Birds

Characteristics of Birds Feathers Help birds stay dry and warm,

attract mates, and fly Preening and Molting Preening: the act of

grooming and maintaining their feathers

Preening spreads oil over the feathers, which makes them waterproof

Molting: process of shedding old feathers and growing new ones

Most birds shed once a year

Two kinds of feathers Down feathers fluffy

feathers that lie next to the bird’s body

Keep birds warm by trapping body heat next to body

Contour feathers stiff feathers that cover a bird’s body and wings

Colors and shapes attract mates

Streamlined surface helps bird fly

Fast Digestion Birds eat a lot because they

need a lot of energy Birds eat seeds, insects, nuts,

and meat because they are high in protein

Modern birds don’t have teeth, so they can’t chew

Food goes from the mouth to the crop, which stores food until it goes to the gizzard the gizzard has small stones which grind up the food so that it can be easily digested

Flying Birds have air sacs attached to their

lungs to store air Most birds have large eyes and

excellent eyesight; birds such as hawks and eagles can see 8 times better than humans can see!

Wing shape is related to how a bird flies- short wings for quick turning, long wings for soaring

Rigid skeleton allows a bird to move its wings efficiently

Powerful flight muscle attached to a large breastbone called a keel

Birds have hollow bones so that they are light

Getting off the ground Air moving around a bird’s

wing changes in speed and direction, creating an upward force that keeps a bird in the air

“lift” is an upward force on a bird’s wings

Raising Baby Birds Most birds build nests to

lay their eggs Brooding act of sitting

on eggs and using body heat to keep them warm

Some birds are active soon after birth; others are weak and helpless

Precocial active chicks, such as chickens and ducks; can stand up and follow parents around

Altricial have no feathers and eyes are closed when born; cannot walk or fly at birth, such as hawks and songbirds

Kinds of Birds Flightless birds

Most do not have the large keel that anchors a birds’ flight muscles

Some run quickly to move around

Others are skilled swimmers

Examples: penguins, kiwi, ostrich

Water birds Usually have

webbed feet for swimming or long legs for wading

Examples: cranes, ducks, geese, swans, pelicans

Perching birds Have special adaptations

for resting on branches Its feet automatically

close around a branch Even if it falls asleep, its

feet will stay closed—it won’t fall off the branch

Examples: chickadees, parrots, robins, sparrows

Birds of Prey Hunt and eat other

vertebrates Have sharp claws on

their feet and a sharp, curved beak

Also have very good vision

Most hunt during the day, but most owls hunt at night

Examples: owls, osprey, hawks, vultures