Identifying Birds
Identifying Birds is a Valuable Skill for Ecotour Guides
The first step in understanding birds is to understand how they are classified (ie. how they are named). When you understand the groups or subdivisions which birds fall into, you will have a foundation for identifying and remembering the names of different birds which you encounter. You will also have a basis upon which to use reference material (books, web sites etc).
Bird names are better remembered when you can associate that name with something you are familiar with - in other words, the family to which that bird belongs.
Common names are widely used by birdwatchers, and even scientists in the field of Ornithology.
Within a particular locality, scientific names are relatively accurate, though not always 100% correct.
Be careful using scientific names though, particularly when you move to other parts of the world, as their accuracy can become uncertain. Bird classification is an imperfect science. Depending upon where an expert places their emphasis, the conclusions which they reach may vary. For instance, if an expert gives more importance to similarities in physical characteristics such as the beak; rather than behaviour, they may classify birds a particular way. Another expert who gives more emphasis to behaviour and less to physical appearance may classify the same birds differently. Also, scientists in different countries sometimes classify birds differently. For example, in Europe, magpies are commonly black and white birds with the scientific name Pica pica. In Australia, a magpie is classified as a bird belonging to the genus Gymnorhina.
CLASS AVES: BIRDS
Birds are animals that belong to the Class Aves. Animals of this class characteristically have skin with feathers, forelimbs that are wings with three fused fingers, the hind limbs that are legs, each leg having four or less toes (usually developed into claws). All living types of birds have a horn like beak, and do not have teeth. The Class Aves includes 27 orders of living birds and a few fossil orders. Of the 27 living order 4 are ratites and the remaining 24 are carinate birds.
The bird heart has four chambers with a single aortic arch on the right and the lungs are extended air pouches. Birds do not have external genitals, external ear lobes or urinary bladders, and their urine is semi-solid.
Class Aves
Subclass Archaeornithes
Subclass Neornithes
Superorder Paleognathae – non-flyers or weak flyers
Superorder Neognathae – modern flying birds
SUBCLASSES OF BIRDS
There are two subclasses of birds:
· Subclass Archaeornithes (Archae = old ornithes = birds) is a group of extinct reptile-like birds of the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous. This includes Archaeopteryx;
· Subclass Neornithes (Neo = new/recent ornithes = birds) includes extinct and living birds with well-developed sternum usually with keel.
[22/05/2012 13:43:13]
