JournalCharacteristics of Birds

1. List 6 characteristics of Birds.2. Circle 2 that are unique.3. Star 2 shared with mammals.

19 orders

Birds: Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Chordata– Subphylum: Vertebrata

• Class: Aves–Within the class there are 29 Orders

»187 Families»9600 Species

Taxonomy of the Robin

Level Name DescriptionKingdom Animalia Animals

PhylumChordata Subphylum: Vertebrata

Animals with backbones

Class Aves Animals called Birds

Order (29) Passeriformes Birds that perch

Family (187) Turdidae All Thrushes

Genus Turdus Similar Thrushes

Species (9600) Turdus migratorius American Robin

Characteristics Unique to Birds

• Have Feathers

• Right aortic arch in heart

Shared with Mammals

• Endothermic

• 4 chambered heart

Shared w/ Mammals Cont.

• Large amount of

parental care

Shared with Reptiles

• Egg laying

• Egg tooth helps break out of shell

• Scales: feathers and on feet

• Skeletal characteristics (many)

• Air sacs (similar to turtles and chameleons)

Historical

• Incomplete fossil record

• Soft bones do not fossilize well

• Archaeopteryx: (ancient wing)

• 1. most primitive bird we know of BUT not necessarily the ancestor of birds

• 2. Discovered in 1861 in Germany: fossil of skeleton with feathers

• 3. From Jurassic period: 150 mya

Archaeopteryx Cont.

• 4. About the size of a crow

• Long tail and teeth like a reptile

• Feathers asymmetrical (characteristic of flight)

Archaeopteryx

Functions of Feathers

• Flight

Owl in FlightOwl in Flight

Functions of Feathers

• Insulation

Feather Functions

Courtship Behavior

Feather Functions

• Support

Feather Functions

• Communication

Feather Functions

• Sound Amplification

• Camouflage

Feather Functions• Carrying Water (African Sand Grouse)• Specially adapted breast feathers can absorb up to 40ml of water.

After wading through watering holes to absorb water, the male will return to the nest so the chicks can drink the water from the feathers.

FEATHERS

• Feathers are an adaptation of reptilian scales

• Sizes range from 1/20 of an inch on an eyelid to 5 feet on a peacock tail!

• 1,000 to 25,000 feathers per bird

Feather Types

• 1. Contour Feathers: smooth, patterned to contribute to appearance

Feather Types

• 2. Flight Feather: hollow central shaft (rachis)Flat vein on either side

Barb comes off the vein, contains barbules

Feather Types

• 3. Down: very short rachis (shaft)– NON-INTERLOCKING BARBS– Insulation: traps air

Feather Lab1. Draw quality, gorgeous sketches!2. Complete highlighting activity on

back.3. Turn in to green bin.4. Organize Notebook5. Show Mrs. Hadley

New Dinosaur at Carnegie Museum….

• http://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2014/03/19/Chicken-from-hell-actually-a-dinosaur-Carnegie-Musuem-scientists-say/stories/201403190180

New Bird-Like DinosaurJournal # 7

1. To what kind of modern bird is this animal compared?

2. Describe the diet of this animal.

3. Name 2 similarities between Anzu wyliei and modern birds.

4. What is the researcher’s theory on how the crest was used on the head of the animal?

5. How/why did they choose the name of dinosaur?