Ornithology Lab Practical 1

What is 1?

Primaries

Function of the Primaries

• Forward motion

• Precise control

• Essential for “Flapping Flight”

What is 2?

Primary Coverts

Function of the Converts

Reduces Drag

What is 3?

Alula

Function of the Alula

• Lift enhancement

• Landing aid

• Prevents stalls

What is 4?

Secondaries

Function of the Secondaries

• Mating/ Species Attraction

• Provide lift

What is 5?

Greater Converts

What is 6?

Median Converts

What is 7?

Lesser Coverts

What is 8?

Tertials

Function of the Tertials

• Protection of the secondaries

• Closes gap between wings and body

Astaxanthin

What the wax tips that are on the ends of the secondaries are made of; a metabolic converted carotenoid from dietary yellow.

What is 1?

Rectrices (tail feathers)

What is 2?

Uppertail Coverts

What is 3?

Undertail coverts

What is 4?

Rump

What is 5?

Mantle

What is 6?

Nape

What is 7?

Throat

What is 8?

Breast

What is 9?

Belly

What is 10?

Flank

What is 11?

Tarsus

What is 1?

Lores

What is 2?

Eye ring

What is 3?

Crown

What is 4?

Supercilium (eyebrow stripe)

What is 5?

Eye stripe/ eyeline

What is 6?

Auricular

What is 7?

Nape

What is 8?

Throat

What is 9?

Malar Stripe

What is 10?

Lower Mandible

What is 11?

Upper Mandible

Scapulars

Feathers on the shoulder region that function in communication between mates and rivals

Speculum

Secondary feathers that are distinctly colored and used for mate attraction, species recognition, and flock cohesion

Spectacle

A plumage feature that combines the lores and the eyes ring as if it appears continuous.

Facial Disc

The concave collection of feathers on the face of some birds- most notably owls; forms a circular parabloid that collects sound waves and directs them toward the ears.

Gorget

The collection of brilliantly colored feathers on the throat of male hummingbirds.

What’s this bill?

Hooked

What is the Hooked beak for?

Capturing, killing, and tearing flesh

What is this bill?

Serrated

What is the serrated beak for?

Securing and manipulating struggling and slippery prey

What is this bill?

Depressed

What are depressed beaks for?

Feeding on aquatic plants, seeds, and small invertebrates

What is this beak?

Straight

What are straight beaks for?

Hunting and catching prey; made to strike quickly/accurately and impale/grasp slippery prey

What is this beak?

Conical

What are conical beaks for?

Crushing and grinding food items like seeds and nuts

What is this bill?

Recurved

What are recurved beaks for?

Feeding in shallow water; filter feeding and sweeping side to side

What is this bill?

Decurved

What are decurved bills for?

Probing for hidden prey and precision feeding

What is this bill?

Spatulate

What are spatulate beaks for?

Scooping up and filtering small aquatic prey

What is this bill?

Thin-Pointed

What is the thin-pointed beak?

Catching small, fast-moving prey (e.g. insects, worms, and spiders)

What is this bill?

Lamallae

What are the lamellae for?

Function as a Sieve or filter; filter feeding

What is this foot type?

Ansiodactyl

What is this foot type?

Zygodactyl

What is this foot type?

Syndactyl

What is this webbing type?

Palmate

Function of Palmate feet

Surface swimming and paddling

What is this webbing type?

Totipalmate

Function of Totipalmate feet

Better for diving; also swimming

What is this webbing type?

Semipalmate

What are semipalmate feet for?

Enhanced traction on soft muddy or sandy surfaces

What is the webbing type?

Lobate

What are Lobate feet for?

Navigate dense vegetation in wetlands; act as oars while swimming

Purpose of syndactyl

Serves to strengthen the foot for specialized perching and digging

Purpose of zygodactyl

Provide birds with superior gripping, stability, and maneuverability; increased dexterity

Purpose of ansiodactyl

Allows the bird to perch, hunt, or walk on the ground.