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Bird
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Birds
Fossil range:
Late Jurassic - Recent
Superb Fairy-wren,
Malurus cyaneus, juvenile
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
(unranked)
Archosauria
Class:
Aves
Linnaeus, 1758
Orders
Many - see section below.
Birds are bipedal, warm-blooded, oviparous
vertebrate animals characterized primarily by feathers, forelimbs modified as wings,
and (in most) hollow bones. All birds reproduce sexually, although parthenogenetic
eggs are known to be produced by the domesticated turkey on occasion and are
suspected to occur in its wild ancestor.[1]
Birds range in size from
the tiny hummingbirds to the huge Ostrich and Emu. Depending on the taxonomic
viewpoint, there are about 8,800–10,200 living bird species (and about 120–130
that have become extinct in the span of human history) in the world, making
them the most diverse class of terrestrial vertebrates.
Birds feed on nectar, plants,
seeds, insects, fish, mammals, carrion, or other birds.
Most birds are diurnal, or
active during the day, but some birds, such as many species of owls and nightjars,
are nocturnal or crepuscular (active during twilight hours), and many coastal waders
feed when the tides are appropriate, by day or night.
Many birds migrate long
distances to utilise optimum habitats, like the American Robin, while others
spend almost all their time at sea (e.g. the Wandering Albatross). Some, such
as Common Swifts, stay aloft for days at a time, even sleeping on the wing.
Common characteristics of
birds include beak with no teeth, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, high metabolic
rate, a 4-chambered heart, and a light but strong skeleton. Most birds are
characterised by flight, though the ratites are flightless, and several other
species, particularly on islands, have also lost this ability. Flightless birds
include the penguins, ostrich, kiwi, and the extinct Dodo. Flightless species
are vulnerable to extinction when humans or the mammals they introduce arrive
in their habitat. The Great Auk, flightless rails, and the moa of New Zealand,
for example, all became extinct due to human influence.
Birds are among the most
extensively studied of all animal groups. Hundreds of academic journals and
thousands of scientists are devoted to bird research, while amateur enthusiasts
(called birdwatchers, twitchers or, more commonly, birders) probably number in
the millions.
Bird orders
Relationships
between bird orders according the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy. "Galloanseri"
is now considered a superorder Galloanserae.
This is a list of the
taxonomic orders in the subclass Neornithes, or modern birds. The list of birds
gives a more detailed summary of these, including families.
SUBCLASS NEORNITHES
Paleognathae:
- Struthioniformes, Ostrich, emus, kiwis,
and allies
- Tinamiformes, tinamous
Neognathae:
- Anseriformes, waterfowl
- Galliformes, fowl
- Gaviiformes, loons
- Podicipediformes, grebes
- Procellariiformes, albatrosses,
petrels, and allies
- Sphenisciformes, penguins
- Pelecaniformes, pelicans
and allies
- Ciconiiformes, storks
and allies
- Phoenicopteriformes, flamingos
- Falconiformes, falcons, eagles,
hawks and allies
- Gruiformes, cranes and
allies
- Charadriiformes, gulls, button-quail,
plovers and allies
- Pteroclidiformes,
sandgrouse
- Columbiformes, doves and
pigeons
- Psittaciformes, parrots
and allies
- Cuculiformes, cuckoos, turacos,
hoatzin
- Strigiformes, owls
- Caprimulgiformes, nightjars and allies
- Apodiformes, swifts and hummingbirds
- Coraciiformes, kingfishers
- Piciformes, woodpeckers and allies
- Trogoniformes, trogons
- Coliiformes, mousebirds
- Passeriformes, passerines
Note: This is the
traditional classification (the so-called Clements order). A radically
different classification based on molecular data has been developed (the
so-called Sibley-Monroe classification or Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy). This has
influenced taxonomical thinking considerably, with the Galloanserae proving
well-supported by recent molecular, fossil and anatomical evidence.[citation
needed] With increasingly good evidence, it has become
possible by 2006 to test the major proposals of the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy. The
results are often nothing short of astounding, see e.g. Charadriiformes or Caprimulgiformes.
Extinct
bird orders
A wide variety of bird
groups became extinct during the Mesozoic era and left no modern descendants. These
include the orders Archaeopterygiformes, Confuciusornithiformes, toothed
seabirds like the Hesperornithes and Ichthyornithes, and the diverse subclass Enantiornithes
("opposite birds").
For a complete listing of
prehistoric bird groups, see Fossil birds.
|
Birds Fossil range:
Late Jurassic - Recent |
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|
Superb Fairy-wren,
Malurus cyaneus, juvenile |
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Scientific classification
|
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Orders
|
||||||||||
|
Many - see section below. |
Birds are bipedal, warm-blooded, oviparous
vertebrate animals characterized primarily by feathers, forelimbs modified as wings,
and (in most) hollow bones. All birds reproduce sexually, although parthenogenetic
eggs are known to be produced by the domesticated turkey on occasion and are
suspected to occur in its wild ancestor.[1]
Birds range in size from
the tiny hummingbirds to the huge Ostrich and Emu. Depending on the taxonomic
viewpoint, there are about 8,800–10,200 living bird species (and about 120–130
that have become extinct in the span of human history) in the world, making
them the most diverse class of terrestrial vertebrates.
Birds feed on nectar, plants,
seeds, insects, fish, mammals, carrion, or other birds.
Most birds are diurnal, or
active during the day, but some birds, such as many species of owls and nightjars,
are nocturnal or crepuscular (active during twilight hours), and many coastal waders
feed when the tides are appropriate, by day or night.
