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Lets see. First, birds are members of the vertebrate family. So are you. You’re like relatives. Fish, mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians are all vertebrates. It doesn’t look like all these guys are have anything in common. Well, there are some real basic things. The most important thing is that we all have backbones. Look at the picture below. Are there any other things you see that all vertebrates have?
Vertebrates
Fish Mammals Birds Reptiles Amphibians
Scientists (ornithologists) like to put birds in groups. Why? They have a hard time keeping track of all 9,000 kinds of birds. First, they make sure they don’t get bats or any other little critters mixed up with birds. They go by rules of what a bird is.
What ALL birds have in common:
All birds have feathers. No other animal has feathers.
All birds have two legs and wings.
All birds have bills or beaks.
All birds lay eggs.
All birds have warm blood, like us and other mammals.
That’s easy. Now what?
Remember that question,
"If you had to put these birds in groups, how would you do it?"
Lets look at the chart below.
COMMON BIRD GROUPS:
|
Aquatic Birds
Penguin |
Characteristics: Ø Get their food from water Ø Live in saltwater areas Ø Can drink saltwater without harm Ø Like to dive in the sea or ocean Ø Some spend months away from land Common names: penguins, albatrosses, grebes, tube-nosed birds, pelicans and allies |
|
Wading Birds
Pink Flamingo |
Characteristics: Ø Many have long legs and bills Ø Some are as small as blue jays Ø Love to live in shallow water – from sea shores to low ponds Common names: herons, storks, ibises, spoonbills, flamingoes, and many kinds of shorebirds |
|
Birds of Prey
Bald Eagle |
Characteristics: Ø Meat eaters who hunt for food (fish, rodents, insects) Ø Hooked beaks Ø Sharp, strong claws or talons Ø Excellent eyesight and hearing Ø Some are scavengers, like vultures Common names: Hawks, eagles, falcons, owls, condors, vultures |
|
Running Birds
Ostrich |
Characteristics: Ø Some are the largest in the world Ø Can’t fly Ø Fast on their feet Ø Eat plants Common names: ostriches, emus, rheas, kiwis |
|
Perching Birds
Sparrow |
Characteristics: ØMost of these bird are song birds: 8 out of 10 birds in the world are song birds Ø Small with special toes for perching Ø Many eat seeds, fruit, or nectar from flowers Common names: robins, blue jays, swallows, finches, and sparrows |
|
Other Land Birds
Parrot |
Characteristics: Ø Live around the world Ø Parrots are a popular member of this group Ø Others are tiny, like hummingbirds Ø Many species of bird are in this group Common names: woodpeckers, parrots, cuckoos, hummingbirds, pigeons, doves |
Basically, ornithologists (bird scientists) group birds because of things they have closely in common. Take the hawk and eagle for example. They both are hunters. They both have sharp claws and beaks. They both have great eyesight and flying skills. So they fit well together in the same group.
Find more bird facts on Zooish.
Or learn more in Yahooligans!
Scroll down for cool bird facts and jokes.
Cool Facts about Birds
What’s the world’s largest bird? The ostrich. It weighs 300 pounds and is 8 feet tall.
The world’s smallest bird is the Humming Bird. Some are lighter than a Ping-Pong ball!
One of the most rare birds in the world is the whooping crane. He’s 5 feet tall, and has wings that stretch out 90 inches. Take a picture is you ever see this one!
Birds live in almost every area of the world. Also, they have been around longer that any human.
Some bird scientists or "Bird Brains" think that the crow is the smartest bird!
The albatross can live at sea for at least 4 months without coming to land.
Only one kind of bird can fly backwards – the humming bird.
The oldest living bird we know about is the Archaeopteryx. He’s not around any more. This prehistoric guy lived 130 million years ago.
A bird can blink and never loss its sight. It has three eyelids. One eyelid is clear, like glass.
When it blinks it sees right through it like a window.
JOKES
1. What kind of bird is like a car?
2. What is the strongest bird?
3. Put three ducks in a box. What do you have?
4. Why does a humming bird hum?
5. What must a stork do to stand on one foot?
6. Which side of the hen has the most feathers?
Answers: 1. A goose is like a car. They both honk, 2. A crane, 3 A box of quackers, 4. Because he doesn’t know how to sing, 5. Hold up the other one, 6. The outside.