Everything You Need To Know About Birds

Bird overview

Birds are known as vertebrate animals, as they have a backbone. They are spread throughout the world and are found in various environments. They have wings and feathers, and they also have a general characteristic that distinguishes them, which is their ability to fly. This is because they have strong muscles that enable them to move their wings. In contrast, there are some types of birds that do not have enough strength to enable them to fly. The birds are covered with a layer of feathers, in addition to what distinguishes their bodies is that they have very light bony structures. Which helps them fly lightly and quickly. Birds also have a beak instead of teeth, and most bird species build nests in which to hatch their eggs and for their young to grow safely. It is worth noting here that the sizes of birds vary between very large, medium, and small, as The largest one is 2.74 meters high and is an ostrich, while the smallest is 5.08 cm long and is a hummingbird.

Characteristics of birds

Birds have several common characteristics, the most important of which are the following:

Movement and flight

Birds are among the best living creatures with their ability to fly. This is due to the fluidity of their bodies and the possession of feathers and wings, but in contrast to that, there are large differences between birds in their ability to fly, as some of them cannot fly like penguins, but instead they have a good ability to swim using their wings as a paddle, and some birds You can only jump and walk; Because they have primitive wings that do not enable them to fly, it must be known that birds fly by flapping their wings, and they guide themselves mainly by their tails. The basal part of the wing provides most of the support, while the tip of the wing is responsible for providing most of the propulsion.

General bird body parts

Birds consist of basic parts, such as:

Feathers: Feathers are found mainly in all types of birds, and they are composed of keratin, which is also found in the hair and nails of other living organisms. There are also different types of feathers, each of which has its own function. Soft feathers, for example, maintain the warmth and temperature of birds. It is worth noting here that old feathers fall out once or twice a year, depending on the type, and feathers are important in mating. It helps many bird species, such as the male peacock, to bring females.

Wings: All birds have wings, but this does not mean that all birds have the ability to fly, and the shape of these wings varies from one bird to another. Some birds that need to fly at high speed have narrow wings with sharp tips, such as a hawk, while songbirds have oval-shaped wings that help them maneuver in narrow spaces, while other birds that need to swim in the water have wings that resemble fins, such as penguins.

Beak: Birds do not have teeth like other living organisms, but they have a beak made of bones and covered by a thin layer of keratin. The shape of the beak for each bird indicates the diet it follows, as the beak in birds that eat meat is sharp, which helps them tear apart prey, such as a hawk. While birds that eat seeds have a very strong, cone-shaped beak that helps them break the seeds, water birds have a wide, flat beak so they can filter their food from the water, such as ducks and geese.

Laying eggs: All birds lay eggs that may be brightly colored and may contain spots. Bird eggs have a hard shell made of calcium, and underneath is a layer of mucus that helps harden the egg. Inside the egg there are both the yolk and the egg white, which is called albumin. Or albumin.

Skeleton: The design of the skeleton of birds helps them have light weight to help them fly. The bones of their species that fly are hollow. On the other hand, birds that do not fly do not need hollow bones, such as penguins, whose heavy bones help them survive and live in their extremely cold environments. Heavy bones also help ostriches, for example, to run and kick to protect themselves.

Reproduction

Birds can mate during one breeding season, or sometimes for several seasons, and there are some birds that mate for life, such as bald eagles, and this is called monogamy, while in some species one male mates with many females, which is known as polygamy. Such as chickens. On the other hand, there are types of birds whose females mate with several males, such as some shore birds, the most famous of which is the northern jakana.

Types of birds

Bird species are divided into the following types:

Doves: Dove species are distinguished by their long tails. They are found all over the world. They are also known as a symbol of peace. They feed on fruits, plants, and seeds to survive.

Kingfishers: There are more than 90 different types of kingfishers that are found in forest areas and wetlands, and they are distributed all over the world. The birds of this type are distinguished by being skilled at diving and catching fish in rivers using their pointed beaks that help them in the hunting process. They are also characterized by the ability to Good visuals both in the air and underwater.

Owls: This type of bird is known to sleep during the day and wake up at night, and therefore it hunts insects, rats, rabbits, some fish, and other birds at night. There are also many species that are found everywhere except Antarctica and remote islands.

Penguins: Penguins are found in the southern hemisphere and most of Antarctica. The emperor penguin is considered the largest of these species, which are known to be aquatic and cannot fly. A small number of them are found in the temperate zone. The most amazing feature of penguins is that they tend to To live in cold ocean water for half of its life, while spending the other half in icy lands.

Corvids: This type of bird is considered a thief because it steals small birds away from their nests. It is characterized by relying on itself since childhood to hunt its food.

Birds: Birds are plump and have strong beaks, and they depend on seeds and insects for their food.

Peckers: such as the toucan and the woodpecker. This type is distinguished by its very large and colorful beak. These birds are brightly colored and cheerful, and depend on fruits in addition to insects for their food. These birds are non-migratory and build their nests in tree holes.

Hoopoes: They can be found in Asia, Africa, and Europe. They are distinguished by their crown on top of their heads, which can be easily seen. They depend mainly on insects and reptiles for their food.

Raptors: These are birds with strong claws that depend on meat for their food.