Birds

Describe the characteristics of birds

1. feathers

2. flight

3. endothermy

4. eggs with shell

5. highly developed vision

6. vocalization

Explain the functions of feathers, value of flight

to provide the aerodynamic surface needed for lift, thrust and stability

describe bird anatomical adaptations for flight

1. Holllow bones

2. furcula

3. keeled sternum

4. reduced internal organs

what is dynamic soaring? 

a flight technique to extract energy from wind gradients 

Why is dynamic soaring useful?

it helps the bird conserve energy because flying is very energetically costly.

What is unihemispheric sleep?

When one side of the brain sleeps while the other is awake and then it switches.

Why is unihemispheric sleep useful

so birds don’t have to find somewhere to rest on long journeys and so dolphins don’t have to worry about drowning

Bird courtchip behaviors

song, dance, nest

describe bird parenting behaviors

1. bi-parental care

2. egg incubation

3. parental feeding

4. fledgling

Contrast bird bill feeding adaptations with diet

1. flat bills: filter sediment

2. pointed, small bills: insects

3. large, pointed bills: fish

4. short, think bills: crushing seeds

5. hooked bills: tearing flesh

6. curved bills: probing mudflats and flowers

Describe predation adaptations in owls

1. solitary and nocturnal

2. large, forward-facing eyes and earholes

3. can rotate head

4. flight is almost silent