Bird Characteristics

External Morphology of birds:

1. bill and beak

2. forehead

3. crown

4. nape

5. chin

6. throat

7. back or dorsum

8. rump

9. tarsus: the part of the leg the toes come off of

10. belly or venter

11. side

12. breast

Filed Marks to help identify birds:

1. crest

2. median line: a line on the middle of the head

3. superciliary line: or eyebrow line

4. eye ring: the color around the eye

5. eye line: mark that goes through the eye

6. teardrop

7. auricular patch: a mark behind or below the eye, in the ear area

8. mustache mark

9. wing bars: an example being the red-winged black bird’s red spot