretaceous and that the split between the Galloanseri and the other Neognathes occurred before the K-T extinction event, but there are different opinions about whether the radiation of the remaining Neognathes occurred before or after the extinction of the other dinosaurs.^[9] This disagreement is in part caused by a divergence in the evidence, with molecular dating suggesting a Cretaceous radiation and fossil evidence supporting a Tertiary radiation. Attempts made to reconcile the molecular and fossil evidence have proved controversial.^[9][10] Vegavis is a recently discovered genus of extinct birds that lived during the Cretaceous period. ... Genera Tinamus Nothocercus Crypturellus Rhynchotus Nothoprocta Nothura Taoniscus Eudromia Tinamotis The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of bird, members of a South American bird family of about 47 species in 9 genera. ... Families Struthionidae (ostriches) Rheidae (rheas) Casuariidae (emus etc. ... Families Anhimidae Anseranatidae Anatidae †Dromornithidae †Presbyornithidae The order Anseriformes contains about 150 species of birds in three families: the Anhimidae (the screamers), Anseranatidae (the Magpie-goose), and the Anatidae, which includes over 140 species of waterfowl, among them the ducks, geese, and swans. ... Subfamilies Dendrocygninae Oxyurinae Anatinae Aythyinae Merginae Duck is the common name for a number of species in the Anatidae family of birds. ... Look up goose in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Species 6-7 living, see text. ... Families Megapodidae Numididae Odontophoridae Phasianidae Meleagrididae Tetraonidae Cracidae Mesitornithidae The Galliformes is an order of birds containing the turkeys, grouse, quails and pheasants. ... Genera Ithaginis Catreus Rheinartia Crossoptilon Lophura Argusianus Pucrasia Syrmaticus Chrysolophus Phasianus † See also partridge, quail Pheasants are a group of large birds in the order Galliformes. ... Genera Tetrao Lagopus Falcipennis Centrocercus Bonasa Dendrapagus Tympanuchus Grouse are from the order Galliformes which inhabit temperate and subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere. ... Badlands near Drumheller, Alberta where erosion has exposed the KT boundary. ... FOSSIL is a standard for allowing serial communication for telecommunications programs under DOS. FOSSIL is an acronym for Fido Opus Seadog Standard Interface Layer. ... For other uses, see Tertiary (disambiguation). ...

The classification of birds is a contentious issue. Sibley & Ahlquist's Phylogeny and Classification of Birds (1990) is a landmark work on the classification of birds, although frequently debated and constantly revised. A preponderance of evidence seems to suggest that the modern bird orders constitute accurate taxa. However, scientists are not in agreement as to the relationships between the orders; evidence from modern bird anatomy, fossils and DNA have all been brought to bear on the problem but no strong consensus has emerged. More recently, new fossil and molecular evidence is providing an increasingly clear picture of the evolution of modern bird orders. See also: Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy and dinosaur classification. Charles Sibley (August 7, 1917 - April 12, 1998) was an American ornithologist and molecular biologist. ... A taxon (plural taxa), or taxonomic unit, is a grouping of organisms (named or unnamed). ... The Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy is a radical bird taxonomy based on DNA-DNA hybridization studies conducted in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. ... Dinosaur classification began in 1842 when Sir Richard Owen placed Iguanodon, Megalosaurus, and Hylaeosaurus in a distinct tribe or suborder of Saurian Reptiles, for which I would propose the name of Dinosauria. ...

Bird orders

This is a list of the taxonomic orders in the subclass Neornithes, or modern birds. The list of birds gives a more detailed summary of these, including families. The Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy is a radical bird taxonomy based on DNA-DNA hybridization studies conducted in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. ... This page lists living orders and families of birds, class Aves (for extinct birds, please see Extinct birds and Prehistoric birds). ...

SUBCLASS NEORNITHES
Paleognathae: Orders Lithornithiformes Ambiornithiformes Gansuiformes Paleocursornithiformes Dinornithiformes Aepyornithiformes Struthoniformes Rheiformes Casuariiformes Apterygiformes Tinamiformes The Paleognathae or paleognaths (old jaws) are one of the two living superorders of birds. ...

• Struthioniformes, Ostrich, emus, kiwis, and allies
• Tinamiformes, tinamous

Neognathae: Families Struthionidae Casuariidae Dinornithidae Apterygidae Rheidae A ratite is any of a diverse group of large, flightless birds of Gondwanian origin, most of them now extinct. ... Binomial name Struthio camelus Carolus Linnaeus, 1758 The present-day distribution of Ostriches. ... Binomial name Dromaius novaehollandiae (Latham, 1790) The Emu has been recorded in the areas shown in black. ... Species See text. ... Genera The Tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of bird, members of a South American bird family of about 47 species in 9 genera. ... Genera Tinamus Nothocercus Crypturellus Rhynchotus Nothoprocta Nothura Taoniscus Eudromia Tinamotis The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of bird, members of a South American bird family of about 47 species in 9 genera. ... Orders Anseriformes, waterfowl Galliformes, fowl Gaviiformes, loons Podicipediformes, grebes Procellariiformes, albatrosses, petrels, and allies Sphenisciformes, penguins Pelecaniformes, pelicans and allies Ciconiiformes, storks and allies Phoenicopteriformes, flamingos Accipitriformes, eagles, hawks and allies Falconiformes, falcons Turniciformes, button-quail Gruiformes, cranes and allies Charadriiformes, plovers and allies Pteroclidiformes, sandgrouse Columbiformes, doves and pigeons...

• Anseriformes, waterfowl
• Galliformes, fowl
• Gaviiformes, loons
• Podicipediformes, grebes
• Procellariiformes, albatrosses, petrels, and allies
• Sphenisciformes, penguins
• Pelecaniformes, pelicans and allies
• Ciconiiformes, storks and allies
• Phoenicopteriformes, flamingos
• Falconiformes, falcons, eagles, hawks and allies
• Gruiformes, cranes and allies
• Charadriiformes, gulls, button-quail, plovers and allies
• Pteroclidiformes, sandgrouse
• Columbiformes, doves and pigeons
• Psittaciformes, parrots and allies
• Cuculiformes, cuckoos, turacos, hoatzin
• Strigiformes, owls
• Caprimulgiformes, nightjars and allies
• Apodiformes, swifts and hummingbirds
• Coraciiformes, kingfishers
• Piciformes, woodpeckers and allies
• Trogoniformes, trogons
• Coliiformes, mousebirds
• Passeriformes, passerines

Note: This is the traditional classification (the so-called Clements order). A radically different classification based on molecular data has been developed (the so-called Sibley-Monroe classification or Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy). This has influenced taxonomic thinking considerably, with the Galloanserae proving well-supported by recent molecular, fossil and anatomical evidence.^[9] With increasingly good evidence, it had become possible by 2006 to test the major proposals of the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, with favorable results (see for example Charadriiformes, Gruiformes or Caprimulgiformes). Families Anhimidae Anseranatidae Anatidae †Dromornithidae †Presbyornithidae The order Anseriformes contains about 150 species of birds in three families: the Anhimidae (the screamers), Anseranatidae (the Magpie-goose), and the Anatidae, which includes over 140 species of waterfowl, among them the ducks, geese, and swans. ... Families Megapodidae Numididae Odontophoridae Phasianidae Meleagrididae Tetraonidae Cracidae Mesitornithidae The Galliformes is an order of birds containing the turkeys, grouse, quails and pheasants. ... Species Gavia stellata Gavia arctica Gavia pacifica Gavia immer Gavia adamsii For other meanings of diver, also see diving. ... Global distribution of Gaviidae (breeding and winter ranges combined) Species Gavia stellata Gavia arctica Gavia pacifica Gavia immer Gavia adamsii The Loons (N.Am. ... Genera Podiceps Tachybaptus Podilymbus Aechmophorus Poliocephalus Rollandia Grebes are members of the Podicipediformes, a widely distributed order of freshwater diving birds, some of which visit the sea when migrating and in winter. ... Genera Podiceps Tachybaptus Podilymbus Aechmophorus Poliocephalus Rollandia Grebes are members of the Podicipediformes order, a widely distributed order of freshwater diving birds, some of which visit the sea when migrating and in winter. ... Families Procellariidae Diomedeidae Hydrobatidae Pelecanoididae Procellariiformes (from the Latin procella, a storm) is an order of birds formerly called Tubinares and still called tubenoses in English. ... Genera Diomedea Thalassarche Phoebastria Phoebetria Albatrosses, of the biological family Diomedeidae, are large seabirds allied to the procellariids, storm-petrels and diving-petrels in the order Procellariiformes (the tubenoses). ... The petrels are seabirds in the bird order Procellariiformes. ... This article is about penguin birds. ... Modern genera Aptenodytes Eudyptes Eudyptula Megadyptes Pygoscelis Spheniscus For prehistoric genera, see Systematics Some penguins are curious. ... Families Pelecanidae Sulidae Phalacrocoracidae Fregatidae Anhingidae Phaethontidae The Pelecaniformes are an order of medium-sized and large waterbirds found worldwide. ... Species Pelecanus occidentalis Pelecanus thagus Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Pelecanus onocrotalus Pelecanus crispus Pelecanus rufescens Pelecanus philippensis Pelecanus conspicillatus A pelican is any of several very large water birds with a distinctive pouch under the beak belonging to the bird family Pelecanidae. ... Families Ardeidae Cochlearidae (the Boat-billed Heron) Balaenicipitidae (the Shoebill) Scopidae (the Hammerkop) Ciconiidae Threskiornithidae Cathartidae Traditionally, the order Ciconiiformes has included a variety of large, long-legged wading birds with large bills: storks, herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills, and several others. ... Genera See text. ... For the American doo-wop group, best known for I Only Have Eyes for You (1959), see The Flamingos. ... Flamingos are gregarious wading birds in the genus Phoenicopterus and family Phoenicopteridae. ... Families Accipitridae Pandionidae Falconidae Sagittariidae The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 species of birds that include the diurnal birds of prey. ... Species About 37; see text. ... Genera Several, see below. ... Genera Accipiter Micronisus Melierax Urotriorchis Erythrotriorchis The term hawk refers to birds of prey in any of three senses: Strictly, to mean any of the species in the bird sub-family Accipitrinae in the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis, and Megatriorchis. ... Families †Gastornithidae Aramidae Psophiidae Rallidae Heliornithidae Rhynochetidae †Aptornithidae Eurypigidae Cariamidae Otidae Gruidae †Phorusrhacidae The diverse order Gruiformes contains about 12 bird families with, on first sight, little in common. ... Families Thinocoridae Pedionomidae Scolopacidae Rostratulidae Jacanidae Chionididae Burhinidae Haematopodidae Recurvirostridae Ibidorhynchidae Charadriidae Pluvianellidae Dromadidae Glareolidae Stercorariidae Rhynchopidae Laridae Sternidae Alcidae Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. ... Look up gull in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The buttonquails or hemipodes are a small family of birds which resemble, but are unrelated to, the true quails. ... Genera Pterocles Syrrhaptes The sandgrouse are a group of 16 near passerine bird species in the order Pteroclidiformes. ... Families Columbidae Raphidae (extinct) Sam Walton Sam Walton started the largest retailer in the world; Wal-Mart. ... Subfamilies see article text Feral Rock Pigeon beside Weiming Lake, Peking University Dove redirects here. ... It has been suggested that True parrots be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that True parrots be merged into this article or section. ... Families Musophagidae Cuculidae Opisthocomidae The near passerine bird order Cuculiformes traditionally included three families as below: Order Cuculiformes Family Musophagidae: turacos and allies Family Cuculidae: cuckoos Family Opisthocomidae: Hoatzin However, the taxonomy of this group is now controversial. ... Genera See text. ... Genera Corythaeola Tauraco Ruwenzorornis Musophaga Corythaixoides Crinifer The turacos, plantain eaters and go-away birds make up the bird family Musophagidae (literally banana-eaters). ... Binomial name Ophisthocomus hoazin (Muller, 1776) The Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin) is an odd species of tropical bird which is found in the swamps associated with the Amazon and Orinoco rivers of South America. ... Families Strigidae Tytonidae Ogygoptyngidae (fossil) Palaeoglaucidae (fossil) Protostrigidae (fossil) Sophiornithidae (fossil) Synonyms Strigidae sensu Sibley & Ahlquist Owls are a group of birds of prey. ... Families Strigidae Tytonidae Ogygoptyngidae (fossil) Palaeoglaucidae (fossil) Protostrigidae (fossil) Sophiornithidae (fossil) Synonyms Strigidae sensu Sibley & Ahlquist Owls are a group of birds of prey. ... Families Steatornithidae Podargidae Aegothelidae Nyctibiidae Caprimulgidae The Caprimulgiformes is an order of birds that includes the cosmopolitan nightjars, the frogmouths of Australasia and Southeast Asia, the South American potoos and Oilbird, and the Australasian owlet-nightjars. ... Genera Nyctiprogne Podager Lurocalis Chordeiles Nyctidromus Phalaenoptilus Siphonorhis Nyctiphrynus Caprimulgus Macrodipteryx Hydropsalis Uropsalis Macropsalis Eleothreptus Eurostopodus Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds with long wings, short legs and very short bills that usually nest on the ground. ... Families Apodidae Hemiprocnidae Traditionally, the bird order Apodiformes contained three families: the swifts, Apodidae, the tree swifts, Hemiprocnidae, and the hummingbirds, Trochilidae. ... Genera Many; see text. ... Subfamilies Phaethornithinae Trochilinae For a taxonomic list of genera, see: List of hummingbirds in taxonomic order For an alphabetic species list, see: Alphabetic species list Hummingbirds are small birds in the family Trochilidae, native only to the Americas. ... Families Alcedinidae Halcyonidae Cerylidae Brachypteraciidae Coraciidae Leptosomidae Meropidae Momotidae Todidae Bucerotidae Upupidae Phoeniculidae The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colourful near passerine birds including the kingfishers, the Hoopoe, the bee-eaters, the rollers, and the hornbills. ... Families Alcedinidae Halcyonidae Cerylidae Kingfishers are birds of the three families Alcedinidae (river kingfishers), Halcyonidae (tree kingfishers), and Cerylidae (water kingfishers). ... Families Galbulidae Bucconidae Capitonidae Ramphastidae Picidae Indicatoridae For prehistoric taxa, see text Six families of largely arboreal birds make up the order Piciformes, the best-known of them being the Picidae, which includes the woodpeckers and close relatives. ... Genera Melanerpes Sphyrapicus Xiphidiopicus Dendropicos Dendrocopos Picoides Veniliornis Campethera Geocolaptes Dinopium Meiglyptes Hemicircus Micropternus Picus Mulleripicus Dryocopus Celeus Piculus Colaptes Campephilus Chrysocolaptes Reinwardtipicus Blythipicus Gecinulus Sapheopipo For other uses, see Woodpecker (disambiguation). ... Genera Apaloderma Euptilotis Harpactes Pharomachrus Priotelus Trogon Ref: ITIS 178094 2002-10-06 The trogons and quetzals are birds in the order Trogoniformes. ... Genera Apaloderma Euptilotis Harpactes Pharomachrus Priotelus Trogon The trogons and quetzals are birds in the order Trogoniformes which contains only one family, the Trogonidae. ... Genera Colius Urocolius The mousebirds are a small group of near passerine birds which have no clear affinities to other groups, and are therefore given order status. ... Families Many, see text A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. ... Dr. James Franklin (Jim) Clements (October 31, 1927-June 9, 2005) was an ornithologist and author. ... The Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy is a radical bird taxonomy based on DNA-DNA hybridization studies conducted in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. ... Orders Galliformes Anseriformes Fowl is a term for certain birds often used as food by humans. ... Families Thinocoridae Pedionomidae Scolopacidae Rostratulidae Jacanidae Chionididae Burhinidae Haematopodidae Recurvirostridae Ibidorhynchidae Charadriidae Pluvianellidae Dromadidae Glareolidae Stercorariidae Rhynchopidae Laridae Sternidae Alcidae Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. ... Families †Gastornithidae Aramidae Psophiidae Rallidae Heliornithidae Rhynochetidae †Aptornithidae Eurypigidae Cariamidae Otidae Gruidae †Phorusrhacidae The diverse order Gruiformes contains about 12 bird families with, on first sight, little in common. ... Families Steatornithidae Podargidae Aegothelidae Nyctibiidae Caprimulgidae The Caprimulgiformes is an order of birds that includes the cosmopolitan nightjars, the frogmouths of Australasia and Southeast Asia, the South American potoos and Oilbird, and the Australasian owlet-nightjars. ...

