Engaging Bird Classification and Characteristics
Delve into the fascinating world of birds with over 9700 species, flight mechanics, feather types, digestive and respiratory systems. Explore their diverse classification and intriguing biological features.
Engaging Bird Classification and Characteristics
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Presentation Transcript
BIRD CLASSIFICATION: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrate Class: Birds (Aves) Over 9700 different species divided into 29 different orders.
CHARACTERISICS OF BIRDS: Feathers: (modified scales) • Flight • Insulation • Made of keratin Four different types of feathers: • Down feathers: • Soft and Fluffy • Entire body of young • Adult: Lies closest to body for insulation Down feather
Contour feathers: • Streamline shape • Bottom part similar to Down (insulation) • Coloration • Camouflage • Identifies species/sex Contour Feather
Flight feathers:(modified Contour) • Wings & tail • Helps provide lift for flight
Bristle feathers: • Located on Eyes, Nostrils & Around Face • Filter dirt • Similar to eyelashes/nose hair
PARTS OF A FEATHER: Barbs:Many make up a vane Follicle: Tiny pit in skin where feathers develop Hooks Shaft or quill: Develops from follicle & runs up center of feather Hold barbules together Barbules:Have hooks on ends to hold barbs together Vanes: 2 vanes per feather on each side of shaft
Preening:Use beak to spread oil from preening gland, helps repel water Preening Gland:Base of tail, contains oil Molting:Shed feathers (once a year)
Skeletal System: • Light & Strong • Thin, hollow, air filled, & rigid bones • Humerus, radius, ulna, pectoral girdle, & sternum (keel) support wings • Many fused bones
Muscular System: • Large filament muscles for strength • Flight muscles = 50% weight
Metabolism: • Very fast metabolism • Temperature: 104-105º F • Rapid breathing • Generate heat to warm body internally • Need large quantities of food • Can’t go long periods of time w/o eating • Layer of fat for insulation • Endothermic metabolism:
Digestive System: Passage of food: Mouth Esophagus Crop Proventriculus Two-part stomach Gizzard Small intestines Large Intestines (Caeca) Cloaca
Esophagus Stomach Large Intestine
Crop:Storage for food; where it’s moistened Proventriculus:First part of stomach; where digestion starts Gizzard:Helps kneed the food (eat pebbles to help crush food) Small Intestines:Where most food is digested, absorbed and broken down by enzymes and bile Large Intestines:(Caeca/um) Water absorbed, waste separated from nutrients Cloaca:Where everything comes together 45 MINUTES TO DIGEST & REMOVE!!!
Excretory System: • Filters nitrogenous wastes from blood with kidney • Urine contains uric acid (white) • NO URINARY BLADDER=LIGHTER FOR FLIGHT
Respiratory System: • Elaborate and highly efficient • Needs lots of oxygen continuously • High metabolic rate
Passage of air: Pair of nostrils Located near base of beak Trachea Where air passes after entering nostrils Bronchi 2 bronchi, air goes in second; lead to air sacs Lungs 75% bypasses lungs Air Sacs 9 air sacs, extend from lungs; reduces density; stores air
Esophagus TRACHEA
Circulatory System: • 4 Chambered Heart • 2-A • 2-V (THICK) A • Septum-Divides Ventricles…NO MIXING SEPTUM V Humming Bird – 600 times/minuteChickadee – 1000 times/minute
Oxygenated blood (red) is pumped from the lungs to various parts of the body;Deoxygenated blood (blue)is returned for recycling.
Nervous System: • Very Large Brains • Coordinated movement • Contains large optic lobes (very good color) • Wide field of vision • Excellent depth perception
Reproduction: Males: • Sperm is produced in 2 testes • Sperm passes through small tubes called vasa deferntia into the phallus to the cloaca • Mating – male presses his cloaca to the female cloaca and releases sperm Retracted and Erect phallus of a male
Females: • Single ovary on left side of body • Ovary releases eggs into oviduct where they’re fertilized • Fertilized eggs move down the oviduct where they receive a protective covering and shell • Egg passes out cloaca
For most birds, copulation involves a “cloacal kiss”, with the male on the female's back & twisting his tail under the female's -Copulation typically lasts just a few seconds
Oviparity: • Lay eggs in nest which conceals young from predators & provides shelter
Parental Care: • Both parents incubate eggs by sitting on them • Feathered patch of skin (brood patch) for covering
Migration: • When cold and food is scarce-fly south
Diversity of the species: • Use beak, feet, plumage & DNA to classify
Navigation: • Use stars & sun; earths magnetic field; changes in air pressure; low frequency sounds; topographical landmarks