Plumage

Feathers

Ornithologist

Scientist that studies birds.

Furcula

Wishbone

Alula

Bird's thumb bones

Preen

Grooming - zipping barbules into place

Syrinx

Organ at base of trachea that produces sound

Altricial

Chicks that are born naked & helpless

Precocial

Chicks that are born with downy feathers and ready to run or swim.

Megapode

Birds who do not rear their chicks

Field Marks

Colors, markings, patterns - characteristics of a specific species

6 key characteristics of all members of the class AVES

1. Bipedal

2. Warm Blooded

3. Vertebrates

4. Feathers

5. Scaly legs

6. Wings

Pectorals

The most important flight muscles.

Gizzard

The special section of the bird's stomach which grinds food.

Flight Feathers

Feathers that provide the necessary wing shape for flight.

Contour Feathers

Strong feathers found on the body, wings and tail which point to the tail and aid in streamlining.

Down Feathers

Feathers that provide insulation without adding weight.

Molting

When a bird replaces its old, broken or missing feathers.

Visual Displays

Visual displays that allow the bird to communicate.

Mobbing

When flocks of small birds harass a predatory bird.

Altitudinal Migration

Migrating small distances such as on the slope of a mountain.

Longitudinal Migration

When birds migrate long distances from hemisphere to hemisphere.

The largest flying bird:

Andean Condor

Material of which bird bills & feathers are made:

Keratin

The 2 types of penguins that are found in Antarctica

Emperor Penguins

Adelie Penguins

The largest living bird:

Ostrich

The best known tropical birds:

Parrots

The smallest of all birds

Bee Hummingbird

A bird famous for pretending to have a broken wing to draw a predator away from its nest:

Kill-deer

The bird with the longest migration (22,000 miles) from the Arctic to the Antarctic.

Arctic Tern

The bird with the longest wingspan:

Wandering Albatross

The bird with the specialized bill for removing seeds from pinecones is the:

Red Crossbill

Gliding Wing

Long - narrow

Soaring Wing

Large - broad

Diving Wing

Shorter - narrow

Hovering Wing

Short - tapered

Maneuvering Wing

Short - broad

Fast Flapping Wing

Long - tapered