A wide variety of extinct bird taxa occurred during the Mesozoic era and left no modern descendants. These include Confuciusornis, toothed seabirds like the Hesperornithes and Ichthyornithes, and the diverse subclass Enantiornithes ("opposite birds"). For a comprehensive listing of these ancient avians, see Fossil birds. In biology and ecology, extinction is the ceasing of existence of a species or group of species. ... A taxon (plural taxa) is an element of a taxonomy, e. ... The Mesozoic Era is one of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon. ... Species (type) Hou , 1999 (disputed) (disputed) Confuciusornis is a genus of crow-sized prehistoric bird from the Early Cretaceous of China, approximately 120 million years ago. ... Families Enaliornithidae Baptornithidae Hesperornithidae Synonyms Odontornithes Marsh, 1873 (partim) Odontolcae Marsh, 1875 Gaviomorphae Cracraft, 1982 (partim) Hesperornithes are an extinct and highly specialized subclass of Cretaceous toothed birds. ... It has been suggested that Ichthyornis dispar be merged into this article or section. ... The Enantiornithes, or opposite birds (because their foot bones are fused differently than in modern birds), are an extinct group of flying birds. ... For a list of birds extinct in Late Quaternary prehistoric times and (usually) known from specimens not completely fossilized, see Later Quaternary Prehistoric Birds. ...

Distribution

The range of the House Sparrow has expanded dramatically due to human activities.

Birds breed on all seven continents, with the highest diversity occurring in tropical regions; this may be due either to higher speciation rates in the tropics or to higher extinction rates at higher latitudes.^[11] They are able to live and feed in most of the world's terrestrial habitats, reaching their southern extreme in the Snow Petrel's breeding colonies, found as far as 440 km inland in Antarctica.^[12] Several families of birds have adapted to life both on the world's oceans and in them, with some seabird species coming ashore only to breed^[13] and some penguins recorded diving as deeply as 300 m.^[14] Many species have established naturalised breeding colonies in areas to which they have been introduced by humans. Some of these introductions have been deliberate; the Ring-necked Pheasant, for example, has been introduced around the world as a game bird.^[15] Others are accidental, such as the Monk Parakeets that have escaped from captivity and established breeding colonies in a number of North American cities.^[16] Some species, including the Cattle Egret^[17], the Yellow-headed Caracara and the Galah, have spread naturally far beyond their original ranges as agricultural practices created suitable new habitat. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1600x1067, 282 KB) Female House Sparrow, Bairnsdale Australia. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1600x1067, 282 KB) Female House Sparrow, Bairnsdale Australia. ... Binomial name Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a member of the Old World sparrow family Passeridae. ... Animated, colour-coded map showing the various continents. ... Rainforests are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth Biodiversity is the variation of taxonomic life forms within a given ecosystem, biome or for the entire Earth. ... Binomial name Pagodroma nivea (G. Forster, 1777) The Snow Petrel (Pagodroma nivea) is a small, pure white fulmarine petrel with black underdown, coal-black eyes, small black bill and bluish gray feet. ... Animated map exhibiting the worlds oceanic waters. ... Modern genera Aptenodytes Eudyptes Eudyptula Megadyptes Pygoscelis Spheniscus For prehistoric genera, see Systematics Some penguins are curious. ... Binomial name Phasianus colchicus Linnaeus, 1758 The Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. ... Game is any animal hunted for food. ... Binomial name Myiopsitta monachus (Boddaert, 1783) The Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus), also known as the Quaker Parrot, is a species of parrot that originated in the temperate areas of Argentina and Brazil in South America. ... Binomial name Bubulcus ibis Linnaeus, 1758 The Cattle Egret, (Bubulcus ibis), is a small white heron. ... Binomial name Milvago chimachima (Vieillot, 1816) The Yellow-headed Caracara, Milvago chimachima, is a bird of prey in the family Falconidae. ... Binomial name Eolophus roseicapilla Vieillot, 1817 Galah range (in red; all-year resident) Synonyms Cacatua roseicapilla Vieillot, 1817 Three galahs in Canberra The Galah, Eolophus roseicapilla, (IPA: ) is one of the most common and widespread cockatoos. ...

Bird anatomy

Main article: Bird anatomy

External anatomy of a typical bird 1 Beak, 2 Head, 3 Iris, 4 Pupil, 5 Mantle, 6 Lesser coverts, 7 Scapulars, 8 Coverts, 9 Tertials, 10 Rump, 11 Primaries, 12 Vent, 13 Thigh, 14 Tibio-tarsal articulation, 15 Tarsus, 16 Feet, 17 Tibia, 18 Belly, 19 Flanks, 20 Breast, 21 Throat, 22 Wattle

Compared with other vertebrates, birds have a body plan that shows many unusual adaptations, mostly to facilitate flight. External anatomy of a typical bird 1 Beak, 2 Head, 3 Iris, 4 Pupil, 5 Mantle, 6 Lesser coverts, 7 Scapulars, 8 Coverts, 9 Tertials, 10 Rump, 11 Primaries, 12 Vent, 13 Thigh, 14 Tibio-tarsal articulation, 15 Tarsus, 16 Feet, 17 Tibia, 18 Belly, 19 Flanks, 20 Breast, 21... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Flight is the main mode of locomotion used by most of the worlds bird species. ...

The skeleton consists of bones which are very light. They have large pneumatic (air-filled) cavities which connect with the respiratory system.^[18] The skull bones are fused and do not show cranial sutures. The orbits are large and separated by a bony septum. The spine has cervical, thoracic, lumbar and caudal regions with the number of cervical (neck) vertebrae highly variable and especially flexible, but movement is reduced in the anterior thoracic vertebrae and absent in the later vertebrae.^[19] The last few are fused with the pelvis to form the synsacrum. The ribs are flattened and the sternum is keeled for the attachment of flight muscles, except in the flightless bird orders. The forelimbs are modified into the wings.^[20] The Respiratory System Among four-legged animals, the respiratory system generally includes tubes, such as the bronchi, used to carry air to the lungs, where gas exchange takes place. ... Side view of the skull. ... In anatomy, the orbit is the cavity or socket of the skull in which the eye and its appendages are situated. ... Look up septum in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The vertebral column seen from the side Different regions (curvatures) of the vertebral column The vertebral column (backbone or spine) is a column of vertebrae situated in the dorsal aspect of the abdomen. ... The pelvis (pl. ... The sternum (from Greek στέρνον, sternon, chest) or breastbone is a long, flat bone located in the center of the thorax (chest). ...

Unlike mammals, birds do not urinate. Their kidneys extract nitrogenous wastes from the bloodstream, but instead of excreting it as urea dissolved in urine, they excrete it in the form of uric acid.^[21] They also excrete creatine rather than creatinine as in mammals. Uric acid has a very low solubility in water, so it emerges as a white paste. This material, as well as the output of the intestines, emerges from the bird's cloaca.^[22][23] The cloaca is a multi-purpose opening: their wastes are expelled through it, they mate by joining cloaca, and females lay eggs out of it. In addition, many species of birds regurgitate pellets.^[24] This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... The kidneys filter wastes (such as urea) from the blood and excrete them, along with water, as urine. ... Urea is an organic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen, with the formula CON2H4 or (NH2)2CO. Urea is also known as carbamide, especially in the recommended International Nonproprietary Names (rINN) in use in Europe. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Creatine is a nitrogenous organic acid that naturally occurs in vertebrates and helps to supply energy to muscle cells. ... Chemical structure of creatinine. ... In zoological anatomy, a cloaca is the posterior opening that serves as the only such opening for the intestinal, urinary, and genital tracts of certain animal species. ... A pellet, in ornithology, is the mass of undigested parts of a birds food that some bird species occasionally regurgitate. ...

Birds have one of the most complex respiratory systems of all animal groups. When a bird inhales, 75% of the fresh air bypasses the lungs and flows directly into a posterior air sac which extends from the lungs and connects with air spaces in the bones and fills them with air. The other 25% of the air goes directly into the lungs. When the bird exhales, the used air flows out of the lung and the stored fresh air from the posterior air sac is simultaneously forced into the lungs. Thus, a bird's lungs receive a constant supply of fresh air during both inhalation and exhalation.^[25] Sound production is achieved using the syrinx, a muscular chamber with several tympanic membranes, situated at the lower end of the trachea where it bifurcates.^[26] The bird's heart has four chambers and the right aortic arch gives rise to systemic aorta (unlike in the mammals where the left arch is involved). Postcava receives blood from the limbs via the renal portal system. Birds, unlike mammals, have nucleated erythrocytes, i.e. red blood cells which retain a nucleus.^[27] The Respiratory System Among four-legged animals, the respiratory system generally includes tubes, such as the bronchi, used to carry air to the lungs, where gas exchange takes place. ... Air sac is an anatomical term with several meanings: Pulmonary alveolus, informally known as an air sac, one of innumerable spherical outcroppings of the respiratory bronchioles in the mammalian lung, the primary sites of gas exchange with the blood an anatomical structure continuous with the trachea found in some insects... Syrinx is the name for the vocal cords of birds. ... Human red blood cells Red blood cells are the most common type of blood cell and are the vertebrate bodys principal means of delivering oxygen to body tissues via the blood. ... HeLa cells stained for DNA with the Blue Hoechst dye. ...

