1. North American Wildlife
Aves
North American Wildlife

2. Characteristics Vertebrates Feathers Modified for flight
Active metabolism
Normally have a beak but no teeth
Bipedal
Warm blooded
Oviparous- lay eggs

3. Migration Seasonal journey Not all birds migrate
Response to food availability, weather or habitat
Benefits are mostly energetic
A lot of species fly in flocks (normally larger birds)

4. Reproduction Males have two testes and normally no phallus
Females have one ovary
Parts decrease in size when not in use
Lay from 1–20 eggs
Egg size ranges from 1/3 of inch to 13 inches
Egg shape and color often reflect nest conditions

6. Incubation
Nearly all birds sit on eggs to keep them at optimal temperatures
One or both sexes involved depending on species.
Turned periodically to ensure even growth and development
Brood patch
Lasts from 10 days to 2 ½ months

8. Egg Structure
Shell-protective outer covering, calcium carbonate, allows for gas exchange
Yolk- yellow inner part of egg where embryo will form, nourishes the embryo
Albumen-white, protects embryo, provides water
Germinal disc-contains DNA of mother, where sperm will meet and form embryo
Chalaza- protects embryo (Seatbelt)
Air space- provides for contraction or expansion due to temperature changes

10. Bird Skeleton Lightweight Fused collar bones (Wishbone)
Pneumatic-hollow and filled with air spaces
More cervical vertebrate then other mammals
Fused vertebrate on back and hip regions to provide strength when landing and taking off

11. 1) Skull  2) Cervical Vertebrae  3) Humerus  4) Second digit  5) Metacarpals  6) Fourth digit  7) Third Digit  8) Radius  9) Ulna  10) Scapula  11) Synsacrum  12) Pygostyle  13) Ischium  14) Ilium  15) Pubis  16) Pelvic girdle  17) Uncinate process  18) Femur  19) Halux  20) Digits  21) Tarsometatarsus  22) Tibiotarsus  23) Keeled sternum  24) Coracoid  25) Furcula (or wishbone)

12. Beak Adaptations Story of Darwin’s Finches on the Galapagos Islands
Beak shape plays a critical role in food acquisition.
Also important in grooming, nest building, communicating and attacking competitors

13. Crossbills use their 'crossed-bill' to extract seeds from pine cones.
Flamingos use a series of projections, or lamellae, to filter tiny food items from debris in the water.
Swifts are aerial insectivores & use their wide gape to help capture flying insects.
Eagles (and hawks) are diurnal raptors & use their hook-like bills to tear apart large prey.
Shovelers use their spatula-shaped bills to filter food from mud & water.
Crossbills use their 'crossed-bill' to extract seeds from pine cones.
Herons use their bills to spear small fish and amphibians.
Avocets sweep their long up-curved bills from side-to-side through the water to capture small  invertebrates
Woodpeckers use their chisel-like bills to chop away wood & expose insects and insect larvae.
Wrens use their thin, probing bill to capture small insects. 
Curlews use their long bill to probe mudflats for small invertebrates.
Hawfinches are seed-eaters & use their bills to crack open large, hard seeds.
Macaws use their strong hook-like bills to feed on nuts. 
Mallards & other waterfowl use their bills to filter small invertebrates from mud and water.
Skimmers use their elongated lower mandible to skim the surface of the water & capture small fish and invertebrates.

14. Digestion
Crop-expansion of esophagus, stores food, softens hard foods like nuts and seeds
Proventriculus (Glandular stomach)- digestive glands that break down proteins and partially dissolve bones
Gizzard-muscular, contains small stones, physical grinding and crushing of food, pellets if indigestible