Many birds migrate long
distances to utilise optimum habitats, like the American Robin, while others
spend almost all their time at sea (e.g. the Wandering Albatross). Some, such
as Common Swifts, stay aloft for days at a time, even sleeping on the wing.
Common characteristics of
birds include beak with no teeth, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, high metabolic
rate, a 4-chambered heart, and a light but strong skeleton. Most birds are
characterised by flight, though the ratites are flightless, and several other
species, particularly on islands, have also lost this ability. Flightless birds
include the penguins, ostrich, kiwi, and the extinct Dodo. Flightless species
are vulnerable to extinction when humans or the mammals they introduce arrive
in their habitat. The Great Auk, flightless rails, and the moa of New Zealand,
for example, all became extinct due to human influence.
Birds are among the most
extensively studied of all animal groups. Hundreds of academic journals and
thousands of scientists are devoted to bird research, while amateur enthusiasts
(called birdwatchers, twitchers or, more commonly, birders) probably number in
the millions.
Bird orders
Relationships
between bird orders according the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy. "Galloanseri"
is now considered a superorder Galloanserae.
This is a list of the
taxonomic orders in the subclass Neornithes, or modern birds. The list of birds
gives a more detailed summary of these, including families.
SUBCLASS NEORNITHES
Paleognathae:
- Struthioniformes, Ostrich, emus, kiwis,
and allies
- Tinamiformes, tinamous
Neognathae:
- Anseriformes, waterfowl
- Galliformes, fowl
- Gaviiformes, loons
- Podicipediformes, grebes
- Procellariiformes, albatrosses,
petrels, and allies
- Sphenisciformes, penguins
- Pelecaniformes, pelicans
and allies
- Ciconiiformes, storks
and allies
- Phoenicopteriformes, flamingos
- Falconiformes, falcons, eagles,
hawks and allies
- Gruiformes, cranes and
allies
- Charadriiformes, gulls, button-quail,
plovers and allies
- Pteroclidiformes,
sandgrouse
- Columbiformes, doves and
pigeons
- Psittaciformes, parrots
and allies
- Cuculiformes, cuckoos, turacos,
hoatzin
- Strigiformes, owls
- Caprimulgiformes, nightjars and allies
- Apodiformes, swifts and hummingbirds
- Coraciiformes, kingfishers
- Piciformes, woodpeckers and allies
- Trogoniformes, trogons
- Coliiformes, mousebirds
- Passeriformes, passerines
Note: This is the
traditional classification (the so-called Clements order). A radically
different classification based on molecular data has been developed (the
so-called Sibley-Monroe classification or Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy). This has
influenced taxonomical thinking considerably, with the Galloanserae proving
well-supported by recent molecular, fossil and anatomical evidence.[citation
needed] With increasingly good evidence, it has become
possible by 2006 to test the major proposals of the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy. The
results are often nothing short of astounding, see e.g. Charadriiformes or Caprimulgiformes.
Extinct
bird orders
A wide variety of bird
groups became extinct during the Mesozoic era and left no modern descendants. These
include the orders Archaeopterygiformes, Confuciusornithiformes, toothed
seabirds like the Hesperornithes and Ichthyornithes, and the diverse subclass Enantiornithes
("opposite birds").
For a complete listing of
prehistoric bird groups, see Fossil birds.
Relationships
between bird orders according the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy. "Galloanseri"
is now considered a superorder Galloanserae.
This is a list of the
taxonomic orders in the subclass Neornithes, or modern birds. The list of birds
gives a more detailed summary of these, including families.
SUBCLASS NEORNITHES
Paleognathae:
- Struthioniformes, Ostrich, emus, kiwis,
and allies
- Tinamiformes, tinamous
Neognathae:
- Anseriformes, waterfowl
- Galliformes, fowl
- Gaviiformes, loons
- Podicipediformes, grebes
- Procellariiformes, albatrosses,
petrels, and allies
- Sphenisciformes, penguins
- Pelecaniformes, pelicans
and allies
- Ciconiiformes, storks
and allies
- Phoenicopteriformes, flamingos
- Falconiformes, falcons, eagles,
hawks and allies
- Gruiformes, cranes and
allies
- Charadriiformes, gulls, button-quail,
plovers and allies
- Pteroclidiformes,
sandgrouse
- Columbiformes, doves and
pigeons
- Psittaciformes, parrots
and allies
- Cuculiformes, cuckoos, turacos,
hoatzin
- Strigiformes, owls
- Caprimulgiformes, nightjars and allies
- Apodiformes, swifts and hummingbirds
- Coraciiformes, kingfishers
- Piciformes, woodpeckers and allies
- Trogoniformes, trogons
- Coliiformes, mousebirds
- Passeriformes, passerines
Note: This is the
traditional classification (the so-called Clements order). A radically
different classification based on molecular data has been developed (the
so-called Sibley-Monroe classification or Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy). This has
influenced taxonomical thinking considerably, with the Galloanserae proving
well-supported by recent molecular, fossil and anatomical evidence.[citation
needed] With increasingly good evidence, it has become
possible by 2006 to test the major proposals of the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy. The
results are often nothing short of astounding, see e.g. Charadriiformes or Caprimulgiformes.
Extinct
bird orders
A wide variety of bird
groups became extinct during the Mesozoic era and left no modern descendants. These
include the orders Archaeopterygiformes, Confuciusornithiformes, toothed
seabirds like the Hesperornithes and Ichthyornithes, and the diverse subclass Enantiornithes
("opposite birds").
For a complete listing of
prehistoric bird groups, see Fossil birds.