General Classification
of birds
Phylum:
Chordate - Presence of notochord in embryonic condition.
Sub Phylum: Vertebrate – Presence of vertebral column
Division Gnathostomata
– Presence of Jaws
Class: Aves
General characters of
birds
1. Presence
of feather is the unique characteristics of birds
2. Fore
limbs are modified in to wings
3. Wings
are used in flight.
4. Hind
limbs are power full and with claws used for bipedal movement.
5. Warm
blooded animals.
6. Body
is divisible into head, neck, trunk and tail.
7. The
bones are spongy and hollow I.e.
pneumatic bone
8. The
modern birds have no teeth in jawas.
9. Skull
is monocondylic.
10. Tail is supported by compound caudal
vertebrae called pygostyle.
11. Tail is used to change direction during
flight.
12. In fore limb carpals and metacarpals are
united to from carpo-metacarpas.
13.
In hind limb tarsal and metatarsal unite to form
tarso-metatarsus.
14.
To store food bird hve well developed
crop chamber.
15.
Stomach is divided into glandular
proventriculus and posterior muscular gizzard.
16.
Respiration by lung.
17.
Lung is surrounded by non-distensible 9
air sacs.
18.
Lung and air sacs meant for double
respiration.
19.
Heart is four chambered.
20.RBC are nucleated, oval and biconcave.
21.
Vocal cords are absent.
22.Syrinx is sound producing organ.
23.
Kidney is meta-nephric consist of three
lobes.
24.
Urinary bladder is absent.
25.
Presence of cloaca.
26.
Eyes are well developed . vision is
monocular.
27.In eye presence of comb like pectin.
28.Brain is well developed.
29. Cerebellum consists of three lobes.
30. 13
to 16 bones of pelveic region are united to form synsacrum.
31. Clavical bone unite to form ‘V’ shaped forcula.
32. Sternum is broad keel like to which
muscles are attached.
33.
Sexes are separate. Sexual dimorphism is
indistinct.
34.
Fertilization is internal
35.
Birds are oviparous.
36. 12 pair of cranial nerves.
Order Falconiformes Eg. Hawks, eagles, falcons
1.
These birds are carnivorous.
2.
Gregarious bird.
3.
They are diurnal raptorial birds, birds of prey.
4.
Beak or bill is sharply pointed, curved.
5.
The margins of the
beak are sharp.
6.
Beak is adopted for piercing and tearing the animal
flesh.
7.
The toes are strong and power full with 4 toes. Three toes
directed forward
and 1st to directed backward.
and 1st to directed backward.
8.
The toes are terminated with sharp claws.
9.
Lower surface of toes is rough for capturing prey.
10.
Flight is power full and long.
11.
Sexes are more of similar in plumage but males are
smaller in size than female.
Order Galliformes Eg. Fowl, Peafowl,. Pheasants, Old World
quail, grouse, turkey etc.
1.
These are terrestrial birds often hunted as game birds.
2.
They are gregarious
3.
No power full flight.
4.
Feet are long with four toes. 3 toes facing front and 1
toe directed backword.
5.
Beak or bill is short and weak adopted for eating seeds
(Grainivorous beak) .
6.
Feet are adopted for scratching.
7.
Gizzard is large and muscular.
8.
Intestinal caeca are large.
9.
Keel is well developed.
10.
Well developed after shaft.
11.
Tarsal spur are present in many species is sexual
dimorphic characters.
12.
Beautiful plumage is present in many species.
13.
Flight is power full but short.
Order Columbiformes Eg. Pigeons and Doves
1.
These birds are with small head
and having wide range of plumage and colors.
2.
They are gregarious bird.
3.
They feeds on grain and insects.
4.
The hind limbs are short with
reticulate scales.
5.
Beak or bill is weak with fleshy cere at the base of the
bill.
6.
They have large crop.
7.
During breeding season inner lignin of crop produces
substance known as “Pigeon milk” which is fed to young ones.
8.
Feathers are without aftershaft.
Order Psittaciformes
eg. Parrots, Parakeet
1.
They are feeds upon fruits (frugivorous).
2.
They are gregarious.
3.
The colour of feather is green, red, yellow, blue, etc.
4.
Beak is stout and hooked.
5.
Fleshy cere present at the base of beak.
6.
Upper beak or mandible is movable.
7.
The toes are short.
8.
the toes are zygodactyls modified for climbing on stiff vertical
tree trunk.
9.
Scales are present on legs.
Order Passeriformes
Eg. Perching Birds such as sparrow, house crow, robin etc.
1.
This is the largest order of birds comprising over half
of the known bird species of the world.
2.
They also include song birds.
3.
They are smaller to medium sized birds.
4.
Beak is weak adopted for variety of food, either
granivorous or frugivorous
5.
Bipedal movement.
6.
Toes are slender adopted for perching the twig or any
kind of such support.
