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Special Characteristics of Birds
Excellent Vision – BRIGHT COLORS ATTRACT MATES– RAPTORS CAN SEE PREY MILES OFF
Excellent hearing –– INSTINCT FOR THE SPECIES SONGS– LEARN VARIATIONS– OLWS USE HEARING TO HELP FIND PREY IN THE
DARK
Special Characteristics of Birds
Warm blooded– High energy demands!!!– “Eat like a bird” – you eat a lot !!– Need to keep eggs, young warm
Feathers evolved first for insulation– Most still just cover the bird’s body– Later some feathers specialized for flight.
Special Characteristics of Birds
High metabolism requires efficient respiratory system– Air Flows through lungs
Hollow bones to reduce weight– Strong enough for flight, not for walking, etc.– Flightless birds have heavier bones
Typically do not store fat– Too heavy for flight– Need to eat all winter – many migrate
Wing Shapes
Long Narrow– SOARING, GLIDING
Short, Wide– Power flight, agility
Hollow bones – strong and light
Do birds have ears???
Can birds see in color??
Feathers
Made of keratin – like our skin, nails and hair
Grow in distinct groups– All birds share these groupings of feathers
Replaced in seasonal cycles– Often before mating– Have Breeding and Eclipsed Plumage types
Feathers
Species differ in color and outline of feather markings– Do not differ in shape or arrangement of feathers.
Most important Flight Feathers are the Primaries and Secondaries, and Tail.
Flight Feathers
Feather groups:
Flight
Wren
Forces forFlight
Riding Thermals
Hawks
Specialized adaptations to habitat
Bill types for feeding
Feet /leg types for – Perching– Wading– Swimming– Hunting
Spoon bills – dabbling ducks
Filter out Plant debris
Hooked bills
Hunting by Birds of prey
Long thin
Sipping nectar
Dagger Like – with sharp edges
Capture Fish Small prey
Long thin - strong
Hunt mud sand
Conical – Strong for cracking seeds
Hard dagger bill for pecking wood
Thin dagger
For catchingInsects
Webbed feet for water
Swimming Wading Protected from heat loss
Passerine Birds -
Have talons that grasp branches.
Can sleep – perching on branches
Other Feet types
Climbing – nuthatch, woodpeckers Hunting & Grasping– hawk, eagle talons Scratching- stir up insects in soil, leaf litter Running- Quail, Road Runner
