Birds are warm-blooded vertebrates and belong to the tetrapod group. They can be found in all types of habitat and on all continents, even in environments as cold as Antarctica. Its main characteristic is the presence of feathers and the ability to fly, although not all of them can do it, since there are some species that have lost this ability. Within the world of birds, there is a great variety in terms of morphology (body shape), colors and size of feathers, beak shapes and ways of feeding.
Do you know the different types of birds that exist and their characteristics? If you want to know more about this wonderful animal group, continue reading this article on our site where we will tell you about the types of birds present in each part of the world and their most curious details.
Characteristics of birds
Birds are the closest descendants of the dinosaurs, which inhabited the Earth about 200 million years ago, in the Jurassic. As we mentioned, they are endothermic (warm-blooded) animals that have feathers that cover their entire body, a horny beak (with keratin cells) and no teeth. Their forelimbs are adapted for flight and, in the case of flightless bird species such as ostriches, kiwis or penguins, their hind limbs are adapted for running, walking or swimming. Their particular anatomy has various adaptations, most of them related to flight and their particular lifestyles. They have the following characteristics:
- Light Skeleton: skeleton with very light and hollow bones that make them light during flight.
- Developed vision: they also have very large orbitals (cavities where the eyes are housed), so their vision is highly developed.
- Horny beak: Birds have a horny beak with many variations depending on the species and the way they feed.
- Syrinx: They also have a syrinx, which is part of their oral apparatus and through which they can make sounds and sing.
- Craw and gizzard: they have a crop (dilation of the esophagus) that serves to store food before digestion, and therefore On the other hand, a gizzard, which is part of the stomach and is responsible for grinding the food, often with the help of small stones that the bird swallows for that purpose.
- They do not urinate: they do not have a urinary bladder, so uric acid (waste from the kidneys of birds) is excreted along with the rest of the waste in the form of semisolid feces.
- Fused Bones: fusion of vertebrae, fusion of hip bones, and variations on the sternum and ribs to accommodate the muscles of the flight.
- Four fingers: the legs have 4 fingers in most species, which have different arrangements depending on the way of life they live in. take.
- Piglets or pellets: Many species form pellets, small vomited concretions made up of undigested animal remains.
- They lay eggs: as we mentioned before, their reproductive form is by internal fertilization and they lay dry calcareous eggs that incubate in the nests, and many species lose their breast feathers during the incubation season in order to provide more heat for the egg.
- They can be born with or without feathers: newly hatched hatchlings (when they hatch) can be altricial, that is, they still They do not have down for protection and must remain longer in the nest in the care of their parents. On the other hand, they can be precocious, when they are born with down that protects their body, therefore, they spend less time in the nest.
- Accelerated digestion and metabolism: having a high and accelerated metabolism and digestion are also adaptations related to flight.
- Special breathing: very particular respiratory system, since they have lungs with air sacs that allow a constant flow of air.
- Developed nervous system: They have a highly developed nervous system, especially the brain, which is related to flight functions.
- Variety diet: related to their diet, there is a wide variation depending on the species, being able to consume seeds, fruits and flowers, leaves, insects, carrion (animal remains) and nectar, which will be directly related to their lifestyles.
- Long migrations: Many marine species, such as the Sooty Shearwater (Ardenna grisea) have the ability to perform migrations as long as they are spectacular, since it reaches more than 900 km per day. Find out here what the migratory birds are.
Types of birds
Around the world there are more than 10,000 species, and most of them diversified during the Cretaceous, about 145 million years ago years. They are currently grouped into two large lineages:
- Palaeognathae: with around 50 species distributed mainly in the southern hemisphere,
- Neognathae: made up of the rest of the species present on all continents.
Next, we include a diagram that shows more clearly the types of birds that exist.
Examples of Palaeognathae birds
Within the types of Palaeognathae birds, there are:
- The ostrich (Struthio camelus): it is the largest bird that we can find today and the fastest runner. It is present in sub-Saharan Africa.
- The rheas: like Rhea americana, similar to ostriches, although smaller. They have lost the ability to fly and are also excellent runners and are present in South America.
- The tinamids: like Tinamus major also present in Central and South America. They are walking birds and take short flights when they feel threatened.
- Cassowaries: such as Casuarius casuarius found in Australia and New Guinea, and the emu Dromaius novaehollandiae, found in Oceania. Both have also lost the ability to fly and are either walkers or runners.
- Kiwifruit: Endemic (occurring only at one site) to New Zealand, such as Apteryx owenii. They are small birds with a globular shape and terrestrial habits.
Examples of Neognathae birds
The Neognathae comprise the most diverse and numerous group of current birds, so we will name their best known or most striking representatives. Here we can find:
- Hens: like Gallus gallus, present all over the world.
- Ducks: such as Anas sivilatrix, present in South America.
- Doves: like Columba livia, also widely distributed, as it is present in much of the world.
- Cucos: like the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus, so curious to practice breeding parasitism, where the females lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species. The roadrunner Geococcyx californianus is also found here, curious about its terrestrial feeding habits.
- Cranes: with examples such as Grus grus with its large size and ability to migrate great distances.
- Gaviotas: for example Larus occidentalis, medium-sized seabirds with one of the largest wingspans (distance from tip to tip wings).
- Birds of prey: such as the golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos, a large species that is an excellent flier, and barn owls, such as for example the snowy owl Aquila chrysaetos, characteristic for its white plumage.
- Penguins: with representatives that can reach 1.20 m in height, such as the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri).
- Garzas: like Ardea alba, widely distributed in the world and one of the largest of its group.
- Hummingbirds: with tiny representatives such as Mellisuga helenae, considered the smallest bird in the world.
- Kingfisher: like Alcedo atthis, so conspicuous for its bright colors and excellent fishing ability.
