Australian Bird Orders and Adaptations 낱말 카드

Beak

Keratin-covered jaws adapted to diet

Anisodactyl feet

3 toes forward, 1 backward; perching

Zygodactyl feet

2 toes forward, 2 backward; climbing and gripping

Webbed feet

Connected toes for swimming

Syndactyl feet

Partially fused toes

High aspect ratio wings

Long, narrow wings; efficient gliding

Low aspect ratio wings

Short, broad wings; maneuverability

Elliptical wings

Rounded wings; maneuverability

Wing slots

Gaps between primary feathers; improve maneuverability

Primaries / secondaries

Outer feathers provide thrust; inner feathers provide lift

ORDER: Anseriformes

Waterfowl

Anatidae

Ducks, geese, swans; broad, flattened bills with lamellae for filtering food; webbed feet; broad, pointed wings for sustained flight; aquatic plants, grasses, seeds, insects; males often brighter than females

Australian wood duck (Chenetta jubata)

Male grey with chestnut breast and dark head; female brown-grey with pale facial stripes

ORDER: Psittaciformes

Parrots

Cacatuidae

Cockatoos; short, strong, hooked bills for cracking seeds and nuts; muscular zygodactyl feet for climbing and gripping; often white with yellow markings; eat seeds, grains, fruit; social and vocal

Little corella

Example of Cacatuidae

Psittaculidae

Parrots, lorikeets, rosellas; large, curved bills for seeds and fruit; zygodactyl feet for climbing and handling food; colorful plumage; maneuverable flight; males often brighter than females

Australian king-parrot

Red body, contrasting black/green wings; strong sexual dimorphism

ORDER: Passeriformes

Perching birds

Meliphagidae

Honeyeaters; long, slender, curved bills for nectar and insects; anisodactyl feet with curved claws for perching; often grey with white/yellow markings and long tails; eat nectar, fruit, insects; can be social and aggressive

Noisy miner

Example of Meliphagidae

Estrildidae

Finches; thick bills for cracking seeds; anisodactyl feet for perching; often colorful, with males brighter than females; rapid, maneuverable flight; eat seeds and insects

Gouldian finch

Example of Estrildidae; males generally brighter than females

Artamidae

Butcherbirds, currawongs; strong bills; anisodactyl feet; long tails; low-aspect-ratio wings for maneuverability; eat lizards, insects, berries, and small birds

Pied currawong

Example of Artamidae

Maluridae

Fairy-wrens

Corvidae

Crows and ravens

Maluridae and Corvidae

Strong, pointed bills; anisodactyl feet for perching; long primaries and wing slots for maneuverability; frequent flapping; eat insects, small animals, eggs, grains, and fruit

Australian raven

Example of Corvidae

ORDER: Columbiformes

Pigeons and doves

Columbidae

Short, slender bills; anisodactyl feet and short legs for walking/perching; grey-brown plumage, often iridescent; broad, rounded wings for strong flight; eat seeds, grains, insects

ORDER: Accipitriformes

Eagles, kites, goshawks

Accipitridae

Short, hooked bills for tearing flesh; powerful anisodactyl feet and curved talons; brown/white camouflage; rounded wings for fast, maneuverable flight; eat birds, mammals, reptiles, insects; often ambush prey from perches

Brown goshawk

Example of Accipitridae

ORDER: Falconiformes

Falcons

Falconidae

Hooked bills with tomial tooth for killing prey; strong anisodactyl feet and sharp talons; pointed, high-aspect-ratio wings for fast flight and hovering; eat insects, mammals, reptiles, birds; females generally larger

Tomial tooth

Notch on falcon's upper bill used to kill prey

ORDER: Strigiformes

Owls

Strigidae

True owls; short, hooked bills; muscular zygodactyl feet and sharp claws; mottled camouflage and soft feathers for silent flight; rounded wings; eat small mammals and other animals; nocturnal, with excellent hearing and facial sensitivity

Birds of prey

Hooked bills, powerful feet, sharp talons, excellent eyesight, and carnivorous diets; often camouflaged; females often larger

ORDER: Suliformes

Cormorants and shags

Phalacrocoracidae

Long, narrow hooked bills for catching fish; webbed feet and rear-positioned legs for underwater propulsion; feathers become wet for diving; fast flight; long necks

ORDER: Pelecaniformes

Pelicans, ibises, spoonbills

Threskiornithidae

Ibises and spoonbills; long, pointed/probing bills; long legs for wading; often white with dark heads and flight feathers; eat insects, worms, crustaceans, frogs, and human food waste

Australian white ibis (Threskiornis molucca)

White body, black bare head and neck, long bill

Pelecanidae

Pelicans; enormous bills with expandable throat pouches; fully webbed feet; large wings for soaring; eat fish

Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)

Large aquatic bird with long neck and distinctive bill pouch

ORDER: Caprimulgiformes

Nightjars and frogmouths

Podargidae

Frogmouths; extremely broad bills for catching insects and small animals; weak anisodactyl feet for perching; mottled bark-like camouflage; rounded wings for quiet, short flights; nocturnal

Tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)

Nocturnal, bark-camouflaged bird often mistaken for an owl

ORDER: Coraciiformes

Kingfishers, bee-eaters, rollers

Alcedinidae

Kingfishers; long, strong, pointed bills for catching prey; syndactyl feet for perching; short, rounded wings for rapid, direct flight; eat insects, fish, frogs, reptiles, and small animals; hunt by swooping from perches

ORDER: Procellariiformes / Charadriiformes

Petrels and gulls

Procellariidae

Petrels

Laridae

Gulls

Procellariidae and Laridae

Pointed bills; webbed feet for swimming, small hind toes; grey-and-white plumage; long, high-aspect-ratio wings for gliding; eat fish, crustaceans, and insects; pelagic species spend much of their lives at sea

Silver gull

Example of Laridae

ORDER: Gruiformes

Rails and coots

Rallidae

Strong, pointed bills; long toes and legs for walking over reeds and floating vegetation; often colorful plumage; short, rounded wings; eat vegetation, seeds, insects, snails, frogs, and eggs

ORDER: Galliformes

Landfowl

Megapodiidae

Mound-builders; short, strong bills; powerful legs and claws for scratching/digging; short, rounded wings for brief powerful flight; eat seeds, fruit, insects, small animals; males build and maintain incubation mounds

Australian brush-turkey (Alectura lathami)

Black body, red bare head and neck, long tail; male maintains incubation mound