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

3. 19 orders

4. Birds: Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Within the class there are 29 Orders
187 Families
9600 Species

5. Taxonomy of the Robin Level Name Description Kingdom Animalia Animals
Phylum
Chordata
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

6. Characteristics Unique to Birds
Have Feathers
Right aortic arch in heart

7. Shared with Mammals
Endothermic
4 chambered heart

8. Shared w/ Mammals Cont.
Large amount of
parental care

10. 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)

11. 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

12. Archaeopteryx Cont. 4. About the size of a crow
Long tail and teeth like a reptile
Feathers asymmetrical
(characteristic of flight)

13. Archaeopteryx

15. Functions of Feathers
Flight

16. Owl in Flight
Owl in Flight

17. Functions of Feathers
Insulation

18. Feather Functions
Courtship Behavior

19. Feather Functions
Support

20. Feather Functions
Communication

21. Feather Functions
Sound Amplification

22. Camouflage

23. 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.

24. 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

25. Feather Types
1. Contour Feathers: smooth, patterned to contribute to appearance

26. Feather Types 2. Flight Feather: hollow central shaft (rachis)
Flat vein on either side
Barb comes off the vein, contains barbules

29. Feather Types 3. Down: very short rachis (shaft)
NON-INTERLOCKING BARBS
Insulation: traps air

31. Feather Lab Draw quality, gorgeous sketches!
Complete highlighting activity on back.
Turn in to green bin.
Organize Notebook
Show Mrs. Hadley

33. New Dinosaur at Carnegie Museum….

34. New Bird-Like Dinosaur Journal # 7
To what kind of modern bird is this animal compared?
Describe the diet of this animal.
Name 2 similarities between Anzu wyliei and modern birds.
What is the researcher’s theory on how the crest was used on the head of the animal?
How/why did they choose the name of dinosaur?