The digestive system of the bird is unique, with a crop for storage and a gizzard that contains swallowed stones for grinding food, given the lack of teeth.^[28] Most are highly adapted for rapid digestion, an adaptation to flight. Some migratory birds have the additional ability to reduce parts of the intestines prior to migration.^[29] For the Physics term GUT, please refer to Grand unification theory The gastrointestinal or digestive tract, also referred to as the GI tract or the alimentary canal or the gut, is the system of organs within multicellular animals which takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and... The crop is a thin-walled expanded portion of the alimentary tract used for the storage of food prior to digestion that is found in many animals, including earthworms, leeches, insects, and birds. ... The gizzard is an adapted stomach that is found in birds, earthworms, and other animals. ...

The nervous system is large relative to the bird's size. The most developed part of the brain is the one that controls the flight related function while the cerebellum coordinates movement and the cerebrum controls behaviour patterns, navigation, mating and nest building. A bird’s eyes are developed for taking off, spotting landmarks, hunting and feeding. Birds with eyes on the sides of their heads have a wide visual field while birds with eyes on the front of their heads like owls have binocular vision and can estimate field depth.^[30] Most birds have a poor sense of smell with notable exceptions including kiwis,^[31] vultures and the tubenoses.^[32] The visual system is usually highly developed. Water birds have special flexible lenses, allowing accommodation for vision in air and water. Some species also have dual fovea. The bird retina has a fan shaped blood supply system called the pecten. The avian ear lacks external pinnae but is covered by feathers. The inner ear has a cochlea but it is not spiral as in mammals. The Human Nervous System The nervous system of a human coordinates the activity of the muscles, monitors the organs, constructs and also stops input from the senses, and initiates actions. ... The cerebellum (Latin: little brain) is a region of the brain that plays an important role in the integration of sensory perception and motor output. ... For other articles about other subjects named brain see brain (disambiguation). ... // A human eye. ... The term visual field is sometimes used as a synonym to field of view, though they do not designate the same thing. ... Binocular vision is vision in which both eyes are used synchronously to produce a single image. ... Young boy smelling a flower Olfaction, which is also known as Olfactics is the sense of smell, and the detection of chemicals dissolved in air. ... Species See text. ... Orders Falconiformes (Fam. ... Families Procellariidae Diomedeidae Hydrobatidae Pelecanoididae Procellariiformes (from the Latin procella, a storm) is an order of birds formerly called Tubinares and still called tubenoses in English. ... The visual system is the part of the nervous system which allows organisms to see. ... The fovea, a part of the eye, is a spot located in the center of the macula. ... Human eye cross-sectional view. ... The pecten is a structure in bird retinas which contains most of the vasculature. ... A pierced human ear. ... Juzzah is a loser Boom, Headshot Bergamin and Gerald died The pinna (Latin for feather) is the visible part of the ear that resides outside of the head. ... The cochlea is the auditory branch of the inner ear. ...

Some birds use chemical defenses against predators. Some Procellariiformes can eject an unpleasant oil against an aggressor,^[33] and some species of pitohui, found in New Guinea, secrete a powerful neurotoxin in their skin and feathers.^[34] Families Procellariidae Diomedeidae Hydrobatidae Pelecanoididae Procellariiformes (from the Latin procella, a storm) is an order of birds formerly called Tubinares and still called tubenoses in English. ... Stomach oil is the light oil composed of neutral dietary lipids found in the fore-gut or proventriculus of birds in the order Procellariiformes. ... Genus Pitohui Lesson, 1830 The Pitohuis are a genus of birds, endemic to New Guinea, belonging to the family Pachycephalidae. ... A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells – neurons – usually by interacting with membrane proteins and ion channels. ...

Feathers and plumage

Main article: Feather

The plumage of the African Scops Owl allows it to blend in with its surroundings

The one characteristic that distinguishes birds from all other living groups is the covering of feathers. Feathers are epidermal growths attached to the skin that serve a variety of functions to birds: they aid in thermoregulation by insulating birds from cold weather and water, they are essential to bird flight, and they are also used in display, camouflage and signalling. There are several different types of feather that serve different purposes. Feathers need maintenance, and birds preen or groom their feathers daily, using their bills to brush away foreign particles, and applying waxy secretions from the uropygial gland, which protects feather flexibility and also acts as an anti-microbial agent, inhibiting the growth of feather-degrading bacteria.^[35] This may be supplemented with the secretions of formic acid from ants, which birds apply in a behaviour known as anting in order to remove feather parasites.^[36] Two feathers Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 399 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bird African Scops... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 399 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bird African Scops... Binomial name Otus senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766) The African Scops Owl (Otus senegalensis) is a small owl endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. ... Two feathers Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds. ... Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when temperature surrounding is very different. ... Flight is the main mode of locomotion used by most of the worlds bird species. ... candle wax This page is about the substance. ... The uropygial gland, or, more informally, the preen gland is a gland found in the large majority of birds that secretes an oil (preen oil) that birds use for preening. ... Phyla Actinobacteria Aquificae Chlamydiae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Lentisphaerae Nitrospirae Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Verrucomicrobia Bacteria (singular: bacterium) are unicellular microorganisms. ... Formic acid (systematically called methanoic acid) is the simplest carboxylic acid. ... Subfamilies Aenictogitoninae Agroecomyrmecinae Amblyoponinae (incl. ... Anting is when birds rub insects on their feathers, usually ants that secrete liquids containing chemicals such as formic acid, that can act as an insecticide, miticide, fungicide, or bactericide. ... A parasite is an organism that spends a significant portion of its life in or on the living tissue of a host organism and which causes harm to the host without immediately killing it. ...

The arrangement and appearance of feathers on the body is known as plumage. Plumage is regularly moulted, the standard plumage of a bird that has moulted after breeding is known as the 'basic plumage', breeding plumages or variations of the basic plumage are known as 'alternate plumages'.^[37] Moult is annual in most species but some species may have two moults a year, while large birds of prey may moult once in two or three years. Ducks and geese moult their primaries and secondaries simultaneously and become flightless for about a month.^[38] Different groups of birds have different moulting patterns and strategies. Some drop the feathers starting sequentially from outward-in while others replace feathers inwards-out and the rare others loose all their feathers at once. The first or centripetal moult as termed for the moult of tail feathers is seen for instance in the Phasianidae. The second or centrifugal moult is seen for instance in the tail feathers of the woodpeckers (Picidae) and tree creepers (Certhiidae), although it begins with the second innermost pair of tail-feathers and the central pair of feathers is molted last, so as to permits the continuous presence of a functional climbing tail.^[39] The general pattern seen in the passerines is that the primaries are replaced outward, secondaries inward, and the tail from center outward. Closeup on a single white feather A feather is one of the epidermal growths that forms the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on a bird. ... In animals, moulting (Commonwealth English) or molting (American English) is the routine shedding off old feathers in birds, or of old skin in reptiles, or of old hairs in mammals (see also coat (dog)). In arthropods, such as insects, arachnids and crustaceans, moulting describes the shedding of its exoskeleton (which... Red Kite (Milvus milvus) in flight, showing remiges and rectrices. ... The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of the pheasants and their allies. ...

A bird is not entirely covered by feathers, but the feathers grow in tracts of skin. The distribution of these feather tracts varies between the taxonomic groups. Prior to nesting, the females of most bird species gain a bare brood patch by loss of feathers close to the belly. The skin here is well supplied with blood vessels and helps in incubation.^[40]

Flight

Main article: Bird flight

Flight characterises most birds, and distinguishes them from almost all other vertebrates with the exception of mammalian bats and the extinct pterosaurs. As the main means of locomotion for most bird species, flight is used for breeding, feeding, and predator avoidance and escape. Birds have a variety of adaptations to flight, including a lightweight skeleton, two large flight muscles, the pectoralis (which accounts for 15% of the total mass of the bird) and the supercoracoideus and a modified forelimb (the wing) serving as an aerofoil. ^[41] Wing shape and size primarily determines the type of flight each species is capable of. Many birds combined powered or flapping flight with less energy intensive soaring flight. About 40 species of extant birds are flightless, and many extinct birds were also flightless. Flightlessness often arises in birds on isolated islands, probably due to the lack of land predators and limited resources, which rewards the loss of costly unnecessary adaptations.^[42] Penguins, while flightless, use similar musculature and movements to "fly" through the water, as do auks, shearwaters and dippers.^[43] Flight is the main mode of locomotion used by most of the worlds bird species. ... A number of animals have evolved aerial locomotion, either by powered flight or by gliding. ... “Chiroptera” redirects here. ... In biology and ecology, extinction is the ceasing of existence of a species or group of species. ... Suborders Rhamphorhynchoidea Pterodactyloidea Pterosaurs (TEH-row-sore, winged lizards) were flying reptiles of the clade Pterosauria. ... A top-down view of skeletal muscle Muscle (from Latin musculus little mouse [1]) is contractile tissue of the body and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. ... A Laughing Gull with its wings extended in a gull wing profile Aircraft wing planform shapes: a swept wing KC-10 Extender (top) refuels a trapezoid-wing F/A-22 Raptor A wing is a surface used to produce lift and therefore flight, for travel in the air or another... An airfoil (or aerofoil in British English) is a specially shaped cross-section of a wing or blade, used to provide lift or downforce, depending on its application. ... Look up soar in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... ... Genera Uria Alle Alca Pinguinus Synthliboramphus Cepphus Brachyramphus Ptychoramphus Aethia Cerorhinca Fratercula Extinct genera, see Systematics Auks are birds of the family Alcidae in the order Charadriiformes. ... Genera Procellaria Calonectris Puffinus †See also fulmar, prion, petrel Shearwaters are medium-sized long-winged seabirds. ... For the article on the constellations, see Big Dipper and Little Dipper Species Cinclus cinclus Cinclus leucocephalus Cinclus mexicanus Cinclus pallasii Cinclus schulzi Dippers are members of the genus Cinclus in the family Cinclidae. ...

Behaviour

Most birds are diurnal, but some birds, such as many species of owls and nightjars, are nocturnal or crepuscular (active during twilight hours), and many coastal waders feed when the tides are appropriate, by day or night. A diurnal animal (dī-ŭrnəl) is an animal that is active during the daytime and sleeps during the night. ... Families Strigidae Tytonidae Ogygoptyngidae (fossil) Palaeoglaucidae (fossil) Protostrigidae (fossil) Sophiornithidae (fossil) Synonyms Strigidae sensu Sibley & Ahlquist Owls are a group of birds of prey. ... Genera Nyctiprogne Podager Lurocalis Chordeiles Nyctidromus Phalaenoptilus Siphonorhis Nyctiphrynus Caprimulgus Macrodipteryx Hydropsalis Uropsalis Macropsalis Eleothreptus Eurostopodus Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds with long wings, short legs and very short bills that usually nest on the ground. ... A nocturnal animal is one that sleeps during the day and is active at night - the opposite of the human (diurnal) schedule. ... Adult Firefly or Lightning Bug – a Crepuscular Beetle Photuris lucicrescens Crepuscular is a term used to describe animals that are primarily active during the twilight. ... Families Scolopacidae Rostratulidae Jacanidae Thinocoridae Pedionomidae Burhinidae Chionididae Pluvianellidae Ibidorhynchidae Recurvirostridae Haematopodidae Charadriidae Dunlin (Calidris alpina). ...

