Birds

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Birds

• Pasterik 2006

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Characteristics of Birds

• Forelimbs modified into wings
• Feathers
• Hollow, lightweight bones
• Endothermic
• Efficient respiration
• Heart with a completely divided ventricle (4
  chambers)
• Scaley feet (birds are related to reptiles)
• furculum (wishbone)

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Ornithology is the study of birds
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ClassificationKingdom Animalia---Phylum
Chordata------Subphylum Vertebrata---------Class
Aves
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Feathers Types of feathersDown feathers -
provide insulationContour feathers - cover head
and body, provide colorationFlight feathers -
on wings and tail, provide lift
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Feathers are covered in oil to keep them water
proof - "like water off a duck's back" - this oil
is secreted froma preen glandPreening is a
behavior that replaces the oil on feathers, and
repairs broken links on the vanes