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Introducing birds

Birds can be defined as a type of vertebrate animal (that is, it has a backbone), and it is distinguished from the rest of life by having wings, through which most birds become able to fly, and the body of these animals covers feathers, and they have beaks instead of wings. the teeth.

The scientific classification of birds The scientific classification of birds can be clarified through the following table:

Category	Contents
The kingdom	Animals
div	Chordata, which are animals that have a notochord during embryonic development
sect	birds

The most prominent types of birds

There are approximately 10,000 species of birds in the world, which are found in different regions, and birds are classified within 30 main groups, including branching into species, and the most prominent types of birds are the following:

A birds of prey

This type includes hawks, eagles, ospreys, and others; The species within this category reach 300 species, and are characterized as carnivores (predators); It feeds on fish and small mammals, and is spread all over the world.

Quails

There are 15 species of these birds, and they are found in grassy areas in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, and feed on worms and insects, and the male of them is the one who incubates the young after the eggs hatch.

Cassowary birds

This type of bird does not fly, has a neck and head without feathers, and is found in Australia, Guinea, and Britain, and these birds are threatened with extinction.

Cuckoo and turaco

There are 160 species of cuckoos and turacos found all over the world, mainly in savannas, and they feed on insects and caterpillars.

Flamingos

Its scientific name is (flamingo), these birds feed on small marine animals, and are characterized by their scarlet or pink color, and they are found in tropical and subtropical regions, specifically in South America, the Caribbean Sea, Africa, India and some regions of the Middle East.

morphological characteristics of birds

There are common formal characteristics among birds, despite their different types, and the most important of these characteristics:

feathers

Feathers cover all the bodies of birds, and consist mainly of keratin, protein, and light-reflecting pigments, and thus constitute an insulator for birds from heat, Birds also use feathers to fly and get warmth in winter, and as a means to attract the opposite sex during the mating period, and birds change their feathers once or twice each year.

wings

Birds use wings for various purposes, the most important of which are: flying, swimming, or as a means of courtship during mating seasons, and the shape of wings differs from one bird to another.

The skeleton is lightweight

Most birds are characterized by having lightweight skeletons and hollow bones. This structure helps birds to fly and soar, and most of the bones of their body are fused together, which makes them solid and strengthens the wings during flight.

beaks

Birds have sharp edges along the beaks, and they do not chew food, but rather grind it or tear it into small pieces, and the beaks help birds to eat their food, especially meat, and through them they can also penetrate shells to eat seeds and extract food from water.

Behavioral traits of birds

Despite the difference in behaviors between birds according to their species, they share a set of behavioral characteristics, the most important of which are the following:

Feather care

Feather care is a permanent stereotypical behavior in birds. to maintain its ability to fly.

stretching movements

The movements of extending the wings, legs, and feet in flight are common to all birds, along with the stretching and folding of the wings.

Safety distances

Birds leave enough distance between them and other birds in order to preserve their life during flight from any shocks.

Belonging to the homeland

Birds do not leave their lands, especially during mating seasons, except in the event of migrations.

organizational methods

Collective organization is the basis for the existence of birds; Yet there are some that exist individually.

Warm-blooded

Birds are endothermic animals; they depend on their bodies to generate heat, and do not depend exclusively on the external environment, this feature helps birds to survive and continuity; It is able to face fluctuations and weather changes that affect it.

higher metabolism

All birds are able to convert food into energy very quickly, which helps birds move and fly continuously.

Bird feeder

Bird food varies according to its type, some of which feed on seeds, fruits and insects, and some of them eat eggs, mammals, fish, sprouts, larvae, invertebrates, some eat nuts, aquatic plants, and some eat dead animals.

Examples of bird food

Bird food varies, and the most important of these types are as follows:

Cereals and seeds

Examples of birds that eat: goldfinch and woodpecker.

Peanuts

Examples of birds that eat it include: chicken chicks and some birds (it is used with agricultural guidance, due to its high content of natural toxins).

worms

Examples of birds that eat: small birds, and bluebird.

meat

Meat includes medium-sized mammals, such as: rabbits, birds, and reptiles, and examples of birds that eat: eagles.

Bird breeding

Birds reproduce by eggs, and show attractive behaviors during the mating season. As the male performs some performances that include dancing, flying, flapping wings, or issuing sounds (twittering) to attract the female, and when mating, the egg is fertilized inside the female by transferring the sperm from the male to her during intercourse.

This process results in the formation of eggs with hard shells, and the shell consists mainly of calcium and a layer of hard mucus. Inside the egg, the embryo grows and feeds on the egg yolk and white, and preserves and cares for the eggs within straw nests.

Bird pairs stay with each other for many years, and during that they multiply greatly, and the female moves to another male in the event of the death of the male, and vice versa, and after the egg-laying process, the male and female take turns taking care of the eggs until they hatch, after which the duration of care varies according to the type of bird.

Benefits of birds for the environment and humans

Birds are of great importance, both at the environmental and human levels, as follows:

Benefits of birds for the environment

Birds are part of the ecosystem and part of the food web and food chains, as some birds depend on small animals or insects for their food, and bird eggs are food for other animals, and from here it can be noted their vital role in the ecological balance.

Among the most important benefits that birds accrue to the environment are:

Pest Control

And this is by eating insects in gardens and farms, which helps to preserve the environment and plants from death and destruction, and examples of pest-eating birds: the black kingfisher.

pollination of plants

And it is by transferring pollen with its beaks; Which helps to fertilize sexual cells and create new plants, and examples of birds that achieve this benefit: hummingbird.

Disposing of the remains of animal carcasses

Birds help greatly in preserving the environment and prevent the spread of diseases, as they depend for their food on the remains of the carcasses of animals that were preyed upon or died for any reason, and among the most important birds that achieve this benefit are vultures.

Maintaining plant growth

Birds help maintain plant growth by transporting and spreading seeds; When the birds feed on some fruits, they carry them in their hollows and disperse them while moving to other places through their droppings. Among the birds that achieve this benefit are the Micronesian imperial pigeons.

The benefits of birds to humans

The benefits of birds for humans are as follows:

food

Bird meat is an essential source of human food, most notably ducks, turkeys, chickens, and the eggs produced from these animals.

Guide birds for food

Birds work well as guides to humans for some food sources; For example, the Borana people in Africa use birds to guide them to the places of honey.

Birds are an early warning to humans regarding diseases

For example, if chickens are infected with a virus, humans may also be exposed to it, and therefore the latter can take preventive measures, such as the West Nile virus.