Ornithology Quiz 2

Worldwide Diversity

Paleognathae

Ancient Jaw

What are ratites?

Flightless birds

What are some families of ratites?

Struthioniformes (ostriches), Rheiformes (Rheas), Casuariiformes (Cassowaries), Apterygiformes (Kiwis)

What is different about the keel of flightless birds?

There is no keel in flightless birds

Neognathe

Newer Jaw

Anseriformes

Screamers, Ducks, Geese, Magpies, Swan

Galliformes

Gallinaceous birds (guineafowl, pheasant, quail, peacock)

Sphenisciformes

penguins

Gaviiformes

loons

procellariiformes

Albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels

Pelicaniformes

Pelicans, egrets, herons, and ibises

Suliformes

Frigatebirds, cormorants, gannets, anhingas, boobies

Accipitiformes

eagles, kites, osprey, hawks

Columbiformes

Pigeons and doves

strigiformes

owls

apodiformes

swifts, hummingbirds

Coraciiformes

kingfishers, hornbills, kiikaburras

Piciformes

Woodpeckers, barbets, toucans

Falconiformes

Falcons, kestrels, caracaras

Passeriformes

Perching birds/songbirds

What is plumage?

All the collective feathers on a bird’s body

What do the feathers do?

regulate body temperature, power flight, support, protection, communication, tactile sensation

What type of keratin makes up feathers and why is that important?

Beta-keratin; flexible but very strong

What are the 6 types of feathers?

contour feathers, flight feathers, down, filoplumes, bristles, and powder down

What is the purpose of contour feathers?

cover the body

What are the 3 parts of a contour feather?

vane, rachis, calamus

What is the order of feather projections (big to small)

barb, ramus, barbule, barbicel

What is the pennaceous region?

region of the contour feather with the flat flexible surface towards the end of the vane

What is the plumulaceous region?

Region of the feather with the fluffy down near the base of the vane

What type of feather is most highly modifed?

contour feathers

What is an example of a modified contour feather?

Anhinga lack barbicels, penguins grow contours at 90 degree angles, ducks have tight contours for waterproofing, etc

What is the function of flight feathers

provide lift, thrust, and steering flight

Why are the flight feathers asymmetrical

bernoullian lift

What are the types of flight feathers?

primaries and secondaries

Why are flight feathers not highly modified?

They need to serve a purpose

What is an example of a flight feather modifiation?

Standard-winged nightjar or pennant-winged nightjar

Where do primaries attach?

carpometacarpus

Where do the secondaries attach?

Ulna

What is the biggest order of bird?

Passeriformes

What type of feet do passeriformes have?

anisodactyly

What family has zygodactyl feet?

Piciformes (woodpeckers)

What is the only type of bird that is preyed ON by insects?

Hummingbird