Diet and Feeding

The South Polar Skua (left) is a generalist, taking the eggs of other birds, fish, carrion and other animals. This skua is attempting to push an Adelie Penguin (right) off its nest

Birds feed on a variety of materials, including nectar, fruit,^[44] plants,^[45] seeds,^[46] carrion,^[47] and various types of small animals including other birds.^[48] Because birds have no teeth, the digestive system of birds is specially adapted to process deal with unmasticated food items that are usually swallowed whole.^[41] ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1773x1172, 358 KB) Summary A South Polar Skua tries to push an Adelie Penguin off its nest to steal its egg. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1773x1172, 358 KB) Summary A South Polar Skua tries to push an Adelie Penguin off its nest to steal its egg. ... Binomial name Stercorarius maccormicki (Saunders, 1893) The South Polar Skua, Stercorarius maccormicki, is a large seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. ... Binomial name Pygoscelis adeliae (Hombron & Jacquinot, 1841) The Adélie Penguin, Pygoscelis adeliae is, together with the Emperor Penguin, one of the only two types of penguin living on the Antarctic mainland. ... Nectar of camellia Nectar, in botany, is a sugar-rich liquid produced by the flowers of plants in order to attract pollinating animals. ... For other uses, see Fruit (disambiguation). ... Divisions Green algae Chlorophyta Charophyta Land plants (embryophytes) Non-vascular plants (bryophytes) Marchantiophyta—liverworts Anthocerotophyta—hornworts Bryophyta—mosses Vascular plants (tracheophytes) †Rhyniophyta—rhyniophytes †Zosterophyllophyta—zosterophylls Lycopodiophyta—clubmosses †Trimerophytophyta—trimerophytes Pteridophyta—ferns and horsetails Seed plants (spermatophytes) †Pteridospermatophyta—seed ferns Pinophyta—conifers Cycadophyta—cycads Ginkgophyta—ginkgo Gnetophyta—gnetae Magnoliophyta—flowering plants... A ripe red jalapeño cut open to show the seeds For other uses, see Seed (disambiguation). ... An American Black Vulture feeding on squirrel carrion For other uses, see Carrion (disambiguation). ... The word Animals when used alone has several possible meanings in the English language. ... For the Physics term GUT, please refer to Grand unification theory The gastrointestinal or digestive tract, also referred to as the GI tract or the alimentary canal or the gut, is the system of organs within multicellular animals which takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and... Mastication or chewing is the process by which food is mashed and crushed by teeth. ...

Various feeding strategies are used by birds. Gleaning for insects, invertebrates, fruit and seeds is used by many species. Sallying from a branch and flycatching for insects is used by many songbirds. Nectar feeders such as hummingbirds,^[49] lorikeets, sunbirds,^[50] honeyeaters and some other songbirds is facilitated by specially adapted brushy tongues and in many cases bills designed to fit co-adapted flowers.^[51] Probing for invertebrates is used by kiwis and shorebirds with long bills; in the case of shorebirds length of bill and feeding method allow niche separation.^{[41] [52]} Pursuit diving is used by falcons and accipiters in the air, and by loons, diving ducks and penguins in the water. Plunge diving is used by sulids, kingfishers and terns. Three species of prion, the flamingos and some ducks are filter feeders.^{[53] [54]} Geese and dabbling ducks are primarily grazers. Some species will engage in kleptoparasitism, stealing food items from other birds; frigatebirds, gulls,^[55] and skuas ^[56] employ this type of feeding behaviour. Kleptoparasitism is not thought to play a significant part of the diet of any species, and is instead a supplement to food obtained by hunting; a study of Great Frigatebirds stealing from Masked Boobies estimated that the frigatebirds could at most obtain 40% of the food they needed, and on average obtained only 5%.^[57] Finally, some birds are scavengers such as gulls and vultures. Some birds may employ many strategies to obtain food or feed on a variety of food items and are called generalists,^[58] while others are considered specialists,^[59] concentrating time and effort on specific food items or having a single strategy to obtain food. A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Oscines of Passeriformes (ca. ... In Greek mythology, nectar and ambrosia are the food of the gods. ... Subfamilies Phaethornithinae Trochilinae For a taxonomic list of genera, see: List of hummingbirds in taxonomic order For an alphabetic species list, see: Alphabetic species list Hummingbirds are small birds in the family Trochilidae, native only to the Americas. ... Genera Chalcopsitta Eos Pseudeos Trichoglossus Lorius Phigys Vini (genus) Glossopsitta Charmosyna Oreopsittacus Neopsittacus Lorikeets and lories are small, brightly coloured, highly arboreal parrots. ... Genera Many: see text The sunbirds and spiderhunters are very small passerine birds which feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. ... Genera Anthochaera Acanthagenys Plectorhyncha Philemon Xanthornyzma Entomyzon Manorina Xanthotis Meliphaga Lichenostomus Melithreptus Notiomystis Glycichaera Lichmera Trichodere Grantiella Phylidonyris Ramsayornis Conopophila Acanthorhynchus Certhionyx Myzomela Anthornis Prosthemadera Epthianura Ashbyia The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family of small to medium sized birds most common in Australia and New Guinea, but also... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Species See text. ... Families Charadridae Jacanidae Rostratulidae Ibidorhynchidae Recurvirostridae Haematopodidae Scolopacidae Dromadidae Burhinidae Glareolidae Thinocoridae Waders, called Shorebirds in North America (where wader is used to refer to long-legged wading birds such as storks and herons), are members of the order Charadriiformes, excluding the more marine web-footed seabird groups. ... Two lichenes species on a rock, in two different ecological niches In ecology, a niche is a term describing the relational position of a species or population in an ecosystem. ... Species About 37; see text. ... The genus Accipiter is a group of birds of prey in the family Accipitridae. ... Species Gavia stellata Gavia arctica Gavia pacifica Gavia immer Gavia adamsii For other meanings of diver, also see diving. ... Genera Marmaronetta Netta (including Rhodonessa) Aythya † See also dabbling duck The 16 species of diving duck, also known as pochards, make up a sub-group of the biological subfamily Anatinae, which itself is part of the diverse and very large duck, goose and swan family, Anatidae. ... Modern genera Aptenodytes Eudyptes Eudyptula Megadyptes Pygoscelis Spheniscus For prehistoric genera, see Systematics Some penguins are curious. ... Genera Morus Sula Papasula The bird family Sulidae comprises the gannets and boobies. ... Families Alcedinidae Halcyonidae Cerylidae Kingfishers are birds of the three families Alcedinidae (river kingfishers), Halcyonidae (tree kingfishers), and Cerylidae (water kingfishers). ... Genera Sterna (Gelochelidon) (Hydroprogne) (Thalasseus) Chlidonias Phaetusa Anous Procelsterna Gygis Larosterna Terns are seabirds in the family Sternidae, previously considered a subfamily Sterninae of the gull family Laridae. ... Species Fairy Prion, Slender-billed Prion, Fulmar Prion, Broad-billed Prion, Antarctic Prion, Salvins Prion, A prion is a petrel (genus Pachyptila) found in Antarctica and nearby islands. ... Flamingos are gregarious wading birds in the genus Phoenicopterus and family Phoenicopteridae. ... Filter feeders (also known as suspension feeders) are animals that feed by straining suspended matter and food particles from water, typically by passing the water over a specialized structure, such as the baleen of baleen whales. ... Other uses: Goose (disambiguation) Genera Anser Branta Chen Cereopsis † see also: Swan, Duck Anatidae Goose (plural geese) is the general English name for a considerable number of birds, belonging to the family Anatidae. ... Genera Pteronetta Cairina Aix Nettapus Anas Callonetta Chenonetta Amazonetta See also Diving duck The dabbling ducks are a group of eight genera and about 55 species of ducks, including some of the most familiar Northern Hemisphere species. ... Kleptoparasitism (literally, parasitism by theft) is a form of feeding where one animal takes prey from another that has caught, killed, or otherwise prepared it. ... Species Fregata magnificens Fregata aquila Fregata andrewsi Fregata minor Fregata ariel There are five Derek Jeter in the family Fregatidae, the frigatebirds. ... Look up gull in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses: see Skua (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Fregata minor (Gmelin, 1789) The Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor), also known as the Iwa, is a migratory seabird in the frigatebird family. ... Binomial name Sula dactylatra (Lesson, 1831) The Masked Booby, Sula dactylatra, is a large seabird of the gannet family, Sulidae. ... For a person who scavenges, see Waste picker. ... Look up gull in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Orders Falconiformes (Fam. ...

Migration

Main article: Bird migration

The routes of satellite tagged Bar-tailed Godwits migrating north from New Zealand. This species has the longest known non-stop migration of any species, up to 10,200 km

Many bird species migrate to take advantage of global differences of seasonal temperatures to optimise availability of food sources and breeding habitat. These migrations vary among the different groups. Many landbirds, shorebirds and waterbirds undertake annual long distance bird migrations, usually triggered by length of daylight as well as weather conditions. It is characterised by species spending the warmer breeding season in temperate or arctic/antarctic regions, and the colder non-breeding season in the tropical regions or opposite hemisphere. Prior to migration, birds substantially increase body fats and reserves and reduce the size of some of their organs.^[60][29] Migration is highly energetically demanding, particularly as birds need to cross deserts and oceans without refuelling; landbirds have a flight range of around 2500 km and shorebirds can fly up to 4000 km,^[41] although the Bar-tailed Godwit is capable of non-stop flights of up to 10,200 km.^[61] Seabirds also undertake long migrations, the longest annual migration being those of Sooty Shearwaters, which nest in New Zealand and Chile and spend the northern summer feeding in the North Pacific off Japan, Alaska and California, an annual round trip of 64,000 km.^[62] Other seabirds disperse after breeding, travelling widely but having no set migration route. Albatrosses nesting in the Southern Ocean often undertake circumpolar trips between breeding seasons.^[63] Flock of Barnacle Geese during autumn migration Many species of birds undertake seasonal journeys of various lengths, a phenomenon known as Bird migration. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Binomial name Limosa lapponica (Linnaeus, 1758) The Bar-tailed Godwit, Limosa lapponica, is a large shorebird. ... Families Charadridae Jacanidae Rostratulidae Ibidorhynchidae Recurvirostridae Haematopodidae Scolopacidae Dromadidae Burhinidae Glareolidae Thinocoridae Waders, called Shorebirds in North America (where wader is used to refer to long-legged wading birds such as storks and herons), are members of the order Charadriiformes, excluding the more marine web-footed seabird groups. ... Falcated Duck at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands centre, Gloucestershire, England Wildfowl or waterfowl, also waterbirds, is the collective term for the approximately 147 species of swans, geese and ducks, classified in the order Anseriformes, family Anatidae. ... In geography, temperate latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. ... The red line indicates the 10°C isotherm in July, commonly used to define the Arctic region border Satellite image of the Arctic surface The Arctic is the region around the Earths North Pole, opposite the Antarctic region around the South Pole. ... Greek ἀνταρκτικός, opposite the arctic) is a continent surrounding the Earths South Pole. ... The tropics are the geographic region of the Earth centered on the equator and limited in latitude by the two tropics: the Tropic of Cancer in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere. ... Binomial name Limosa lapponica (Linnaeus, 1758) The Bar-tailed Godwit, Limosa lapponica, is a large shorebird. ... The Sooty Tern is highly aerial and marine and will spend years flying at sea without returning to land. ... Binomial name Puffinus griseus Gmelin, 1789 The Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus) is a medium-large shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. ... Official language(s) none Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Area  Ranked 1st  - Total 663,267 sq mi (1,717,855 km²)  - Width 808 miles (1,300 km)  - Length 1,479 miles (2,380 km)  - % water 13. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ...

Birds also display other types of migration. Some species undertake shorter migrations, travelling only as far as is required to avoid bad weather or obtain food. These include irruptive species, which may be quite common some years and almost absent in others. This type of migration is normally associated with food availability.^[64] Boreal finches, arctic owls, and waxwings are most commonly identified as irruptive species. Altitudinal migration is a form of short distance migration. Species may also travel shorter distances over part of their range, with individuals from higher latitudes traveling into the existing range of conspecifics, or undertake partial migrations, where only a fraction of the population, usually females and subdominant males, migrates.^[65] Partial migration can form a large percentage of the migration behaviour of birds in some regions; in Australia found that 44% of non-passerine birds studied were partially migratory and 32% of passerines were.^[66] Altitudinal migrants move from higher elevations to lower ones during suboptimal conditions. It is most often triggered by temperature changes and usually occurs when the normal territories become inhospitable also due to lack of food.^[67] Some species may also be nomadic, holding no fixed territory and moving according to weather and food availability. Parrots as a family are overwhelmingly neither migratory nor sedentary but considered to either be dispersive, irruptive, nomadic or undertake small and irregular migration.^[68] Species B. garrulus B. cedrorum The waxwings are a group of passerine birds characterised by soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Parrot. ... In biological classification, family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is 1) a rank or 2) a taxon in that rank. ...

