Birds

click to edit

People associated with birds Ornithologist Avian Veterinarian Birder Lover of Birds- Ornithophile
study of birds- Ornithology
Father of Ornithology- Allan Octavian Hume

What are birds
Birds are a diverse warm blooded vertebrates

Features of birds**
Claws
Feathers
Beaks
Wings
Hard shelled eggs
Flying
Flightless birds
Different sizes of birds
Patterns
Colours
Body shape of birds
Legs and feet
Tail
Eyes
Crest and wattles (flesh hanging from various parts of head and neck)

Birds as pets
Parrots
Sparrows
Parakeets
Love birds
Macaws
Care of pets

Care of Birds
Suitable cage
Balanced Diet
Cleanliness
Social Interaction
Observation
Veterinary Checkups

Places where birds live
trees
nests
deserts
mountains
sea
fresh waters
Grasslands
Wetlands
Forests
Coastal areas

Organisations
Jivdaya Charitable Trust
Royal Society for the Protection for the Birds
Bird Life International

Extinct Birds
Dodo
Great Auk Carolina Parakeet
Passenger Pigeon
Labrador Duck

*Classification as per food habits
Granivorous- Sparrow, Pigeon
Carnivorous -owl, eagle, falcon, crow
Omnivorous- Cranes, cassowaries, chickens, crows and related corvids, kea, Rallidae, and rheas.

Food
seeds
berries
fruit,
insects,
other birds,
eggs,
small mammals,
fish,
buds,
larvae,
aquatic invertebrates,
acorns and other nuts,
aquatic vegetation,
grain,
dead animals,
garbage

Collective noun for the Birds Swarm Flock
Flamboyance

Movements in the Birds
walking
flying
hopping
swimming
perching
Murmuration

Types Of Nests


Cup Nest
Adherent
Platform
Earth Hole
Ground and mound
Scrape

Concepts
tall- short
Long Short
colourful- white
big- small
thick- thin
fat- thin

Types of beaks
Sharp, Hooked Beaks: For tearing meat (e.g., eagles, hawks)
Short, Strong Beaks: For cracking seeds (e.g., sparrows, finches)
Long, Thin Beaks: For probing flowers for nectar (e.g., hummingbirds)
Flat, Wide Beaks: For scooping up fish and water plants (e.g., ducks)
Pointed Beaks: For catching insects (e.g., woodpeckers)
Conical beaks

Names of Birds
Dodo
Duck
Crow
Cranes
Cuckoo
Eagle
Flamingo
Goose
Hen
Humming bird
Kite
Kingfisher
Nightingale
Owl
Parrot
Peacock
Parakeet
Pigeon
Penguin
Rooster
Robin
Sparrow
Swan
Quail
Woodpecker
Macau
Kiwi
Hawk
Taucan

Sanctuaries
Nelapattu Bird sanctuary
Nal Sarovar Bird sanctuary
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
Thol
Rasala
Kankaria
Sundarvan

Young Ones*
Hatchling
Duckling
Eaglet
Chick
Fledgling

Types of Birds
Songbirds
Raptors (Birds of Prey)
Waterfowl (Ducks, Swans, Geese)
Wading birds (Herons, Egrets, Flamingos)
Seabirds (Gulls, Puffins, Abatrosses)
Game birds (Turkeys, Quail, Pheasants)
Pigeons and doves
Parrots
Woodpeckers
Flightless birds
Scavenger birds

Types of claws

Types of feathers
Contour feathers
Powder down
Flight
Filoplume
Bristle

Talons, Perching Claws, Climbing Claws, Wading Claws, Scratching Claws, Swimming Claws, Running Claws. Ground Foraging Claws, Hooked Claws, Specialized Claws

Wild Birds
Songbirds
Raptors
Waterfowl
Game birds

How birds sleep
Perching
Tucking heads
Unihemispheric slow wave sleep
Rooftop sleepers
Tree cavities and nests
Floating or Swimming
Group sleeping
Migration and long flights

How birds talk to each other
Vocalization- songs, calls, alarm calls, begging calls- tweet, twitter, cheep, chirp, screech, whistle, humming, singing
Visual signals- Body postures, Feather displays, Flight patterns
Non vocal Sounds- Drumming, Wing sounds
Chemical signals


Why birds make different sounds
Attracting mates
Defending territory
Signaling Danger
Communicating with flocks
Parent offspring communication
Courtship and mating rituals
Expressing discomfort and distress
Marking presence
Navigation and orientation
Social interactions

Why do birds eat with their beaks
Lack of hands
Adaptation to diet
Efficient feeding
Manupulating food
Cleaning and Preening
Evolutinary Adaptation
Multi functional tool

Why do birds have wings
Flight
Adaptation to different ecological Niches
Thermoregulation
Courtship and mating displays
Protection and defense
Nest building and care
Communication
Gliding and parachuting

Why do birds migrate
Food availability
Breeding opportunities
Avoiding harsh climates
day length and photoperiod
Reproductive Success
Genetic and evolutionary factors
Environmental cues and navigation
Avoiding disease and parasites

Connections of humans with birds
Birdwatching
Art and literature
Cultural significance
Conservation and environmental awareness
Personal connection and therapy
Ecological awareness
Aesthetic enjoyment

Uses of Birds
Pollination
Source of food
Cleaning agents

Feet of birds
Perching feet
Webbed feet
Climbing feet
Walking feet
Hopping feet
Sharp feet
Long feet
Strong feet

**Life cycle of a bird
Egg
Chick
Nestling
-Fledgling-
Juvenile
*Adult Bird :