Birds

Iva DikovaSimona ZahovaVeselin Karadzhov10/3

• In 1859 Charles Darwin writes On the Origin of Species; 3

• Archaeopteryx is admitted to be the earliest known (the fundamental) member of the genealogy of modern birds; 3

• Theropods had all characteristics of birds; 3

• Evolution of feathers enhanced flight capabilities of birds. Larger feathers increased lift; 3

• Evolution of alula- a tuft of specialized feathers that improve takeoffs, landings and maneuvering at slow speed of flying. 3

Evolution of birds

Evolutionary tree of birds• - Evolved from Dinosaurs – bipedal from the

beginning (able to walk on two feet) • - Saurchian – flexible neck (for scanning the skies)• - Theropod – reduced number of fingers and flexible lower jaw (like beak’s)• - Maniraptoran – longer arms than feet • - Birds as we know them

• Birds have bilateral symmetry. 4

• This means that a bird can be cut from the center of its beak down to the center of its tail in mirror images.

Symmetry of birds

• Feathers – made of keratin –> flexible; hollow spine – light

• Beaks with various shapes depending on the type of food eaten by the bird; lack of teeth

• Air sacs in the lungs for lightness

• Fused finger bones

• Songbirds have syrinx – vocal organ that helps singing two tones at the same time

Characteristics unique to birds

How does flying happen?•Birds have many adaptations in order to fly;

•The wings are the most obvious adaptations;

•The wings are airfoil shaped, which produces an upward force;

•Bernoulli’s equation: 9

• The wings are covered with feathers; 8

• Made of beta-keratin; 8

• Flapping of the wings is required in order to stay in flight, some birds need to flap continuously; 8

• The power for flapping comes from the pectoral muscles; 8

• The Peregrine Falcon- the fastest bird, can reach about 440km/h; 10

• Flying has many benefits, including: enhanced hunting, easier ways to escape from predators, ability to migrate; 8

• Flying requires a lot of energy; 8

How does flying happen?

• High metabolism rate, but short lifespan; 10

• At night the metabolism slows down 10

• High-energy food- seeds, nuts, fruits, fish 10

• Maintain high body temperature; 8

• Feathers and layers of fat provide insulation; 8

• The lungs have improved structure; 8

• Very efficient respiratory and circulatory system; 8

• 4-chambered heart; 8

• Tissues are well-supplied with nutrients and oxygen; 8

Adaptations for flight

• Excellent vision and improved hunting; 10

• 3 eyelids, very thick retina (provides very clear image); 10

• Fine muscle control; 10

• Visual and motor parts of the brain are very well developed; 8

• Weight is minimized: lack of urinary bladder and teeth; 8

• Females have only one ovary; 8

• Less and lighter bones; 8

• Excellent hearing- critical for maintaining balance during flight 10

Adaptations for flight

• Birds are born inside eggs with hard shells.1

• For many days their parents protect and keep the eggs warm – a process called incubation.1

• After the baby birds hatch, they are fed by their parents.1

• It takes a few weeks for their feathers to develop. During this time, they also become big enough to fly even though they can swim just a few hours after they are hatched.1

• When they become mature enough to find their own food and fly their parents drive them away.1

• After a year they will mate and have young of their own. 1

• The cycle begins again.1

Life cycle of birds

• In order to avoid predation, birds associate with each other. 2

• Some birds like penguins swim very fast in the water and can avoid bigger slower predators. 2

• Some birds like penguins go to the most inhospitable places on the poles in order to hatch their eggs without threat of sudden attack. 2

• When sleeping at night:

• Some birds sleep sitting or standing

in the water or on predator-free islands.(2)

• Many others sleep on the ground in

dense vegetation . 2

• Others prefer to sleep in trees, chimneys,

• nest boxes or dense shrubs. 2

How do birds avoid predation?

• 18 main groups

• Most famous ones:

• Ducks, geese, swans

• Pigeons and doves

• Pelicans and allies

• Cuckoos

• Owls

• Swifts and hummingbirds

• Woodpeckers

Main representatives of birds

• Light colored with white heart-shaped face

• Height – 30- 40 centimeters

• Hunts at night time (mammals pertaining

to the rodent family)

• One of the most widely distributed birds

• American Robin (Turdus migratorius) from

the perching birds group:

• grayish – brown with rusty front

• 20-28 centimeters high

• Eats insects

• Found in North America

Barn Owl and American Robin

• Saurischian- lizard hipped dinosaurs, one of the 2 basic divisions of dinosaurs.

• Filamentous- composed of filaments• Ratites- having a flat sternum• Insulation- isolation• Pectoral- pertaining to the breast• shaft- a long narrow stem• Vane- a flattened weblike part of a feather consisting of a

series of fibrils on the sides of the shaft• Beta-keratin- a protein that forms the feathers• Sternum- breast bone• Theropods- a group of saurischian dinosaurs.

Vocabulary

Works Cited:1. Amsel, Sheri. “Life Cycles of Plants and Animals.” Bird Life Cycle. Exploring Nature Educational Resource. © 2005 -

2010. March 29, 2010. http://exploringnature.org/db/detail.php?dbID=32&detID=1210

2. McClain, Russ. "Where do birds go at night?." Where Do Birds Sleep At Night...and Other Avian Questions. The Birdwatcher’s Companion., n.d. Web. 29 Mar 2010. http://www.wvdnr.gov/wildlife/magazine/Archive/06winter/AvianQuestions.pdf.

3. "Bird Evolution." Evolution. WGBH Educational Foundation and Clear Blue Sky Productions, Inc., n.d. Web. 29 Mar 2010. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/03/4/l_034_01.html.

4. Frondorf, Anne. "Birds." Birds. WGBH Educational Foundation, n.d. Web. 30 Mar 2010. http://www.mcwdn.org/Animals/Bird.html.

5. http://images.paraorkut.com/img/pics/images/e/emperor_penguins-12141.jpg

6. http://www.exploringnature.org/graphics/bird_cycle_color72.jpg

7. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/03/4/image_pop/l_034_01.html

8. Campbell, Neil. Biology. San Francisco: Pearson, 2009.

9. Serway, Raymond. College Physics. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1995.\

10. "Aerodynamics of Animals- Birds". Cislunar Aerospace, Inc.. 3/30/2010 <http://wings.avkids.com/Book/Animals/intermediate/birds-01.html>.

11. Wildermuth, Michael. "Evolution of Birds." Geology.Fulletron. N.p., 2005. Web. 30 Mar. 2010. <http://geology.fullerton.edu/whenderson/Fal201L2005/Evolution%20of%20Birds/new_page_1.htm>.

12. "American Robin." All About Birds. Cornell lab of Ornithology, 2009. Web. 30

Mar. 2010. <http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Robin/lifehistory>.