The ability of birds to return to precise locations across vast distances has been known for some time; in an experiment conducted in the 1950s a Manx Shearwater released in Boston returned to its colony in Skomer, Wales within 13 days, a distance of 5,150 kilometres (3,200 mi).^[69] Birds navigate during migration using a variety of methods. For diurnal migrants the sun is used to navigate by, at night a stellar compass is used instead. Birds that use the sun compensate for the changing position of the sun during the day, by the use of an internal clock.^[41] Orientation with the stellar compass depends on the position of the constellations surrounding Polaris.^[70] These are backed up in some species with the ability to sense the Earth's geomagnetism through specialised sensitive photoreceptors.^[71] Binomial name Puffinus puffinus (Brünnich, 1764) Synonyms Procellaria puffinus Brünnich, 1764 The Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. ... Nickname: Location in Massachusetts, USA Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Suffolk County Government  - Mayor Thomas M. Menino (D) Area  - City  89. ... Skomer is an island off south west Pembrokeshire in Wales. ... This article is about the country. ... A diurnal animal (dÄ«-Å­rnÉ™l) is an animal that is active during the daytime and sleeps during the night. ... The Sun (Latin: Sol) is the star at the center of the Solar System. ... Chronobiology is a field of science that examines periodic (cyclic) phenomena in living organisms. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Polaris (α UMi / α Ursae Minoris / Alpha Ursae Minoris), more commonly known as The North Star or simply North Star, is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor. ... The cause of Earths magnetic field (the surface magnetic field) is not known for certain, but is possibly explained by dynamo theory. ... A photoreceptor, or photoreceptor cell, is a specialized type of neuron found in the eyes retina that is capable of phototransduction. ...

Communication

Birds communicate principally using visual and auditory signals. Signals can be interspecific (between species) and intraspecific (within species). Animal communication is any behaviour on the part of one animal that has an effect on the current or future behaviour of another animal. ... Vision can refer to: Visual perception is one of the senses. ... Hearing is one of the traditional five senses, and refers to the ability to detect sound. ...

The display of the Sunbittern mimics a large potentially dangerous predator

Visual communication in birds serves a number of functions and is manifested in both plumage and behaviour. Plumage can be used to assess and assert social dominance,^[72] display breeding condition in sexually selected species, even make a threatening display, such as the threat display of the Sunbittern, which mimics a large possible predator. This display has is used to ward of potential predators such as hawks, and protect young chicks.^[73] Variation in plumage also allows for identification, particularly between species. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Binomial name Eurypiga helias (Pallas, 1781) The Sunbittern (Eurypiga helias) is a bittern-like bird of tropical regions of the Americas. ... Closeup on a single white feather A feather is one of the epidermal growths that forms the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on a bird. ... Behavior or behaviour refers to the actions or reactions of an object or organism, usually in relation to the environment. ... Illustration from The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex by Charles Darwin showing the Tufted Coquette Lophornis ornatus, female on left, ornamented male on right. ... Binomial name Eurypiga helias (Pallas, 1781) The Sunbittern (Eurypiga helias) is a bittern-like bird of tropical regions of the Americas. ... Genera Accipiter Micronisus Melierax Urotriorchis Erythrotriorchis The term hawk refers to birds of prey in any of three senses: Strictly, to mean any of the species in the bird sub-family Accipitrinae in the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis, and Megatriorchis. ...

Visual communication includes ritualised displays which signal aggression or submission, or are used in the formation of pair-bonds. These ritualised behaviours develop from non-signalling actions such as preening, adjustments of feather position, pecking or other behaviours. The most elaborate displays are shown during courtship, such as the breeding dances of the albatrosses, where the successful formation of a life-long pair-bond requires both partners to practice a unique dance,^[74] and the birds-of-paradise, where the breeding success of males depends on plumage and display quality.^[75] Male birds can demonstrate their fitness through construction; females of weaver species, such as the Baya Weaver, may choose mates with good nest-building skills,^[76] while bowerbirds attract mates through constructing bowers and decorating them with bright objects.^[77] Genera Diomedea Thalassarche Phoebastria Phoebetria Albatrosses, of the biological family Diomedeidae, are large seabirds allied to the procellariids, storm-petrels and diving-petrels in the order Procellariiformes (the tubenoses). ... Genera 13, see list below The birds of paradise are members of the family Paradisaeidae of the order Passeriformes. ... Genera Many:see text The Weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. ... Binomial name Ploceus philippinus (Linnaeus, 1766 ) The Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) is a weaver found in South and South-east Asia. ... Genera Ailuroedus Archboldia Amblyornis Prionodura Sericulus Ptilonorhynchus Chlamydera The 19 bowerbirds and catbirds make up the family Ptilonorhynchidae. ...

In addition to visual communication, birds are renowned for their auditory skills. Calls, and in some species song, are the major means by which birds communicate with sound; though some birds use mechanical sounds, for example driving air thorugh their feathers, as do the Coenocorypha snipes of New Zealand,^[78], the territorial drumming of woodpeckers, or the use of tools to drum in Palm Cockatoos.^[79] Bird calls and songs can be very complex; sounds are created in the syrinx, both sides of which, in some species, can be operated separately, resulting in two different songs being produced at the same time. Blackbird (Turdus merula), singing male. ... Sound is a disturbance of mechanical energy that propagates through matter as a longitudinal wave, and therefore is a mechanical wave. ... Species see text The Coenocorypha are a genus of tiny birds, also known as the New Zealand snipes, which are found in the Outlying Islands of New Zealand. ... Genera Coenocorypha Gallinago Lymnocryptes A Snipe is any of nearly 20 very similar wading bird species characterised by a very long slender bill and cryptic plumage. ... Genera Melanerpes Sphyrapicus Xiphidiopicus Dendropicos Dendrocopos Picoides Veniliornis Campethera Geocolaptes Dinopium Meiglyptes Hemicircus Micropternus Picus Mulleripicus Dryocopus Celeus Piculus Colaptes Campephilus Chrysocolaptes Reinwardtipicus Blythipicus Gecinulus Sapheopipo For other uses, see Woodpecker (disambiguation). ... A modern hammer is directly descended from ancient hand tools A tool or device is a piece of equipment which typically provides a mechanical advantage in accomplishing a physical task. ... Binomial name Probosciger aterrimus Gmelin, 1788 Palm Cockatoo range (in red) The Palm Cockatoo, Probosciger aterrimus, is a large black parrot of the cockatoo family. ... According to Bulfinchs Mythology, Syrinx (Greek Συριγξ) was a nymph and a follower of Artemis, known for her chastity. ...

Calls are used for a variety of purposes, several of which may be tied into an individual song. They are used to advertise when seeking a mate, either to attract a mate, aid identification of potential mates or aid in bond formation (often with combined with visual communication). They are used to claim and maintain territories. Calls can also be used to identify individuals, aiding parents in finding chicks in crowded colonies or adults reuniting with mates at the start of the breeding season. Calls may be used to warn other birds of potential predators; calls of this nature may be detailed and convey specific information about the nature of the threat.^[80] This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ...

Image File history File links Troglodytes_aedon. ... Software development stages In computer programming, development stage terminology expresses how the development of a piece of software has progressed and how much further development it may require. ... Binomial name Troglodytes aedon (Vieillot, 1809) The House Wren, Troglodytes aedon, is a small songbird of the wren family. ...

Resting and roosting

The high metabolic rates of birds during the active part of the day is supplemented by rest at other times. Nocturnal birds such as owls rest and sleep during the day while diurnal birds at night.

Sleeping birds are usually sensitive to disturbance and are quick to escape from threats. Many species choose safe roosting sites, including those in the vicinity of human settlements, on open water (ducks), on chosen roost trees, on the ground or in hollows (woodpeckers). It has been widely believed that swifts may sleep while flying, however this is not supported by experimental evidence. It is however suggested that there may be certain kinds of sleep which are possible even when in flight.^[81]

Many sleeping birds bends their heads over their backs and cover their bills in their back feathers. Storks cover their beaks among their breast feathers. Ducks sleep afloat with their head turned over their backs with the bills tucked into the back feathers. Ducks ashore may rest on their breasts, pulling up their legs into their feathers, especially in cold weather. Many birds rest on one leg.

Perching birds roost on twigs and their tarsal muscles have a ratchet mechanism that locks their toes. Nightjars may rest along the length of a branch.

Many ground birds such as quails and pheasants roost in trees. Many lorikeets roost hanging from perches in the manner of bats.

Some nightjars hibernate during cold weather. Hummingbirds go into a nightly state of torpor with a reduction in their metabolic rates.^{[citation needed]}

Breeding

Social systems

Red-necked Phalaropes have an unusual polyandrous mating system where males care for the eggs and chicks and brightly coloured females compete for males.

The vast majority (95%) of bird species are socially monogamous; although polygyny (2%) and polyandry (< 1%), polygamy, polygynandry (where a female pairs with several males and the male pairs with several females) and promiscuity systems also occur.^[41] Some species may use more than one system depending on the circumstances. Monogamous species of males and females pair for the breeding season; in some cases, the pair bonds may persist for a number of years or even the lifetime of the pair.^[82] Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (3000 × 2000 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (3000 × 2000 pixel, file size: 1. ... Binomial name Phalaropus lobatus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Red-necked Phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus, is a small wader. ... Recent discoveries have led biologists to talk about the three varieties of monogamy: social monogamy, sexual monogamy, and genetic monogamy. ... The term polygyny (neo-Greek: poly+gune Many + Wives) is used in related ways in social anthropology and sociobiology. ... In social anthropology and sociobiology, polyandry (Greek: poly- many, andros- man) means a female forming a sexual union with more than one male. ... The term polygamy (many marriages in late Greek) is used in related ways in social anthropology and sociobiology and sociology. ... Group marriage is a form of marriage in which more than one man and more than one woman form a family unit, and all members of the marriage share parental responsibility for any children arising from the marriage. ...

The advantage of monogamy for birds is bi-parental care. In most groups of animals, male parental care is rare, but in birds it is quite common; in fact, it is more extensive in birds than in any other vertebrate class. In birds, male care can be seen as important or essential to female fitness; in some species the females are unable to successfully raise a brood without the help of the male.^[83] Polygamous breeding systems arise when females are able to raise broods without the help of males.^[41] There is sometimes a division of labour in monogamous species, with the roles of incubation, nest site defence, chick feeding and territory defence being either shared or undertaken by one sex.

While social monogamy is common in birds, infidelity, in the form of extra-pair copulations, is common in many socially monogamous species.^[84] These can take the form of forced copulation (or rape) in ducks and other anatids,^[85] or more usually between dominant males and females with less dominant males. It is thought that the benefit to females comes from getting better genes, as well as an insurance against the possibility of infertility in the mate.^[86] Males in species that engage in extra-pair copulations will engage in mate-guarding in order to ensure parentage of the offspring they raise.^[87] In a religious context, infidelity is an absence of faith in the beliefs or teachings of a religion, such that one who lacks such faith is an infidel. ... Subfamilies Dendrocygninae Oxyurinae Anatinae Aythyinae Merginae Duck is the common name for a number of species in the Anatidae family of birds. ...

Breeding usually involves some form of courtship display, most often performed by the male.^[88] Most are rather simple, and usually involve some type of song. Some displays can be quite elaborate, using such varied methods as tail and wing drumming, dancing, aerial flights, and communal leks depending on the species. Females are most often involved with partner selection,^[89] although in the polyandrous phalaropes the males choose brightly coloured females.^[90] Courtship feeding, billing and preening are commonly performed between partners, most often after birds have been paired and mated.^[91] Blackbird (Turdus merula), singing male. ... A lek is a gathering of males, of certain animal species, for the purposes of competitive mating display. ...

Territories, nesting and incubation

Many birds actively defend a territory from others of the same species during the breeding season. Large territories are protected in order to protect the food source for their chicks. Species that are unable to defend feeding territories, such as seabirds and swifts, often breed in colonies instead; this is thought to offer protection from predators. Colonial breeders will defend small nesting sites, and competition between and within species for nesting sites can be intense.^[92] In ethology, sociobiology and behavioral ecology, the term territory refers to any geographical area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against conspecifics (and, occasionally, animals of other species). ... The Sooty Tern is highly aerial and marine and will spend years flying at sea without returning to land. ... Genera Many; see text. ... In biology, a colony (from Latin colonia) means several individual organisms of the same species living closely together, usually for mutual benefit, such as stronger defences, the ability to attack bigger prey etc. ...

