Ornithology Quiz 1

Long Bill

bill is longer than the head

Short Bill

bill is shorter than the head

Hooked Bill

upper mandible is longer than the lower and is hooked over

Crossed Bill

the tips of the mandibles cross each other

Compressed Bill

the bill for a good part of its length is higher than wide

Depressed Bill

the bill is wider than high

Stout Bill

the bill is visibly high and wide

Terete Bill

the bill is generally circular, either in cross section or when viewed anteriorly

Straight Bill

the line that is formed when the mandibles close (the commissure) is in line with the head

Recurved Bill

the bill curves upwards

Decurved Bill

the bill curves downwards

Bent Bill

the bill is deflected at an angle (usually down)

Swollen Bill

sides of the mandibles are circular; and nostrils are on top of beak

Acute Bill

the bill tapers to a sharp point

Chiesal-like Bill

the tip of the bill is cut at an angle

Toothed Bill

the upper mandibular tomium (sharp cutting edge) had a tooth or teeth

Serrate Bill

the bill has saw-like tomia (mock teeth)

Gibbous Bill

the bill has a pronounced hump

Spatulate or Spoon-Shaped Bill

the bill is wider towards the tip

Notched Bill

the bill has a nick in the tomia of 1 or both mandibles (usually the tip of the upper mandible)

Conical Bill

the bill has the shape of the cone

Lamellate or Sieve-Billed

the mandibles have a series of tooth-like ridges just within the tomia

Angulated Commissure

the commissure forms an angle at the point where the tomium proper (sharpest spot of the tomia) meets the rictus (corner of their mouth)

Gular Sac

the chin and gular region are distended (swollen)

Imperforate Nostrils

the nostrils are separated from each other by the septum

Perforate Nostrils

nostrils without a medial septum

Tubular Nostrils

nostrils that are in the ends of short prolongations of the base of the upper mandible

Operculate Nostrils

nostril openings are partly covered by an operculum (can be membranous or fleshy)

Linear, Oval, or Circular Nostrils

nostril openings are thus shaped

Bony Tubercles

small bones that can be seen in the nostrils (mainly in falcons)

Cere Bill

the distal (far from center) end of the upper mandible may be horny & the proximal (close to center) portion may be thick and soft

Nail Bill

the tip of the upper or both mandibles may be visibly harder and set off in grooves

Long Tail

when the tail is longer than the trunk

Short Tail

when the tail is either the length of or shorter than the trunk

Square Tail

the rectrices (tail feathers) are all the same length

Rounded Tail

the rectrices shorten from the inside to the outside (SLIGHT GRADUATIONS)

Graduated Tail

the rectrices shorten from the inside to the outside (ABRUBT GRADUATIONS)

Point or Acute Tail

the middle rectrices are much longer than the others

Emarginate Tail

the rectrices increase in length from the middle to the outermost pair (SLIGHT GRADUATIONS)

Forked Tail

the rectrices increase in length from the middle to the outermost pair (ABRUBT GRADUATIONS)

Scutellate Feet

visible layer of skin is cut up into overlapping scales

Reticulate Feet

visible layer of skin is cut up into small irregular plates

Serrate Feet

the visible layer of plates have serrations

Scutellate-reticulate

scutellate (large scales) in front and reticulate (small scales) in back

Booted Feet

the visible layer of the tarsus is without scales or plates

Scutellate-booted Feet

the tarsus is scutellate (large scales) in front and booted (feathered) behind

Spurred Feet

the backside of the tarsus forms a spur

Rounded in Front Feet

flattened sides converging to a sharp ridge behind

Rounded in Front and Behind Feet

tarsus is rounded on both sides

Compressed Feet

tarsus is very flat on both sides with sharp edges in front and behind

Incumbent Toes

hallux (big toe) is at the same level of the other toes

Elevated Toes

hallux is inserted so high on the metatarsus that its tip doesn’t reach the ground

Acute Nails

nails are extremely curved and sharp-pointed

Obtuse Nails

nails are less curved and have blunt points

Lengthened Nails

nails are straight and elongated but sharp-pointed

Pectinate Nails

nails have serrated edges

Flattened Nails

nails are flattened and broadened; resemble a human finger nail

Anisodactyl Feet

hallux is behind and other 3 toes are in front

Syndactyl Feet

third and fourth toes (outer and middle) are united for most of their length & have a broad sole in common

Zygodactyl Feet

the toes are arranged in pairs; second and third toes are in front, the fourth and hallux behind

Heterodactyl Feet

toes are arranged in pairs, third and fourth toes go in front, second and hallux behind

Pamprodactyl Feet

all four toes are in front, the hallux being turned around towards the front

Raptorial Feet

the toes are deeply cleft, with large, strong, sharply curved nails

Semipalmate Feet

half-webbed; anterior toes are joined part way by a small webbing

Totipalmate Feet

fully-webbed; all four toes are united by ample webs

Palmate Feet

webbed; front toes are united by ample webs

Lobate Feet

lobed; a swimming foot with a series of lateral lobes on the toes; can sometimes be palmate but the hallux may bear a lobe

Notched Plumage

vane of the contour feather is incised toward the end

Spinose Plumage

shaft of the contour feather is prolonged distally without barbs

Acuminate Plumage

contour feather ends in as sharp point

Attenuate Plumage

contour feather is long and extremely narrow

Broad Plumage

the contour feather is extremely wide

Speculum

patch of distinctive color located on the secondary flight feathers of the wings

Bristle-like Plumage

stiff and lack branching structures that serve as protection

Rictal Bristles

specialized feathers located around the beak of birds

Pinnae

stick straight up when “excited”