Birds

Birds Body Structure - Feathers, wings, beak - Thin hollow bones - Large sternum Body Function - Very efficient lungs and air sacs - Unidirectional air flow - 4 Chambered heart - Endotherms - Keen Eyesight- 8 to 10x better than humans Reproduction - Internal fertilization - External development in amniotic egg - Hatchlings  § Altricial- young hatch without feathers and are dependent on adults; ex Red-Tailed Hawk  § Precocial- young hatch fully feathered and follow meather; 10-15 eggs; ex turkey Digestion - Large variety of diets - Seeds, nectar, insects, small animals, carrion - Beaks indicate diet Feathers - Types  o Flight-for flying  o Contour- Covers bird body  o Down- Used for insulation - Males are usually more brightly colored Flight Adaptations - Feathers  o Extremely light (may have evolved from scales) - No teeth - Hollow bones - Sternum allows for attachment of powerful flight muscles - Flight requires energy and efficiency  o Heartbeat pumps blood carrying oxygen to muscles at 1,000 beats per minute  o Air Flow system is unidirectional, making It more efficient Bird Taxonomy - Kingdom- Animalia - Phylum- Chordata - Subphylum-Vertebrata - Class- Aves Flightless Birds - Example: Ostrich Largest Birds - Example: Albatross Smallest Birds - Example: Bee Hummingbird Birds of Prey: talons and sharp beaks-raptors - Example: falcon

News Article. What do you think may be the reason that the birds are falling from the sky? []

media type="custom" key="8809630" Birds feathers can sing. media type="custom" key="8809674" Birds are having trouble migrating because of the oil spill.