Transcript birds! - southbutterfield

BIRDS!
Adaptations
Beaks
 Feet
 Wings
 Circulatory System

Beaks

Bird beaks come in a variety of shapes
and sizes – all for the purpose of
assisting the bird in eating a specific diet
Eye Dropper Beaks
Food: Nectar
 Birds: Hummingbirds
 Long, very narrow beaks for probing
flowers for nectar

Chopsticks Beaks
Food: Worms/Insects in mud/sand
 Birds: Snipe, Curlew
 Long, straight, medium-wide
beak for probing soft
ground for food

Nutcracker Beaks
Food: Seeds & Nuts
 Birds: Finch, Cardinal
 Short, wide, pointed beak for cracking
open seeds and nuts

Slotted Spoon Beaks
Food: Fish & other water creatures
 Birds: Pelicans
 Beak with a pouch for holding fish

Strainer Beaks
Food: Tiny water plants & Water animals
 Birds: Flamingo
 Short, down-curved beak
 for separating mud from
 shell fish and algae

Fish Net Beaks
Food: Flying Insects
 Birds: Whip-Poor-Will, Black Phoebe
 Very short, slightly curved beak for
catching insects in midair

Forceps Beaks
Food: Caterpillars & Other Tree Insects
 Birds: Warbler
 Medium-length, chiselshaped beak for breaking
into tree bark for insects

Hooked Beaks
Food: Small animals
 Birds: Eagles, Birds of Prey
 Sharply hooked beak for tearing animal
tissue

Feet

Most birds have four toes on each foot,
and all birds have a claw at the tip of
each toe. However, the arrangement and
size of the toes and the size and shape
of the claws vary according to the birds'
ways of life
Hens & Pheasants

Birds that scratch the soil for worms &
insects have nail like toes
Flightless Birds

Strong-legged flightless birds, like the
cassowary, protect themselves by
kicking with their powerful feet and sharp
claws.
Swimming Birds

WATER BIRDS such as ducks have
webbing between their toes for
swimming. GULLS also have feet
similar to these so they don't sink while
walking in the soft sand or mud near the
water's edge.
Climbing Birds

WOODPECKERS have two toes
pointing forwards and two backwards; for
climbing up, down, and sideways on tree
trunks.
Birds of Prey

RAPTORS such as hawks, eagles, and
owls use large claws (called talons) to
capture, kill, and carry prey with their
feet.
Perching Birds

SONG BIRDS or PERCHING BIRDS
(warblers, thrushes, wrens, etc.) have
independent, flexible toes, with one
pointing backwards, ideal for grasping
perches.
Birds & Flight

Feathers, Wings, Bones
Feathers





Feathers are highly modified scales
Feathers are used for:
Flying - flight feathers, grow in the wings and
the tail
Thermal insulation - soft down feathers that
grow close to the skin keep birds from getting
too cold or too hot
Courtship and mating displays - these vary
tremendously from species to species
Wings – 4 types

Elliptical

a. Tends to be even pressure over most of
the surface.
b. Usually found in birds that live in forests.
… facilitates a subtle change in the angle of
the wing.
c. Sparrows.
Wings – 4 types

High Aspect Ratio

a. Much longer than it is wide. Has lot of
vertical lifting area. Not much slotting.
b. Not fast flying birds but more soaring
birds
c. Albatross, or Frigate bird.
Wings – 4 types

High Speed Wings

a. Falcons, Plovers
b. Wings that are narrow and come out to a
sharp tip. These wings reduce drag. More of
the wing-beat is producing forward thrust.
Wings – 4 types

Soaring Wings

a. Extreme slotting in the wing-tips
b. Vultures, Eagles, etc.
Bones
Porous, only 4% of body weight
 Hollow Bones

Circulatory System
Large, 4 chambered heart
 High heart rate (canary – 600/min!)
 Blood –reduced hemoglobin…
 Homeothermic – get energy and heat
from digested food (seeds,etc.)
 No sweat glands! (gape, defecate on
legs)…
 High body temp (110-115*)