The nesting colonies of the Social Weaver are amongst the largest bird-created structures

All birds lay amniotic eggs^[93] with hard shells made mostly of calcium carbonate. The colour of eggs is controlled by a number of factors, those of hole and burrow nesting species tend to be white or pale, while those of open nesters such as Charadriiformes are camouflaged. Many bird species do not conform to this, however; the ground nesting nightjars have pale eggs, camouflage being provided instead by the bird's plumage. Species that are victims of brood parasites like the Dideric Cuckoo will vary their egg colours in order to improve the chances of spotting a cuckoo's egg, and female cuckoos need to match their eggs to their hosts.^[94] Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 868 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bird Metadata This... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 868 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bird Metadata This... Extant subgroups Synapsida     Mammalia (mammals) Sauropsida    Anapsida        Testudines (turtles)    Diapsida        Lepidosauria           Squamata (lizards and snakes)           Sphenodontida (tuatara)        Archosauria           Crocodilia (crocodiles and alligators)           Aves (birds) The amniotes are a group of vertebrates, comprising the mammals, birds, and various other groups collectively referred to as reptiles. ... Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound, with chemical formula CaCO3. ... Families Thinocoridae Pedionomidae Scolopacidae Rostratulidae Jacanidae Chionididae Burhinidae Haematopodidae Recurvirostridae Ibidorhynchidae Charadriidae Pluvianellidae Dromadidae Glareolidae Stercorariidae Rhynchopidae Laridae Sternidae Alcidae Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. ... Countershaded Ibex are almost invisible in the Israeli desert. ... Genera Nyctiprogne Podager Lurocalis Chordeiles Nyctidromus Phalaenoptilus Siphonorhis Nyctiphrynus Caprimulgus Macrodipteryx Hydropsalis Uropsalis Macropsalis Eleothreptus Eurostopodus Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds with long wings, short legs and very short bills that usually nest on the ground. ... Closeup on a single white feather A feather is one of the epidermal growths that forms the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on a bird. ... A Common Cuckoo being raised by a Reed Warbler. ... Binomial name Chrysococcyx caprius Boddaert, 1783 The Dideric Cuckoo or Didric Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius, is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes, which also includes the roadrunners, the anis, and the Hoatzin. ...

The eggs are usually laid in a nest, which can be highly elaborate, like those created by weavers and oropendolas, or extremely primitive, like some albatrosses, which are no more than a scrape on the ground. Some species have no nest, the cliff nesting Common Guillemot lays its egg on bare rock and the egg of the Emperor Penguin is kept between the body and feet; this is especially prevalent in ground nesting species where the newly hatched young are precocial. Most species build more elaborate nests, which can be cups, domes, plates, beds scrapes, mounds or burrows.^[95] Most nests are built in shelter and hidden to reduce the risk of predation, more open nests are usually colonial or built by larger birds capable of defending the nest. Nests are mostly built out of plant matter, some species specifically select plants such as yarrow which have chemicals that reduce nesting parasites such as mites, leading to increased chick survival.^[96] Nests are often lined with feathers in order to improve the retention of heat. A basket style nest A nest is place of refuge built to hold an animals eggs and/or provide a place to raise their offspring. ... Genera Many:see text The Weavers are small passerine birds related to the finches. ... Oropendolas are Icterid birds in the genera Psarocolius, Ocyalus, and Gymnostinops. ... Genera Diomedea Thalassarche Phoebastria Phoebetria Albatrosses, of the biological family Diomedeidae, are large seabirds allied to the procellariids, storm-petrels and diving-petrels in the order Procellariiformes (the tubenoses). ... Binomial name Uria aalge (Pontoppidan, 1763) The Common Guillemot, known as the Common Murre in North America, Uria aalge, is a large alcid. ... Binomial name Aptenodytes forsteri Gray, 1844 The Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species. ... In biology, precocial species are those that are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. ... Binomial name Achillea millefolium L. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the Northern Hemisphere. ... A chemical substance is any material substance used in or obtained by a process in chemistry: A chemical compound is a substance consisting of two or more chemical elements that are chemically combined in fixed proportions. ... Look up mite in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Incubation, which regulates of temperature to keep it optimum for chick development, usually begins after the last egg has been laid. Incubation duties are often shared in monogamous species, in polygamous species a singe parent undertakes all duties. Warmth from parents passes to the eggs through brood patches, areas of bare skin on the abdomen or breast of the incubating birds. Incubation can be an energetically demanding process, for example adult albatrosses lose as much as 83 g of body weight a day.^[97] The warmth for the incubation of the eggs of megapodes comes from the sun, decaying vegetation or from volcanic sources.^[98] Incubation periods last between 10 days (in species of woodpeckers, cuckoos and passerine birds) to over 80 days (in albatrosses and kiwis). This article is about mound-building birds. ... Genera Melanerpes Sphyrapicus Xiphidiopicus Dendropicos Dendrocopos Picoides Veniliornis Campethera Geocolaptes Dinopium Meiglyptes Hemicircus Micropternus Picus Mulleripicus Dryocopus Celeus Piculus Colaptes Campephilus Chrysocolaptes Reinwardtipicus Blythipicus Gecinulus Sapheopipo For other uses, see Woodpecker (disambiguation). ... Genera See text. ... Families Many, see text A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. ... Species See text. ...

Parental care and fledging

The altricial chicks of the Richard's Pipit have bright mouths to stimulate feeding

Chicks can be helpless or independent at birth, or be at any stage in between. The helpless chicks are known as altricial, and tend to be born, small, naked and blind; chicks that are mobile and feathered at birth are precocial, chicks can also be semi-precocial and semi-altricial. Altricial chicks require help in thermoregulation and need to be brooded for longer than precocial chicks. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 628 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The nest and chicks of an Australasian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 628 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The nest and chicks of an Australasian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file... Binomial name Anthus richardi Vieillot, 1818 The Richards Pipit (Anthus richardi) is a medium-sized passerine bird which breeds in open grasslands in Siberia. ... In bird and mammal biology, altricial species are those whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile, have closed eyes, lack hair or down, and must be cared for by the adults. ... Blind can refer to: Look up blind on Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In biology, precocial species are those that are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. ... Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when temperature surrounding is very different. ...

The length and nature of parental care varies widely amongst different orders and species. At one extreme parental care in megapodes ends at hatching, with the chick being able to care for itself immediately.^[99] At the other extreme many seabirds have extended periods of parental care, the longest being Great Frigatebird, the chicks of which taking up to six months to fledge and being fed by the parents for up to 14 months after that.^[100] This article is about mound-building birds. ... Binomial name Fregata minor (Gmelin, 1789) The Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor), also known as the Iwa, is a migratory seabird in the frigatebird family. ... Fledge is the stage in a young birds life when the feathers and wing muscles are sufficiently developed for flight. ...

In some species the care of young is shared between both parents, in other species it is the responsibility of just one sex. In some species other members of the same species will help the breeding pair in raising the young. These helpers are usually close relatives such as the chicks of the breeding pair from previous breeding seasons.^[101] Alloparenting is particularly common in the corvids, but has been observed in as different species as the Rifleman, Red Kite and Australian Magpie. Helpers at the nest is a term used in behavioural ecology and evolutionary biology to describe a social structure in which juveniles, of one or both sexes, remain in association with their parents and help them in raising subsequent broods or litters, instead of dispersing and beginning to reproduce themselves. ... Genera many, see article text Corvidae is a family of oscine passerine birds that contains the crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, jays, magpies, treepies and nutcrackers (Clayton and Emery 2005, [1]). Collectively its members are called corvids and there are over 120 species. ... Binomial name Acanthisitta chloris (Sparrman, 1787) For other uses, see Rifleman (disambiguation) // The Rifleman (Acanthisitta chloris), or Tītitipounamu in Māori is a small insectivorous passerine bird that is endemic to New Zealand. ... Binomial name Milvus milvus Linnaeus, 1758 The Red Kite (Milvus milvus) is a medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. ... Binomial name Gymnorhina tibicen Latham, 1802 The Australian Magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen is a medium-sized black and white bird, closely related to the butcherbirds and currawongs in the Artamidae family. ...

This Reed Warbler is raising the young of a Common Cuckoo, a brood parasite

The point at which chicks fledge varies dramatically. The chicks of the Synthliboramphus murrelets, like the Ancient Murrelet, leave the nest the night after they hatch, following their parents calls out to sea, where they are raised away from terrestrial predators.^[102] Some other species, especially ducks, move their chicks away from the nest at an early age. In most species chicks leave the nest soon after, or just before, they are able to fly. Parental care after fledging varies; in albatrosses chicks leave the nest alone and receive no further help, other species continue some supplementary feeding after fledging.^[103] Chicks may also follow their parents during their first migration.^[104] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (446x628, 67 KB) From the Norsk language wiki. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (446x628, 67 KB) From the Norsk language wiki. ... Binomial name Acrocephalus scirpaceus (Hermann, 1804) The Eurasian Reed Warbler, or just Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus, is an Old World warbler in the genus Acrocephalus. ... Binomial name Cuculus canorus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is a member of the cuckoo order of birds, the Cuculiformes, which also includes the roadrunners, the anis, the coucals, and the Hoatzin. ... A Common Cuckoo being raised by a Reed Warbler. ... Fledge is the stage in a young birds life when the feathers and wing muscles are sufficiently developed for flight. ... Binomial name Synthliboramphus antiquus (Gmelin, 1789) The Ancient Murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus, is a bird in the auk family. ... Flock of Barnacle Geese during autumn migration Many species of birds undertake seasonal journeys of various lengths, a phenomenon known as Bird migration. ...

Brood parasites

Main article: Brood parasite

Although some insects and fish engage in brood parasitism, most brood parasites are birds. Brood parasites are birds which lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. These eggs are often accepted and raised by the host species, often at the cost of their own brood. There are two kinds of brood parasite, obligate brood parasites, which are incapable of raising their own young and must lay their eggs in the nests of other species; and non-obligate brood parasites, which are capable of raising their own young but lay eggs in the nests of conspecifics in order to increase their reproductive output. The most famous obligate brood parasites are the cuckoos, although in total 100 species of cuckoos, honeyguides, icterids, estrildid finches and ducks are obligate parasites.^[105] Some brood parasites are adapted to hatching before their hosts and pushing their hosts eggs out of the nest, ensuring that all the food brought to the nest is fed to them. A Common Cuckoo being raised by a Reed Warbler. ... {{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Insects | fossil_range = Carboniferous - Recent | image = European honey bee extracts nectar. ... A giant grouper at the Georgia Aquarium Fish are aquatic vertebrates that are typically cold-blooded; covered with scales, and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins. ... A Common Cuckoo being raised by a Reed Warbler. ... Conspecificity is a concept in biology. ... Genera See text. ... Genera Indicator Melichneutes Prodotiscus Honeyguide birds, also known as honey birds, indicator birds, and simply honeyguides, (family Indicatoridae) are several dull-colored near passerine bird species of the order Piciformes, notable for their method of obtaining food. ... Genera 24 genera, see text The Icterids are a group of small to medium, often colourful passerine birds restricted to the New World. ... Genera Many:see text The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. ... Binomial name Heteronetta atricapilla (Merrem, 1841) The Black_headed Duck (Heteronetta atricapilla) is a South American duck allied to the stiff-tailed ducks in the subfamily Oxyurinae of the family Anatidae. ...

Relationship with humans

Chickens in a coop

Birds are highly visible and common animals, and humans have had a long relationship with them. In some cases the relationship has been mutualistic, such as the cooperative relationship between honeyguides and tribesmen in obtaining honey,^[106] or commensal, as found in the numerous species that benefit indirectly from human activities. For example, the common pigeon or Rock Pigeon thrives in urban areas around the world. Human effects can also be detrimental, where species are threatened by human activities. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2304x1728, 1555 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Chicken Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2304x1728, 1555 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Chicken Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create... In biology, mutualism is an interaction between two or more species, where both species derive benefit. ... Genera Indicator Melichneutes Prodotiscus Honeyguide birds, also known as honey birds, indicator birds, and simply honeyguides, (family Indicatoridae) are several dull-colored near passerine bird species of the order Piciformes, notable for their method of obtaining food. ... Commensalism is an interaction between two living organisms, where one organism benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped. ... Binomial name Columba livia Gmelin, 1789 The Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) is a member of the bird family Columbidae, doves and pigeons. ...

