Birds

Aves: The BIrds Characteristics

Body Structures -Thin, Hollow bones -Large Sternum -Feathers, wings, beak

Body Function -Very efficient lungs and airs sacs -Unidirectional air flow - Four-chambered heart -Endotherms -Keen eyesight- 8-10x better than humans

Reproduction -Internal ferrilization -external development in amniotic egg -hatchlings - Aliticial fertilization- young hatch without feathers and are dependent on adults -Precocial- young hatch fully feathered and follow mother; 10-15 eggs

Digestion -Large variety of diets -seeds, nectar, insects, small animals, carrion -Beak indicate diet

Feathers -types -flight- for flying -contour- covers bird body -down-used for insulation -males are usually more brightly colored

Flight Adaptions -Feathers -extremely light (may have evolved from scales) -no teeth -hollow bones -sternum allows for attachment of powerful flight muscles -flight energy and efficiency -heartbeat pumps blood carrying oxygen to the muscles at 1000 beats/minute -air flow system is undirectional, making it more efficient

Bird Taxonomy Kingdom: Animal Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Aves

Flightless Birds Ex. Kiwi

Largest Birds Ex. Andean Condor

Smallest Bird Ex. Bee Hummingbird

Birds of Prey; talons and sharp beaks- rapotrs Ex. falcon

Videos**: Go to //A Variety of Hummingbirds// and //Little Brain, Big Journey//**
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This is the worlds fastest bird. The falcon can reach up to 200 miles per hour.

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This is a humming bird, it reaches up to 1000 heartbeats per minute

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Ostrich are the biggest birds in the world

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These birds are born altrecial and depend on their mother to keep them alive.

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This turkey is born precocial and can do everything from its birth