Lecture #10 ~ Companion Birds

How many companion birds are there in the US?

18.6 million

How many American households own pet birds?

6.1 American households

What percentage of American households own pet birds?

8%

True or false: pet birds have quite specific nutritional, housing, grooming, and social needs.

true

Describe the order Psittaciformes (psittacine)

Most common type of companion bird

More than 300 species

Majority found in tropical and subtropical regions

Example: macaws, cockatoos, conures, etc.

Which order is this:

Most common type of companion bird

More than 300 species

Majority found in tropical and subtropical regions

Example: macaws, cockatoos, conures, etc.

Psittaciformes (psittacine)

Describe the order passeriformes (passerine)

Largest order of birds (about 5,400 species)

Includes more than half of all living birds

Perching birds

Characterized by foot structure (w/ three toes forward and one back → helps perch)

Examples: sparrows, finches, crows, robins, etc.

which order is this:

Largest order of birds (about 5,400 species)

Includes more than half of all living birds

Perching birds

Characterized by foot structure (w/ three toes forward and one back → helps perch)

Examples: sparrows, finches, crows, robins, etc.

passeriformes (passerine)

Which parrot is this:

Medium size

13 inches long

50-60 years

Very popular pet

Grey in color w/ white areas around eyes and a short red tail

High intelligence level

Good talking capability

African Grey Parrot

Describe the African Grey Parrot

Medium size

13 inches long

50-60 years

Very popular pet

Grey in color w/ white areas around eyes and a short red tail

High intelligence level

Good talking capability

Describe the Amazon Parrot

Medium size

Thick body, short wings

10-18 inches long

Native to rainforests of Central and South America

20-30 years

Which bird is this:

Medium size

Thick body, short wings

10-18 inches long

Native to rainforests of Central and South America

20-30 years

Amazon Parrot

Describe budgies/budgerigers/parakeet

Small

7 inches long

Native to Australia

Very popular, good for first-time owners

Very affectionate

Can be taught to speak

Coloring is usually green plummage on chest

Green and black wings

Long, tapered tail

Yellow heads w/ black lines

what bird is this:

Small

7 inches long

Native to Australia

Very popular, good for first-time owners

Very affectionate

Can be taught to speak

Coloring is usually green plummage on chest

Green and black wings

Long, tapered tail

Yellow heads w/ black lines

budgies (budgerigers/parakeets)

describe canaries

Originated from the Canary, Madeira, and Azores islands

Small and stocky

weight 0.5-0.9 oz

Has a bell-like tone w/ warbles and trills

6-16 years

which bird is this:

Originated from the Canary, Madeira, and Azores islands

Small and stocky

weight 0.5-0.9 oz

Has a bell-like tone w/ warbles and trills

6-16 years

canaries

describe cockatiels

native to australia

12 inches long (small)

most common pattern is a grey body w/ white patches on the wings and a yellow/white face with bright orange patch on each cheek

18-30 years

variations

what bird is this:

native to australia

12 inches long (small)

most common pattern is a grey body w/ white patches on the wings and a yellow/white face with bright orange patch on each cheek

18-30 years

variations

cockatiels

describe cockatoos

native to australia

one of most lovable of all companion animal birds

various sized (medium to large)

primarily white birds w/ peach, salmon or yellow shading

impressive crests (topknot. of erectile feathers)

75+ years

what bird is this:

native to australia

one of most lovable of all companion animal birds

various sized (medium to large)

primarily white birds w/ peach, salmon or yellow shading

impressive crests (topknot. of erectile feathers)

75+ years

cockatoos

describe conures

originate from central and south america

Largest family of parrots

9-12 inches (small-medium)

Lots of different colors

Which bird is this:

originate from central and south america

Largest family of parrots

9-12 inches (small-medium)

Lots of different colors

conures

describe eclectus parrots

originated from the south pacific islands

14 inches long

males = green w/ yellowish beak

females = red w/ black beak

30 years

which bird is this:

originated from the south pacific islands

14 inches long

males = green w/ yellowish beak

females = red w/ black beak

30 years

eclectus parrot

describe lovebirds

genus: agapornus

9 species (8 from africa, 1 from madagascar)

small; 4-7 inches

5-15 years

my favorite

which bird is this:

genus: agapornus

9 species (8 from africa, 1 from madagascar)

small; 4-7 inches

5-15 years

my fav

lovebirds

describe macaws

native to south america

common types: blue and gold, green winged, scarlet military, hyacinth

long tails and bare cheek patches

76-100 years

33 inches long

what’re the four types of macaws?

