Ami Flowers Luis Candelario

2014

International Issues in Conservation

Approximately 9600 bird species in the world

Believed to have reptilian origin (150 mya)

Jurassic periodArchaeopteryx

lithographica“Ancient wing inscribed in

stone”Largest– Ostrich at

317lbsSmallest – Scintillant

Hummingbird at 2.25 g

6-9 ft

6.5 cm

FEATHERS!Skeletal System

Bones hollow or thinBones fused

Skin Glands (lack of)Uropygial gland at

base of tail Waterproof feathers

Excretory SystemLack urinary bladderUric acid – highly

concentrated

Reproductive SystemOne working ovary

(left)Gonads enlarge during

breeding seasonOviparous

Digestive SystemEat high calorie foodsQuick digestion (1 hr)

Nervous SystemWell-developed brainExcellent eye sightAnosmic – reduced or

no sense of smell

Contour FeatherForm outline of the

bodyRemiges – flight

feathersRetrices – tail feathers

SemiplumesPlumaceous – loose-

vanedLack hamuli (hooks)Under contour feathersAid in insulation and

buoyancy

FiloplumesHair-likeSmall vane at

tip or no vane

Aid in sensing

DownSoft feathers lacking

vanesShort rachusBeneath contour feathersAid in insulation

BristlesVanelessFound around eyes,

mouth, nostrilsFor sensory and air

filtration

AnisodactylHallux is behind and

the other three toes are in front

Passerines

ZygodactylToes arranged in

pairsTwo up front, two in

the backWoodpeckers

SyndactylThird and fourth

toes fusedKingfishers

PamprodactylAll four toes are

forwardHummingbirds

and Swifts

PalmateFront three toes are

webbedDucks and gulls

SemipalmateAnterior of toes half-

webbedPlovers

TotipalmateAll four toes are

webbedComorants

LobateToes are lobedGrebes

SongsLocal vocal displays

with specific repeated patterns

Species specificMainly by malesFunctions to

identify:SpeciesSexTerritoryVigor (mating)

CallsShort, simple

vocalizationsOften a single noteIntra/interspecificBoth males and

femalesVariety of functions:

WarningFeedingNestFlocking

In Botswana and South Africa

Order Pelicaniformes Family Ardeidae

Grey Heron

Family Ciconiidae Saddle-billed Stork

Family ThreskiornithidaeHadeda Ibis

Family ScopidaeHammerkop

Family CharadriidaeBlacksmith LapwingWhite-crowned LapwingThree-banded Plover

Order AnseriformesFamily Anatidae

Egyptian Geese

Order ApodiformesFamily Apodidae

African Palm-swift

Family AccipitridaeBateleur

African Fish Eagle

Family AccipitridaeMartial EagleTawny EagleVerreaux’s Eagle

Family AccipitridaeLappett-faced

VultureWhite-backed

Vulture

Family AccipitridaeWhite-headed

VultureCape Vulture

Lappet-faced Vulture

White-backed Vulture

White-headed Vulture

Cape Vulture

Family StrigidaeVerreaux’s Eagle-owlSpotted Eagle-owlPel’s Fishing OwlPearl Spotted Owlet

Family PhasianidaeCrested Francolin Natal Francolin

Swainson’s Spurfowl

Family NumididaeHelmeted

GuineafowlCrested Guineafowl

Order CaprimulgiformesFamily Caprimulgidae

Fiery-necked Nightjar

Order PteroclidiformesFamily Pteroclidae

Double-breasted Sandgrouse

Family ColumbidaeAfrican Green

Pigeon

Namaqua Dove

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

Family ColumbidaeCape Turtle Dove

Red-eyed Dove

Laughing Dove

Family PsittacidaeBrown-headed ParrotGrey-headed ParrotMeyer’s Parrot

Family MusophagidaeGrey Go-away-bird

Family ColiidaeSpeckled MousebirdRed-faced Mousebird

Family AlcedinidaeGiant KingfisherPied KingfisherStriped Kingfisher

Family MeropidaeWhite-fronted Bee-eaterLittle Bee-eater

Family CoraciidaeLilac-breasted

RollerRacket-tailed Roller

Family UpupidaeAfrican Hoopoe

Family PhoeniculidaeGreen Wood-hoopoe

Family BucerotidaeRed-billed Hornbill

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Family PicidaeGolden-tailed WoodpeckerCardinal WoodpeckerBearded Woodpecker

Family LybidaeeBlack-collared

BarbetCrested Barbet

Family BuphagidaeYellow-billed

OxpeckerRed-billed Oxpecker

Family CisticolidaeRattling CisticolaRed-faced CisticolaGrey-backed

CamaropteraYellow-breasted

ApalisTawny-flanked

Prinia

Family DicruridaeFork-tailed Drongo

Family MuscicapidaeSouthern Black

Flycatcher

Family EmberizidaeCinnamon-breasted

BuntingGolden-breasted

Bunting

Family FringillidaeLemon-breasted

CanaryYellow-fronted

Canary

Family EstrilididaeBlue WaxbillGreen-winged

Pytilia

Family SylviideBurnt-necked

EremomelaGreen-capped

Eremomela

Family MalaconotidaeTropical BouBouBrubruBlack-backed PuffbackOrange-breasted

Bush-shrike

Family MotacillidaeAfrican Pied Wagtail

Family PlatysteirnidaeChinspot Batis

Family MuscicapidaeAfrican Stone ChatBearded Scrub-robinWhite-browed Scrub-

robinWhite-throated Robin-

chatWhite-browed Robin-

chat

Family TurdidaeKurrichane Thrush

Family NectariniidaeWhite-bellied SunbirdMarico Sunbird

Family OriolidaeBlack-headed Oriole

Family PyconotidaeDark-capped Bulbul

Family PloceidaeRed-billed QueleaRed-billed Buffalo Weaver

Family PrionopidaeWhite-crested Helmet

ShrikeSouthern White-crowned

Shrike

Family TimaliidaeArrow-marked

Babbler

Family SturnidaeMeve’s Starling