Paleognathae
Ancient Jaw
What are ratites?
Flightless birds
What are some families of ratites?
Struthioniformes (ostriches), Rheiformes (Rheas), Casuariiformes (Cassowaries), Apterygiformes (Kiwis)
What is different about the keel of flightless birds?
There is no keel in flightless birds
Neognathe
Newer Jaw
Anseriformes
Screamers, Ducks, Geese, Magpies, Swan
Galliformes
Gallinaceous birds (guineafowl, pheasant, quail, peacock)
Sphenisciformes
penguins
Gaviiformes
loons
procellariiformes
Albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels
Pelicaniformes
Pelicans, egrets, herons, and ibises
Suliformes
Frigatebirds, cormorants, gannets, anhingas, boobies
Accipitiformes
eagles, kites, osprey, hawks
Columbiformes
Pigeons and doves
strigiformes
owls
apodiformes
swifts, hummingbirds
Coraciiformes
kingfishers, hornbills, kiikaburras
Piciformes
Woodpeckers, barbets, toucans
Falconiformes
Falcons, kestrels, caracaras
Passeriformes
Perching birds/songbirds
What is plumage?
All the collective feathers on a bird’s body
What do the feathers do?
regulate body temperature, power flight, support, protection, communication, tactile sensation
What type of keratin makes up feathers and why is that important?
Beta-keratin; flexible but very strong
What are the 6 types of feathers?
contour feathers, flight feathers, down, filoplumes, bristles, and powder down
What is the purpose of contour feathers?
cover the body
What are the 3 parts of a contour feather?
vane, rachis, calamus
What is the order of feather projections (big to small)
barb, ramus, barbule, barbicel
What is the pennaceous region?
region of the contour feather with the flat flexible surface towards the end of the vane
What is the plumulaceous region?
Region of the feather with the fluffy down near the base of the vane
What type of feather is most highly modifed?
contour feathers
What is an example of a modified contour feather?
Anhinga lack barbicels, penguins grow contours at 90 degree angles, ducks have tight contours for waterproofing, etc
What is the function of flight feathers
provide lift, thrust, and steering flight
Why are the flight feathers asymmetrical
bernoullian lift
What are the types of flight feathers?
primaries and secondaries
Why are flight feathers not highly modified?
They need to serve a purpose
What is an example of a flight feather modifiation?
Standard-winged nightjar or pennant-winged nightjar
Where do primaries attach?
carpometacarpus
Where do the secondaries attach?
Ulna
What is the biggest order of bird?
Passeriformes
What type of feet do passeriformes have?
anisodactyly
What family has zygodactyl feet?
Piciformes (woodpeckers)
What is the only type of bird that is preyed ON by insects?
Hummingbird