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Birds are warm-blooded vertebrates and are found within the tetrapod group. Can be found in all kinds of habitat and on all continents, even in environments as cold as Antarctica. Its main characteristic is the presence of feathers and the ability to fly, although not all of them can, as there are some species that have lost this ability. Within the world of birds, there is a great variety in terms of morphology (body shape), colors and size of feathers, beak shapes and ways of feeding.
you know the different types of birds that exist and their characteristics? If you want to know more about this wonderful animal group, continue reading this article by PeritoAnimal, where we will talk about the types of birds present in each part of the world and their most curious details.
Bird characteristics
Birds are the closest descendants of dinosaurs, which inhabited the Earth about 200 million years ago, in the Jurassic. As we mentioned, they are endothermic animals (warm-blooded) who have feathers that cover their entire body, a horny beak (with keratin cells) and have no teeth. Its forelimbs are adapted for flight and, in the case of non-flying bird species such as ostriches, kiwis or penguins, its hind limbs are adapted for running, walking or swimming. Their particular anatomy has several adaptations, most related to flight and their particular ways of life. They have the following characteristics:
- light skeleton: skeleton with very light and hollow bones that make them light during flight.
- Vision developed: They also have very large orbitals (cavities where the eyes are housed), so their vision is highly developed.
- Horny beak: birds have a horny beak with many variations, depending on the species and the way they feed.
- sirinx: they also have the syrinx, which is part of their oral apparatus and through which they can emit sounds and singing.
- Chat and gizzard: they have a crop (dilation of the esophagus) that serves to store food before digestion and, on the other hand, a gizzard, which is part of the stomach and is responsible for crushing the food, usually with the help of small stones that the bird swallows for that purpose.
- do not urinate: they do not have a urinary bladder, therefore, uric acid (residues from the kidneys of birds) is excreted with the rest of the residues in the form of semi-solid feces.
- fused bones: Vertebrae fusion, hip bone fusion, and sternum and rib variations to accommodate flight muscles.
- four fingers: the paws have 4 toes in most species, which have different disposition depending on the way of life they lead.
- Eggplants or pellets: many species form egagropyle or pellets, small vomited concretions formed by undigested animal remains.
- lay eggs: as we mentioned earlier, their reproductive form is by internal fertilization and they lay dry calcareous eggs that incubate in their nests, and many species lose their breast feathers during the incubation period in order to provide more heat to the egg.
- Can be born with or without feathers: newly hatched chicks (when they hatch) can be altricial, that is, they do not have feathers for their protection and must stay longer in the nest under the care of their parents. On the other hand, they can be precocious, when they are born with down that protect their body, therefore, they spend less time in the nest.
- Accelerated digestion and metabolism: having a high and accelerated metabolism and digestion are also flight-related adaptations.
- special breath: very particular respiratory system, as they have lungs with air sacs that allow them a constant flow of air.
- developed nervous system: Have a highly developed nervous system, especially the brain, which is related to flight functions.
- Assorted food: related to their diet, there is a wide variation depending on the species, and may consume seeds, fruits and flowers, leaves, insects, carrion (animal remains) and nectar, which will be directly related to their ways of life.
- long migrations: many marine species, such as the dark parla (grisea ardenne) has the ability to carry out migrations as long as they are spectacular, as it reaches more than 900 km a day. Find out here which migratory birds are.
types of birds
around the world there are more than 10,000 species, and most of them diversified during the Cretaceous, about 145 million years ago. Currently, they are grouped into two major lineages:
- Paleognathae: with about 50 species distributed mainly in the southern hemisphere,
- Neognathae: composed of the rest of the species present on all continents.
Below, we include a diagram that shows the types of birds that exist more clearly.
Examples of Paleognathae birds
Among the types of birds Palaeognathae are:
- the ostrich (Struthio camelus): is the biggest bird we can find today and the fastest runner. It is present in sub-Saharan Africa.
- the rheas: like American rhea, similar to ostriches, although smaller. They lost the ability to fly and are also excellent runners and are present in South America.
- the inhambu-açu: like tinamus major they are also present in Central and South America. They are wandering birds and carry out short flights when they feel threatened.
- the cassowaries: like cassowary cassowary, present in Australia and New Guinea, and the emu Dromaius novaehollandiae, present in Oceania. Both have also lost the ability to fly and are walkers or runners.
- the kiwis: endemic (only present in one location) of New Zealand, such as Apteryx owenii. They are small and globular birds with terrestrial habits.
Examples of Neognathae birds
At Neognathae they comprise the most diverse and numerous group of birds today, so we will name their best known or most striking representatives. Here we can find:
- chickens: like gallus gallus, present around the world.
- Ducks: such as Anas sivilatrix, present in South America.
- common pigeon: like Columba livia, also widely distributed, as it is present in much of the world.
- cuckoos: like the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus, so curious for practicing reproductive parasitism, where females lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species. Here you will also find the roadrunner Geococcyx californianus, curious about their territorial customs to feed.
- crane: with examples like Grus Grus with its large size and ability to migrate long distances.
- seagulls: for example larus occidentalis, medium-sized seabirds with one of the largest wingspans (distance from end to end of the wings).
- Birds of prey: like the royal eagle, Aquila chrysaetos, species of large size and excellent flying, and owls and owls, such as the golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos, characteristic for its plumage so white.
- penguins: with representatives that can reach 1.20 m in height, like the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri).
- herons: like Ardea alba, widely distributed in the world and one of the largest of its group.
- hummingbirds: with small reps like Mellisuga helenae, considered the smallest bird in the world.
- kingfisher: like Alcedo atthis, so striking for its bright colors and its excellent ability to fish.
If you want to read more articles similar to Types of birds: characteristics, names and examples, we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.