BIRD CLASSIFICATION. BIRDS Birds are classified as members of Class Aves. The major characteristics of this class are: Adaptations for flight Appendages.

BIRD CLASSIFICATION

BIRDS

• Birds are classified as members of Class Aves. • The major characteristics of this class are:

• Adaptations for flight• Appendages modified as wings• Feathers• Endothermy• High metabolic rate• Vertebral column modified for flight• Bones lightened by air spaces• Bill• No teeth

ORDER SPHENISCIFORMES

• Heavy body• Flightless• Flipperlike wings for swimming• Well-insulated with fat

• Example: penguins

ORDER STRUTHIONIFORMES

• Large and flightless• Wings have many fluffy plumes

• Example: ostrich

ORDER GAVIIFORMES

• Strong, straight bill• Adapted for diving (legs far back on body,

webbed feet, heavy bones).

• Example: Loons

ORDER PODICIPEDIFORMES

• Short wings• Soft and dense feathers• Webbed feet with flattened nails

• Example: Grebes

ORDER PROCELLARIIFORMES

• Tubular nostrils• Large nasal glands• Long and narrow wings

• Example: Albatross

ORDER PELECANIFORMES

• 4 toes joined in common web• Nostrils usually absent• Large gular sac

• Examples: Pelicans, Boobies

ORDER CICONIIFORMES

• Long neck, often folded in flight• Long-legged waders

• Examples: Storks, Flamingos

ORDER ANSERIFORMES

• Wide, flat bill• Undercoat of dense down• Webbed feet

• Examples: Ducks, Geese, Swans

ORDER FALCONIFORMES

• Strong, hooked beak• Large wings• Raptor-like feet

• Examples: Falcons, Vultures, Hawks, Eagles

ORDER GALLIFORMES

• Short beak• Short, concave wings• Strong feet and claws

• Examples: Quail, pheasants, turkeys

ORDER GRUIFORMES

• Many different characteristics.

• Example: Crane

ORDER CHARADRIIFORMES

• Many different characteristics.

• Examples: Shorebirds, Gulls

ORDER COLUMBIFORMES

• Dense feathers loosely set in skin• Well-developed crop

• Examples: Pigeons, Doves

ORDER PSITTACIFORMES

• Jaw hinged to skull• Thick tongue• Reversible 4th toe• Usually brightly colored

• Examples: Parrots, Lories, Macaws

ORDER CUCULIFORMES

• Reversible 4th toe• Soft, tender skin

• Examples: Roadrunners, Cuckoos

ORDER STRIGIFORMES

• Large head with eyes directed forward• Raptor-like foot

• Examples: Owls

ORDER CAPRIMULGIFORMES

• Owl-like head and plumage• Weak bill and feet• Beak with wide gape• Insectivore

• Examples: Whipporwills

ORDER APODIFORMES

• Long wings• Weak feet

• Examples: Hummingbirds

ORDER CORACIIFORMES

• Large head• Large beak• Metallic plumage

• Examples: Kingfishers, Bee eaters

ORDER PICIFORMES

• Usually long strong beak• Strong legs and feet with fourth toe permanently

reversed in woodpeckers

• Examples: Woodpeckers, Toucans

ORDER PASSERIFORMES

• Largest avian order• 69 families of perching birds• Perching foot• Varied external features

• Examples: Swallows, Larks, Crows, many others