1. Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
(Birds)

2. Classification
Kingdom Animalia ---Phylum Chordata Subphylum Vertebrata Class Aves
Aviation = flight

3. Hummingbird
Order: Apodiforma

4. Tucan

5. Order:
Falconiformes
Peregrine falcon

6. Order: Galliformes

9. Dove

10. Class: Gaviiformes
Loon

13. Penguins

15. Origin and Early Evolution
Evidence from fossils and studies of comparative anatomy indicates that birds evolved from reptiles
Their features and their fragile hollow bones do not preserve well.
copyright cmassengale

16. Evolution of Birds (from reptiles)
Archaeopteryx - “ancient wing”
Reptile like - Had teeth in beak, bony tail, claws on wings
Bird like = Had feathers, & fused collarbone (wishbone)
Could not fly – could glide for glide short distances

19. Aves Characteristics 1. Forelimbs modified into wings
2. Thin layer of epidermis; No sweat
glands
3. Feathers – made of keratin
4. Hollow, lightweight bones
5. Endothermic
6. Efficient respiration
7. Heart with a completely divided
ventricle (4 chambers)
8. Scaled feet (birds are related to
reptiles)
9. Furculum (wishbone)

20. Body Plan Bilateral symmetry Forelimbs modified into wings
Bony skeleton with air pockets
Beak, no teeth
Single bone in the middle ear
Endothermic

21. copyright cmassengale
Skeleton
The sternum supports the large breast muscles
The humerus, ulna, and radius, along with the pectoral girdle and the sternum, support the wing.
The pygostyle, the terminal vertebra of the spine, support the tail feathers, which also play an important role.
copyright cmassengale

23. Feather Types 1. Contour feathers 2. Down feathers
Has a hollow quill, main shaft, and barbs, barbules
Covers, streamlines body, and allows flight; coloration
2. Down feathers
Light and fluffy
conserve heat (birds are endothermic)
3. Filoplume feathers
Hair-like/no known function

24. Feathers are covered in oil to keep them water proof - "like water off a duck's back" - this oil is secreted from a preen gland
Preening is a behavior that replaces the oil on feathers, and repairs broken links on the vanes

25. Feather Types

26. Feather Structure

30. copyright cmassengale
Endothermy
Generate and regulate body heat internally
Enables birds to inhabit both cold and hot climate
Body temperature ranges from degrees Celsius.
To help conserve body heat, birds fluff out their feathers to insulation.
copyright cmassengale

31. Nervous System - response
Well develop sense organs
A large brain
Cerebrum = thinking, decision making
Cerebellum = coordinated movement
Medulla oblongata = basic body process
Optic lobes = vision
Olfactory lobes = taste and smell

33. Respiration Highly advanced respiration
Posterior and anterior air sacs with tube in between
Continuous one way flow
2 functions of the lungs
Oxygenate tissue
Cooling (no sweat glands)

35. Nutrition Carnivores Omnivores Nectar feeders
There is a bird to hunt nearly every insect
Omnivores
Nectar feeders
Have specially developed beaks to accomplish feeding task
Birds can eat up to 100% of their weight in food every day

37. Digestion No teeth/poorly developed salivary glands
Grinding occurs in the gizzard
Pebbles are swallowed by the bird to help the gizzard grind the food
Pharynx—Esophagus—Crop—Stomach—Gizzard—Intestines—Ceca(in herbivores only, ferments)—Rectum—Cloaca

38. Excretion Paired metanephridic kidneys Uric acid is formed
Urine is formed by filtration
Uric acid is formed
Advanced animals, because it has low solubility it can be excreted with little water loss
Salt glands aid in removing salt

40. Territoriality and Courtship
During the breeding season many male birds establish an area that they defend against other males of their species, a behavior called territoriality.
The male then attempts to attract a female to share this territory.
Once a territory is established most birds engage in a period of courtship, behavior that is designed to attract a mate.
Many males attract females by means of their brightly colored feathers.
Some males combine song with flight displays.
copyright cmassengale

42. Reproduction Sexual reproduction Monogamy is general rule in Aves
flamboyant coloration to attract mate
Monogamy is general rule in Aves
Seasonal
Lifetime—swans, geese
Internal fertilization
Birds lack a penis, so cloaca must meet
Oviparous

44. Why Monogamy? Provide food, it must be gathered Need for a nest
Eggs must be incubated
Males are chosen because they have secured a territory
Announced through song

45. Development
Direct development
Egg
Juvenile—must be cared for
Adult

47. Many baby birds are born helpless and without feathers
Many baby birds are born helpless and without feathers. These baby birds require lots of care from their parents.

48. Some babies hatch with feathers and can follow their mom around, swim and eat on their own.

49. Movement Flightless (ostrich, penguin…etc)
Forelimbs modified for flight = wings
Collarbones are fused making a strong base for flight muscles - fused bone is the furculum
Air spaces make the bones light in weight
Strong chest muscle attach to a keel of the sternum (breastbone)

50. What allows flight? Feathers Air cavities in bones decrease density
Beaks rather then heavy jaws
Extremely high metabolic rate
Large hearts and high-pressure circulation
Keen vision
Excellent neuromuscular coordination

53. Environmental Interaction
Occupy almost any habitat on earth
9,000 species
Largest group of vertebrates except fishes
Almost half the species migrate
Predators, prey, scavengers,herbivores, omnivores

54. Migration Why migrate Northern hemisphere Southern hemisphere
Increases food availability
Breeding
Avoid predators
Reduce interspecies competition
Northern hemisphere
summers
Southern hemisphere
winters

55. Migration How do birds migrate? Some can travel as far as 11,200 miles
Many follow landmarks such as rivers, coastlines.
It is thought that they may also use the earths magnetic field
The sun and the stars are also used as compass directors
Some can travel as far as 11,200 miles
Stimulus for migration
Long days stimulate gonads to grow, fat deposits to increase and the urge to migrate north.