blue and gold

green winged

scarlet military

hyacinth

which bird is this: 

native to south america

common types: blue and gold, green winged, scarlet military, hyacinth

long tails and bare cheek patches

76-100 years

33 inches long

macaws

describe quaker/monk parakeets

native to south america

9-10 inches long

green body w/ grey feathers on neck and forehead

25-30 years

which bird is this:

native to south america

9-10 inches long

green body w/ grey feathers on neck and forehead

25-30 years

quaker/monk parakeet

describe parrotlets (dwarf parrots)

native to south america

introduced to the US in the 1980s

3-5 inches

smart (can teach em tricks and to talk)

curious and playful

20-30 years

which bird is this:

native to south america

introduced to the US in the 1980s

3-5 inches

smart (can teach em tricks and to talk)

curious and playful

20-30 years

parrotlets (dwarf parrots)

what are feathers made of?

keratin (unique to birds)

what provides a waterproof covering that facilitates flight?

keratin feathers

what is the apteria?

unfeathered area of the bird

what is this calamus/quill?

part of the hollow central stalk of feather below skin level

what is the rachis

part above the skin

what are barbs

rows of fine filaments on shafts found on each side

what are barbules

finer filaments branching from barbs

true or false: in down feathers, barbs and barbules are loose and fluffy

true

what are blood feathers?

developing feathers which contain nutrient artery that later regresses

what are contour feathers?

cover the body and give the bird shape and color (includes flight and tail feathers)

what are down feathers?

smaller (no barbules) and provide insulation

what are powder feathers?

scattered throughout the plummage and continuously grow (keeps plummage clean?)

how often to most birds molt?

once or twice a year

how often does the Amazon parrot seem to molt?

year round

what happens when feathers become worn?

they are replaced through molting

what bones are found in beaks

upper maxilla

lower mandiblewh

what is the keratinized covering on the beak

rhamphotheca

where are nostrils of most birds found

base of the top mandible 

true or false: the beak continuously grows throughout the life of the bird

true

signs of a healthy beak

smooth, symmetrical appearance

no peeling or unusual textures

no discolored areas

proper length

proper alignment

most common beak abnormalities

overgrown beak

scissors beak

prognathism (parrot beak)

how does the overgrown beak look?

top part too big and overtakes bottom

how does the scissors beak look?

not proper aligned (i.e. top to the left, bottom to the right)

how does prognathism look?

top part looks stubby

what do lightweight bird bones enable?

flight

what is found in hollow bird legs and wing bones?

tiny air sacs

how to refer to hollow bones in bird legs and wings w/ air sacs?

pneumatic

lungs are ____ and firmly ___

paired; attached

what does the syrinx serve as?

voice box

true or false: birds have a diaphragm

false

what facilitates air movement through the respiratory tract

air sacs

how many air sacs can a bird have?

7 or 9

name all air sacs:

two posterior thoracic

two abdominal

two anterior thoracic

two cervical (optional)

one interclavicular

which areas do the air sacs extent into (4)?

humerus

femur

skull

vertebrae

which way do muscles in the chest cause the sternum to push?

outward

does the chest muscle pushing sternum outward cause negative or positive pressure in the air sacs?

negative

what does the negative pressure in air sacs do?

causes air to enter respiratory system

expiration requires certain muscles to contract in order to….

increase pressure in air sacs and push the air out

true or false: bird lungs expand and contract mammalian lungs.

false

where does gas exchange occur in bird lungs?

walls of air capillaries (small tubules)

why can’t you hold a bird “too tight”?

it’ll cause it to suffocate because sternum must move to respire

true or false: resp system in birds is more efficient than that of mammals because more oxygen is transferred w/ each breath

true

do birds have a slower or faster resp rate than mammals of similar weight?

slower

how many cycles of respiration is required in birds

two

describe first inspiration

air travels through nostrils (nares) into nasal cavity to larynx then trachea, then syrinx, then is divided into two as trachea divides before traveling to caudal (posterior) air sac

describe first expiration

air moves from posterior air sacs through ventro-bronchi and dorsal-bronchi into lungs, then the bronchi divide into smaller diameter air capillaries; then blood capillaries flow through the air capillaries and this is where O2 and CO2 are exchanged

describe second inspiration

air moves to cranial sacs

describe second expiration

air moves out of cranial air sacs, through syrinx, into trachea, then larynx, then through nasal cavity and out of nostrils

where does food enter?

oral cavity

where can food be stored in birds sometimes?

the crop

how many parts is the bird stomach?

two

describe the first part of the stomach

called glandular/proventriculus, it secretes Hcl and produces pepsin which aids in protein digestion

describe second part of stomach

called the gizzard, it’s a muscular stomach that helps grind hte food

is the bird colon short or long

short

true or false: birds have a paired ceca

true

what three systems utilize the cloaca?

reproductive, digestive, urinary/waste/excretory

are birds warm or cold blooded?

warm blooded

what is the normal temperature for birds?

106 degrees F

How may chambers does a bird heart have?

4

which way is the aorta arched in birds?

to the right

does the heart beat slower or faster in birds compared to humans?

faster

what shape are bird red blood cells?

ellipticalt

rue or false: bird red blood cells have a nucleus

true

what is the lifespan of avian red blood cells?

28-45 days (shorter than in mammals)

true or false: thrombocytes are also nucleated.

true