Birds also have many effects on humans. They can act as vectors for diseases spreading psittacosis, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, mycobacteriosis (avian tuberculosis), avian influenza (bird flu), giardiasis, and cryptosporidiosis. They can also be commercially important pests.^[107] They are also important food and income sources. In medicine (pulmonology), psittacosis -- also known as parrot disease, parrot fever, and ornithosis -- is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Mycoplasma psittaci and contracted from parrots, macaws, cockatiels, and parakeets. ... Salmonellosis is an infection with Salmonella bacteria. ... Campylobacteriosis is among the most common bacterial infections of humans. ... Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for Tubercle Bacillus) is a common and deadly infectious disease that is caused by mycobacteria, primarily Mycobacterium tuberculosis. ... Avian influenza (also known as bird flu, avian flu, influenzavirus A flu, type A flu, or genus A flu) is a flu (influenza) due to a type of influenza virus that is hosted by birds, but may infect several species of mammals. ... Giardiasis (also known as beaver fever) is a disease caused by the flagellate protozoan Giardia lamblia (also Giardia intestinalis). ... Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic disease affecting the intestines of mammals that is caused by Cryptosporidium, a protozoan parasite in the phylum Apicomplexa. ... Look up Pest in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Pest may refer to: A pest, an animal (usually an insect), or sometimes a plant (weed) with characteristics that are injurious or harmful to humans. ...

Use by humans

Birds are an important food source for humans. The most commonly eaten species is the domestic chicken and its eggs, although geese, pheasants, turkeys, ducks and quail are also widely domesticated and eaten. Fowl grown for human consumption are referred to as poultry. Hunting has also been an important method of obtaining birds for food, and has led to several bird species becoming endangered or extinct.^[108] However, muttonbirding in Australia and New Zealand is an example of an ongoing sustainable harvest of two seabird species. Trinomial name Homo sapiens sapiens Linnaeus, 1758 Humans, or human beings, are bipedal primates belonging to the mammalian species Homo sapiens (Latin: wise man or knowing man) in the family Hominidae (the great apes). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In most birds and reptiles, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ... Look up goose in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Genera Ithaginis Catreus Rheinartia Crossoptilon Lophura Argusianus Pucrasia Syrmaticus Chrysolophus Phasianus † See also partridge, quail Pheasants are a group of large birds in the order Galliformes. ... Subfamilies Dendrocygninae Oxyurinae Anatinae Aythyinae Merginae Duck is the common name for a number of species in the Anatidae family of birds. ... Genera Coturnix Anurophasis Perdicula Ophrysia † See also Pheasant, Partridge, Grouse Quail is a collective name for several genera of mid-sized birds in the pheasant family Phasianidae, or in the family Odontophoridae. ... A fowl is a bird of any kind, although some types of birds use the word specifically in their names (for example, Guineafowl and Peafowl). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... “Hunter” redirects here. ... Muttonbirding is a seasonal harvesting activity, which may be recreational or commercial, of the chicks of petrels, especially shearwater species, for food, oil and feathers. ... The Sooty Tern is highly aerial and marine and will spend years flying at sea without returning to land. ...

Besides meat and eggs, birds provide other items useful to humans, including feathers for bedding and decoration, guano-derived phosphorus and nitrogen used in fertiliser and gunpowder, and the central ingredient of bird's nest soup. In former times, the long wing feathers of geese and other birds were used for writing, and the word pen is derived from the latin for feather penna.^[109] Two feathers Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds. ... The Chincha guano islands in Peru. ... The key ingredient of bird-nest soup An island in southern Thailand where bird nests are collected A bowl of birds nest soup Birds nest soup (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: yàn wō, literally swallows nest) is a delicacy[1] in Chinese cuisine. ...

Cormorants used by fishermen in Southeast Asia

Other birds have long been used by humans to perform tasks. Falcons are still used for hunting, while cormorants are employed by fishermen. The pigeon was used as a messenger as early as 1 AD, according to Pliny and commonly for a time afterward. The outcome of the battle of Waterloo in 1815 was brought to the Rothschilds by pigeon messenger. Chickens and pigeons are popular as experimental subjects, and are often used in biology and comparative psychology research. Birds are among the most extensively studied of all animal groups. The scientific study of birds is called ornithology. Hundreds of academic journals and thousands of scientists are devoted to bird research, while amateur enthusiasts (called birdwatchers, twitchers or, more commonly, birders) number in the millions. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 404 × 599 pixels Full resolution (575 × 853 pixel, file size: 167 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bird Bird intelligence ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 404 × 599 pixels Full resolution (575 × 853 pixel, file size: 167 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bird Bird intelligence ... Species About 37; see text. ... For other uses, see Cormorant (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Pigeon redirects here. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Comparative psychology, taken in its most usual, broad sense, refers to the study of the behavior and mental life of animals other than human beings. ... Ornithology (from the Greek ornis = bird and logos = word/science) is the branch of zoology concerned with the scientific study of birds. ... Birding or birdwatching is a hobby concerned with the observation and study of birds (the study proper is termed American origin; birdwatching is (or more correctly, was) the commonly-used word in Great Britain and Ireland and by non-birders in the United States. ...

Domesticated colour variety of Budgerigars

Colourful, particularly tropical, birds (e.g. parrots, and mynas) are often bred in captivity or kept as pets, although this practice has led to the illegal trafficking of some endangered species. CITES, an international agreement adopted in 1963, has considerably reduced trafficking in the bird species it protects. Image File history File linksMetadata Blue_Parakeets. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Blue_Parakeets. ... Binomial name Melopsittacus undulatus (Shaw, 1805) The Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus, nicknamed budgie), the only species in the Australian genus Melopsittacus, is a small parrot belonging to the tribe of the broad-tailed parrots (Platycercini); these are sometimes considered a subfamily (Platycercinae), which may be correct, in which the budgerigar is... For the runtime engine for Perl 6, see Parrot virtual machine. ... &#8224; See also Starling, Oxpecker The mynas are part of the family Sturndidae, along with the starlings and oxpeckers. ... Aviculture is the practice of keeping and often breeding pet birds, generally companion parrots, and the culture that forms around it. ... It has been suggested that Residential pets be merged into this article or section. ... A skirmish with smugglers from Finland at the Russian border, 1853, by Vasily Hudiakov. ... The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between Governments, drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). ...

Many homeowners erect bird feeders near their homes to attract various species to their yards. Bird feeding has grown into a multimillion dollar industry; for example an estimated 75% of households in Britain provide food for birds at some point during the winter.^[110] A hummingbird feeder. ... A bird table, with a Wood Pigeon on the roof, in an English garden. ...

Importance in religion, folklore and culture

Birds feature prominently in folklore, religion and popular culture, in which they fulfil a number of roles. In religion they may serve as messengers or priests and leaders for a deity, such as in the cult of Make-make where the Tangata manu (bird men) of Easter Island served as chiefs,^[111] or as attendants, as in the case of Hugin and Munin, two Common Ravens which whisper news into the ears of the Norse god Odin.^[112] They may also serve as religious symbols, for example the symbolism of Jonah as a dove (יוֹנָה), with its various associated meanings, fright, passivity, mourning and beauty.^[113] Birds can themselves be deified, as occurred to the Common Peacock by the Dravidians of India, who perceived the peacock as Mother Earth.^[114] Birds have also been perceived as monsters, including the legendary Roc and the Māori legends about the Pouākai, a giant bird the capable of snatching humans, based on the extinct Haast's Eagle.^[115] In some parts of the world many birds are regarded with suspicion; in parts of Africa owls are associated with bad luck, witchcraft and death.^[116] Folklore is the body of expressive culture, including tales, music, dance, legends, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, customs, material culture, and so forth within a particular population comprising the traditions (including oral traditions) of that culture, subculture, or group. ... Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning to cultivate), generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. ... Look up deity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Make-make (disambiguation). ... The Tangata manu (the bird-man), is the winner of a traditional competition of the Easter Island people. ... motto: ( Rapa Nui ) Also called Te Pito O Te Henua (Ombligo del mundo) (Navel of the world) Capital Hanga Roa Area  - City Proper  163. ... Huginn and Muninn sit on Odins shoulders in this illustration from an 18th century Icelandic manuscript. ... Binomial name Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758 Common Raven range Subspecies The Common Raven (Corvus corax), also known as the Northern Raven, is a large all-black passerine bird in the crow family, with iridescent feathers. ... Norse gods Divided between the Æsir and the Vanir, and sometimes including Jotun, the dividing line between these groups is less than clear. ... For other meanings of Odin, Woden or Wotan see Odin (disambiguation), Woden (disambiguation), Wotan (disambiguation). ... The Prophet Jonah, as depicted by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel Jonah (יוֹנָה Dove, Tiberian Hebrew , Standard Hebrew Yona, Arabic يونس Yunus, or يونان Yunaan, Latin Ionas) was a prophet in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh/Old Testament) and Muslim Quran who was swallowed by a great fish. ... Subfamilies see article text Feral Rock Pigeon beside Weiming Lake, Peking University Dove redirects here. ... Binomial name Pavo cristatus Linnaeus, 1758 The Indian Peafowl, Pavo cristatus also known as the Common Peafowl or the Blue Peafowl is one of the species of bird in the genus Pavo of the Phasianidae family known as peafowl. ... Dravidian may refer to: Dravidian languages, including the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada languages spoken especially in southern India and Sri Lanka. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the Roc, a mythical bird. ... This article is about the indigenous people of New Zealand. ... Binomial name Harpagornis moorei Haast, 1872 Haasts Eagle (Harpagornis moorei), was a massive, extinct eagle that once lived on the South Island of New Zealand. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Families Strigidae Tytonidae Ogygoptyngidae (fossil) Palaeoglaucidae (fossil) Protostrigidae (fossil) Sophiornithidae (fossil) Synonyms Strigidae sensu Sibley & Ahlquist Owls are a group of birds of prey. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

Birds feature in culture and art and have done so since prehistoric times. Birds are represented in early cave paintings along with other animals.^[117] Later birds came to be used in religious or symbolic art and design; among the most magnificent of these was the (now lost) Peacock Throne of the Mughal and Persian emperors of India. With the advent of scientific interest in birds many paintings of birds were commissioned for books, amongst the most famous bird artists was John James Audubon, who's paintings of North American birds were a great commercial success in Europe and who later lent his name to the National Audubon Society.^[118] Birds are also important in poetry; Homer incorporated Nightingales into the Odyssey, and poets have continued to use that species ever since.^[119] The relationship between an albatross and a sailor is the central theme of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the significance of which has increased with the adoption of the term as a metaphor for a 'burden'.^[120] Birds serve as other metaphors in the English language, for example vulture funds and vulture investors, where vultures are perceived as unpleasant and possibly unethical. ^[121] Perceptions of individual bird species vary from culture to culture, while owls are considered bad luck in some parts of Africa they are regarded as wise across much of Europe, and Hoopoes were considered sacred in Ancient Egypt, symbols of virtue in Persia, thieves across much of Europe and harbingers of war in Scandinavia.^[122] This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Peacock Throne, called Takht-e-Tavous (Persian: تخت طائوس) in Persian, is the name originally of a Mughal throne, later used to describe the thrones of the Persian emperors from Nader Shah Afshari to Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. ... The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ... The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the old Persian homeland, and beyond in Western Asia, Central Asia and the Caucasus. ... Part of a scientific laboratory at the University of Cologne. ... John James Audubon John James Audubon[1] (April 26, 1785 – January 27, 1851) was a Franco-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... Headquarter of National Audubon Society in New York. ... Homer (Greek: , ) was an early Greek poet and aoidos (rhapsode) traditionally credited with the composition of the Iliad and the Odyssey. ... Binomial name Luscinia megarhynchos (Brehm, 1831) This article is about the bird. ... Beginning of the Odyssey The Odyssey (Greek Οδύσσεια (Odússeia) ) is one of the two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to the Ionian poet Homer. ... Genera Diomedea Thalassarche Phoebastria Phoebetria Albatrosses, of the biological family Diomedeidae, are large seabirds allied to the procellariids, storm-petrels and diving-petrels in the order Procellariiformes (the tubenoses). ... Samuel Taylor Coleridge (October 21, 1772 – July 25, 1834) (pronounced ) was an English poet, critic, and philosopher who was, along with his friend William Wordsworth, one of the founders of the Romantic Movement in England and one of the Lake Poets. ... One of a set of engraved metal plate illustrations by Gustave Doré. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a poem written by the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1797–1799 and published in the first edition of Lyrical Ballads (1798). ... The word albatross is sometimes used to mean an encumbrance, or a wearisome burden. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... A vulture fund is an financial organization that specializes in buying securities in distressed environments, such as high-yield bonds in or near default, or equities that are in or near bankruptcy. ... Orders Falconiformes (Fam. ... Binomial name Upupa epops Linnaeus, 1758 The Hoopoe Upupa epops is in the same order of often colourful near passerine birds as the kingfishers, bee-eaters, and rollers. ... Khafres Pyramid (4th dynasty) and Great Sphinx of Giza (c. ... For other uses of this term see: Persia (disambiguation) The Persian Empire is the name used to refer to a number of historic dynasties that have ruled the country of Persia (Iran). ... Scandinavia is a historical and geographical region centered on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe and includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. ...

