BIOL 379 Lecture 1: Bird Overview of Species
Document Summary
Characterizing birds: beaks, wings, hallow bones, feathers, eggs (hard shells), nests, endothermic (around 40* c or 103* f), feet (ankles off ground), communicate by sight and sound (poor sense of smell) Ratites: most primitive group (ostrich, emu, rhea, tinamous, kiwi) Lack keel (carina) wing muscle attachment = flightless. *flightlessness has developed on islands in other groups too (due to decreased predator pressure) Penguins wings reduced to flippers, built for diving and swimming. Occupy southern hemisphere (most northern found on galapagos is) Grebes similar lifestyle to ducks hence similar features to ducks. Most nest in freshwater (found in fresh and salt water) Feet are so far back they can"t really walk, need to take off from water. Designed for underwater speed during dives and long migrations (large wings) Loons bigger than ducks similar to geese in size. Limited walking nest close to water"s edge, brilliant divers. Harmed by lead sinkers (banned in places where loons populations struggle)
