BIOL 4142: Ornithology

Photos of specimens from Lab 1.Names and notes are in the Notes

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Anseriformes: Anatidae

All species have that familiar “duck bill”, although beware the thinner bills of the mergansers.

Anatidae: “anas” = “duck” in Latin

Anseriformes: “anser” = “goose” in Latin

Gaviiformes:Gaviidae

Loons: superficially duck-shaped but (1) bill is pointed, dagger-shaped, and (2) legs are placed differently (at rear of body), for extreme specialization on foot-propelled diving.

Podicipediformes: Podicipedidae

Grebes: superficially duck-shaped, but (1) bill shape different, (2) legs placed differently (at rear of body), for extreme specialization on foot-propelled diving, (3) webs on toes differ – each toe has its own web; and (4) virtually no rectrices.

Procellariiformes: Procellariidae

Shearwaters: as in all Procellariiformes, note the elevated tubular nostrils. In shearwaters, the openings are paired and adjacent (compare to storm-petrels).

“procella” = “storm” in Latin, in reference to how easily these birds handle nasty weather – in fact, the windier, the better, up to a point, for flying

Procellariiformes: Hydrobatidae

Storm-petrels: these are among the smallest of marine birds. As in all Procellariiformes, note the elevated tubular nostrils. In storm-petrels, the nostril openings are fused into a single tube (compare to shearwaters).

Hydrobatidae: “hudro” = “hydro” = “water in Greek; “bates” = “walker” in Greek. Some species, such as your Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, actually paddle their feet in the water while flying just above the water, giving the illusion of walking.

Suliformes: Phalacrocoracidae

Our species are large, long-bodied blackish birds with strongly hooked bills and bare throat skin.

“phalacrocorax = “cormorant” in Latin

Suliformes: Fregatidae

Superficially like cormorants, but note very long wings, and very long, forked tail; also very short legs.

Suliformes: Anhingidae

Superficially like cormorants, but bill pointed, very thin; note corrugated texture of rectrices.

“anhinga” = Tupi name for the bird, meaning “little head” … a great name because the head really is tiny. The Tupi are a major indigenous group in the Brazilian Amazon.

Ciconiiformes: Ciconidae

Superficially like giant ibises, but head featherless.

“ciconia” = stork in Latin

Pelecaniformes: Pelecanidae

You probably knew how to identify these when you were 3 years old but …

Pelecaniformes*: Ardeidae

All have dagger-shaped bills associated with fish-eating, and those of all except the night herons are slender.

* placement in Pelecaniformes is a recent finding

“ardea” = “heron” in Latin

Pelecaniformes*: Threskiornithidae

Long-legged and long-billed like most herons, but bill decurved (ibises) or flattened (spoonbills)

* placement in Pelecaniformes is a recent finding

Threskiornithidae: “threskeia” = religious worship in Greek; “ornis” = “bird” in Greek. This refers to the Sacred Ibis, which was thought by the Egyptians to represent the moon god Thoth because the bird had a crescent-shaped bill and bright white plumage..

Accipitriformes: Cathartidae

Bare heads, unlike any other birds you have to know besides Wood Stork and Wild Turkey. Note distinctive nostrils (technical term = “perforate”) – you can see all the way through the bill.

Cathartidae: “kathartes” = “cleanser” in Greek, in reference to the cleansing activities of vultures through removing carrion; cognate English word = cartharsis.