Conservation

Main article: Bird conservation

This Black-browed Albatross has been hooked on a long-line

Humans have had a large impact on many bird species. Human activities have in some cases allowed some species to dramatically expand their natural ranges, in other species ranges have decreased and have even resulted in many extinction. Over a hundred species have gone extinct in historical times, although the most dramatic extinctions occurred in the Pacific Ocean as humans colonised the islands of Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia, during which an estimated 750-1800 species of bird went extinct.^[123] According to Worldwatch Institute, many bird populations are currently declining worldwide, with 1,200 species facing extinction in the next century.^[124] The biggest cited reason surrounds habitat loss.^[125] Other threats include overhunting, accidental mortality due to structural collisions and as long-line fishing bycatch, pollution, competition and predation by nonnative invasive species,^[126] oil spills and pesticide use and climate change. Governments, along with numerous conservation charities, work to protect birds, either through laws to protect birds, preserving and restoring bird habitat or establishing captive populations for reintroductions. The efforts of conervation biology have met with some success, a study estimated that between 1994 and 2004 16 species of bird that would otherwise have gone extinct werer saved.^[127] The extinction of the Dusky Seaside Sparrow was caused by habitat loss. ... Image File history File links Albatross_hook. ... Image File history File links Albatross_hook. ... Binomial name Thalassarche melanophris (Temminck, 1828) The Black-browed Albatross, Thalassarche melanophris, is a large seabird of the albatross family Diomedeidae. ... The Dodo, shown here in illustration, is an often-cited[1] example of modern extinction. ... F16 after a bird strike A bird strike (sometimes birdstrike, bird hit, or BASH (bird aircraft strike hazard)) in aviation, is a collision between an airborne animal (most often a bird, but also sometimes another species) and a man made vehicle, especially aircraft. ... Long-line fishing is a commercial fishing technique that uses hundreds or even thousands of baited hooks hanging from a single line. ... In fisheries science, by-catch refers to species caught in a fishery intended to target another species, as well as reproductively_immature juveniles of the target species. ... Lantana invasion of abandoned citrus plantation; Moshav Sdey Hemed, Israel The term invasive species refers to a subset of introduced species or non-indigenous species that are rapidly expanding outside of their native range. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... A charitable trust is a trust organized to serve private or public charitable purposes. ... In-situ conservation means on-site conservation. It is the process of protecting an endangered plant or animal species in its natural habitat, either by protecting or cleaning up the habitat itself, or by defending the species from predators. ... Restoration ecology is the scientific discipline of environmental restoration, or returning degraded ecosystems and landscapes to a reference state where ecological communities and processes are re-established. ... Ex-situ conservation means literally, off-site conservation. It is the process of protecting an endangered species of plant or animal by removing it from an unsafe or threatened habitat and placing it or part of it under the care of humans. ...

See Late Quaternary prehistoric birds for taxa which disappeared in prehistoric and early historic times, usually due to human activity (i.e., starting with the Upper Paleolithic Revolution). For birds having gone extinct in modern times (since 1500), see Extinct birds. For a list of early taxa of birds known only from fossils, see Fossil birds. ... The Upper Paleolithic (or Upper Palaeolithic) is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, Africa and Asia. ... Since 1500, over 100 species of birds have become extinct, and this rate of extinction seems to be increasing. ...

References

Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 23, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... April 14 is the 104th day of the year (105th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 261 days remaining. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... October 9 is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... July 21 is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... July 21 is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Avibase - The World Bird Database
• International Ornithological Committee
• Birdlife International - Dedicated to bird conservation worldwide; has a database with about 250,000 records on endangered bird species
• The Internet Bird Collection - A free library of videos of the world's birds
• Birds and Science from the National Audubon Society

Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Image File history File links Wikibooks-logo. ... Image File history File links Wikiquote-logo. ... Image File history File links Wikisource-logo. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Image File history File links WikiNews-Logo. ... Image File history File links Wikiversity-logo-Snorky. ... GFDL Wikispecies logo File links The following pages link to this file: Solanaceae Species Asterias Homo (genus) Human Wikipedia:Template messages/Links Wikipedia:Template messages/All Homo floresiensis User talk:Tuneguru Template:Wikispecies Categories: GFDL images ... Wikispecies is a sister project supported by the Wikimedia Foundation that anybody can edit with a great potential use to students and researchers. ... Image File history File links Wikibooks-logo-en. ... Headquarter of National Audubon Society in New York. ... External anatomy of a typical bird 1 Beak, 2 Head, 3 Iris, 4 Pupil, 5 Mantle, 6 Lesser coverts, 7 Scapulars, 8 Coverts, 9 Tertials, 10 Rump, 11 Primaries, 12 Vent, 13 Thigh, 14 Tibio-tarsal articulation, 15 Tarsus, 16 Feet, 17 Tibia, 18 Belly, 19 Flanks, 20 Breast, 21... It has been suggested that keel (bird) be merged into this article or section. ... Flight is the main mode of locomotion used by most of the worlds bird species. ... In most birds and reptiles, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ... Two feathers Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds. ... Closeup on a single white feather A feather is one of the epidermal growths that forms the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on a bird. ... Paleornithology is the scientific study of bird evolution and fossil birds. ... Binomial name Archaeopteryx lithographica Meyer, 1861 Synonyms see text Archaeopteryx (from Ancient Greek αρχαιος archaios meaning ancient and πτερυξ pteryx meaning feather or wing;[1] pronounced ), from the late Jurassic Period (Kimmeridgian stage, 155-150 million years ago) of what is now Germany, is the earliest and most primitive known avian. ... A bird hybrid is basically a bird that has two different species as parents. ... For a list of early taxa of birds known only from fossils, see Fossil birds. ... For a list of birds extinct in Late Quaternary prehistoric times and (usually) known from specimens not completely fossilized, see Later Quaternary Prehistoric Birds. ... The Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy is a radical bird taxonomy based on DNA-DNA hybridization studies conducted in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. ... Since 1500, over 100 species of birds have become extinct, and this rate of extinction seems to be increasing. ... Blackbird (Turdus merula), singing male. ... The level of intelligence in birds, as a scientific inquiry, has not been as thoroughly researched as similar questions regarding primates and other mammals. ... Flock of Barnacle Geese during autumn migration Many species of birds undertake seasonal journeys of various lengths, a phenomenon known as Bird migration. ... The word incubate in the context of birds refers to the development of the chick (embryo) within the egg and the constant temperature required for the development of it over a specific period. ... A Common Cuckoo being raised by a Reed Warbler. ... Families Struthionidae (ostriches) Rheidae (rheas) Casuariidae (emus etc. ... Genera Tinamus Nothocercus Crypturellus Rhynchotus Nothoprocta Nothura Taoniscus Eudromia Tinamotis The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of bird, members of a South American bird family of about 47 species in 9 genera. ... Families Anhimidae Anseranatidae Anatidae †Dromornithidae †Presbyornithidae The order Anseriformes contains about 150 species of birds in three families: the Anhimidae (the screamers), Anseranatidae (the Magpie-goose), and the Anatidae, which includes over 140 species of waterfowl, among them the ducks, geese, and swans. ... Families Megapodidae Numididae Odontophoridae Phasianidae Meleagrididae Tetraonidae Cracidae Mesitornithidae The Galliformes is an order of birds containing the turkeys, grouse, quails and pheasants. ... Global distribution of Gaviidae (breeding and winter ranges combined) Species Gavia stellata Gavia arctica Gavia pacifica Gavia immer Gavia adamsii The Loons (N.Am. ... Genera Podiceps Tachybaptus Podilymbus Aechmophorus Poliocephalus Rollandia Grebes are members of the Podicipediformes order, a widely distributed order of freshwater diving birds, some of which visit the sea when migrating and in winter. ... Families Procellariidae Diomedeidae Hydrobatidae Pelecanoididae Procellariiformes (from the Latin procella, a storm) is an order of birds formerly called Tubinares and still called tubenoses in English. ... Modern genera Aptenodytes Eudyptes Eudyptula Megadyptes Pygoscelis Spheniscus For prehistoric genera, see Systematics Some penguins are curious. ... Families Pelecanidae Sulidae Phalacrocoracidae Fregatidae Anhingidae Phaethontidae The Pelecaniformes are an order of medium-sized and large waterbirds found worldwide. ... Families Ardeidae Cochlearidae (the Boat-billed Heron) Balaenicipitidae (the Shoebill) Scopidae (the Hammerkop) Ciconiidae Threskiornithidae Cathartidae Traditionally, the order Ciconiiformes has included a variety of large, long-legged wading birds with large bills: storks, herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills, and several others. ... For the American doo-wop group, best known for I Only Have Eyes for You (1959), see The Flamingos. ... Families Accipitridae Pandionidae Falconidae Sagittariidae The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 species of birds that include the diurnal birds of prey. ... Families †Gastornithidae Aramidae Psophiidae Rallidae Heliornithidae Rhynochetidae †Aptornithidae Eurypigidae Cariamidae Otidae Gruidae †Phorusrhacidae The diverse order Gruiformes contains about 12 bird families with, on first sight, little in common. ... Families Thinocoridae Pedionomidae Scolopacidae Rostratulidae Jacanidae Chionididae Burhinidae Haematopodidae Recurvirostridae Ibidorhynchidae Charadriidae Pluvianellidae Dromadidae Glareolidae Stercorariidae Rhynchopidae Laridae Sternidae Alcidae Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. ... Genera Pterocles Syrrhaptes The sandgrouse are a group of 16 near passerine bird species in the order Pteroclidiformes. ... Families Columbidae Raphidae (extinct) Sam Walton Sam Walton started the largest retailer in the world; Wal-Mart. ... Families Cacatuidae Psittacidae The order Psittaciformes (Parrots) includes about 353 species of bird which are generally grouped into two families: the Cacatuidae or cockatoos, and the Psittacidae or true parrots. ... Families Musophagidae Cuculidae Opisthocomidae The near passerine bird order Cuculiformes traditionally included three families as below: Order Cuculiformes Family Musophagidae: turacos and allies Family Cuculidae: cuckoos Family Opisthocomidae: Hoatzin However, the taxonomy of this group is now controversial. ... Families Strigidae Tytonidae Ogygoptyngidae (fossil) Palaeoglaucidae (fossil) Protostrigidae (fossil) Sophiornithidae (fossil) Synonyms Strigidae sensu Sibley & Ahlquist Owls are a group of birds of prey. ... Families Steatornithidae Podargidae Aegothelidae Nyctibiidae Caprimulgidae The Caprimulgiformes is an order of birds that includes the cosmopolitan nightjars, the frogmouths of Australasia and Southeast Asia, the South American potoos and Oilbird, and the Australasian owlet-nightjars. ... Families Apodidae Hemiprocnidae Traditionally, the bird order Apodiformes contained three families: the swifts, Apodidae, the tree swifts, Hemiprocnidae, and the hummingbirds, Trochilidae. ... Families Alcedinidae Halcyonidae Cerylidae Brachypteraciidae Coraciidae Leptosomidae Meropidae Momotidae Todidae Bucerotidae Upupidae Phoeniculidae The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colourful near passerine birds including the kingfishers, the Hoopoe, the bee-eaters, the rollers, and the hornbills. ... Families Galbulidae Bucconidae Capitonidae Ramphastidae Picidae Indicatoridae For prehistoric taxa, see text Six families of largely arboreal birds make up the order Piciformes, the best-known of them being the Picidae, which includes the woodpeckers and close relatives. ... Genera Apaloderma Euptilotis Harpactes Pharomachrus Priotelus Trogon The trogons and quetzals are birds in the order Trogoniformes which contains only one family, the Trogonidae. ... Genera Colius Urocolius The mousebirds are a small group of near passerine birds which have no clear affinities to other groups, and are therefore given order status. ... Families Many, see text A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. ... This page lists living orders and families of birds, class Aves (for extinct birds, please see Extinct birds and Prehistoric birds). ... The following are the regional bird lists by continent. ... Bird ringing (also known as bird banding) is an aid to studying wild birds, by attaching a small individually numbered metal or plastic ring to their legs or wings, so that various aspects of the birds life can be studied by the ability to re-find the same individual... Ornithology (from the Greek ornis = bird and logos = word/science) is the branch of zoology concerned with the scientific study of birds. ... Birdwatching or birding is the observation and study of birds. ... Birdfeeding is the activity of feeding (and usually observing) wild birds. ... The extinction of the Dusky Seaside Sparrow was caused by habitat loss. ... Aviculture is the practice of keeping and often breeding pet birds, generally companion parrots, and the culture that forms around it. ...