Avian

Question 1

To which bone do the majority of the flight muscles attach?

A. Sternum
B. Quadrate
C. Scapula
D. Femur

Answer 1

A. Sternum

Question 2

What 2 activities have the bird’s skeleton primarily adapted to support?

Answer 2

1. Walking
2. Flying

Question 3

True or False.

The birds powerful muscles not only aid with flight, but also the circulatory + respiratory system to become capable of very high metabolic rates and thus gain a greater oxygen supply.

Answer 3

True!

Question 4

What type of pockets live inside the bird’s bones?

Answer 4

Air pockets!

Question 5

Give the name used to describe bones filled with air.

Answer 5

Pneumatic boness

Question 6

Why are most of the avian’s skeleton fused?

Answer 6

To help with aerodynamics, in flight

Question 7

What does the raidus + ulna become in the bird?

Answer 7

The wing!

Question 8

True or False.

The phalanges in the bird is shorter than the canine.
+
If so, why have they adapted this way?

Answer 8

False!

They are longer, adapting to allow the bird to grasp more easily
+
helps with treading water, swimming + aerodynamics in flight, when they are webbed!

Question 9

What is the sternum called in the bird?

Answer 9

The Keel!

Question 10

Give 3 reasons of how the bird’s neck has adapted to be so long + How does this help assist with their lifestyles?

Answer 10

They:
* Assist with flight
* Allows for preening
* Assists with avoiding predation, being able to monitor blind spots

Question 11

Why have the bird’s pelvis adapted to become large + open?

Answer 11

To lay eggs!

Question 12

Stating the obvious, what have the forelegs adapted to in the bird?

Answer 12

The wings

Question 13

What is the purpose of the bird’s skeletal adaptation of having fused, plated bones?

Answer 13

To:

Fused
* Help with shock absorption
* Provide strength

Plates
* Supports lightweight structure for flight
* Simplifies movement - for ease

Question 14

True or False.

Avian’s has an increased number of bones, in comparison to the dog.

Answer 14

False.

There are less, as many are fused!

Question 15

True or False.

In comparison to the canine, the bird’s bone density is increased.

Answer 15

False.

It is reduced, as many are pneumatic!

Question 16

Are avian bones thicker or thinner in comparison to the feline?

Answer 16

Much thinner!

Question 17

What within the bone, maintains it’s strength?

Answer 17

(Stiff) Internal body braces

Question 18

True or False.

Inside pneumatic bones, the air pockets/sacs can extend or overlap into other surrounding bones in the bird.

Answer 18

True!

Question 19

What is the beak made of in birds?

Answer 19

Strong keratin

Question 20

How has the beak + jaw of the bird adapted for flight?

Answer 20

• The beak is not made of dense bone, but of strong keratin
• There is no jaw, but a beak instead, which is more lightweight

Question 21

Do birds have teeth?

Answer 21

No!

Question 22

Name the wing that is formed from the reduced 1sst digit, that provides control during flight take-off + landing?

Answer 22

The Alula

Question 23

Why has the developed to not have any teeth?

Answer 23

1. Because teeth are heavy + can affect the balance required for flight
2. Due to their differentiated diets, they’re beaks are adapted to their species-specific diet, to avoid the need of teeth

Question 24

What does it mean when a bird’s wing is reffered to as ‘In pin’?

Answer 24

This means their wing is developing + still has a blood supply

(And should not be trimmed!)

Question 25

What 2 restraints can be used to restrain + handle birds of prey?

Answer 25

1. Hood 2. Jesses (Attached to the legs)

Question 26

Give another term used for feathers

Answer 26

Plumage

Question 27

List the 6 characteristics common to all birds

Answer 27

1. All vertebrates (backbone) 2. Endothermic 3. Wings (but not all can fly) 4. All adults possess feathers/plumage 5. Possess a beak 6. Oviparaous (Egg laying)

Question 28

What 2 ways does a bird's blood differ from mammals blood?

Answer 28

1. They have nucleated erythrocytes 2. Heterophils replace neutrophils

Question 29

How does the bird's pelvis differ from mammals?

Answer 29

* They have an open pubis, for egg laying * The open pubis = replaces pubic symphysis | Symphysis = Cartilaginous junction between the 2 pubis bones

Question 30

Name the 2 anatomical features that are missing from aves, that are present in mammals

Answer 30

1. Teeth 2. Diaphragm

Question 31

How many different orders of bird is there?

Answer 31

28

Question 32

What is the common name given to birds that are a part of Passeriformes?

Answer 32

Perching birds

Question 33

How do the toes of climbing birds differ to those belonging to perching birds?

Answer 33

* **Climbing** birds = **2 forward facing** digits + **2 backward** facing digits * **Perching** birds = 3 forward facing digits + **1 backwards** facing digit

Question 34

What species of bird has a well-developed keel bone + why?

Answer 34

1. The **Parrot** 2. Produces 2 joints between upper + lower jaw = enables movement required to = **climb** more effectively + **open** fruits + **nuts**

Question 35

Name the joint between the upper beak + the skull

Answer 35

Cranio-facial hinge

Question 36

What is the alula wing formed from?

Answer 36

The reduced 1st digit

Question 37

What are the 2 main functions of feathers?

Answer 37

1. Flight 2. Insulation

Question 38

Name 3 types of feathers in birds

Answer 38

1. Flight 2. Contour 3. Down

Question 39

Name the other name given to down feathers

Answer 39

Filoplumes

Question 40

Where are the Flight feathers located on the bird?

Answer 40

Wings + tail

Question 41

What are the Contour feathers and where are they located on the bird?

Answer 41

Outer layer of short flexible feathers, covering most of the body

Question 42

Where are the Down feathers located on the bird?

Answer 42

Located beneath the contour feathers

Question 43

List 5 ways which the skeleton of the bird is adapted for flight

Answer 43

1. Thin cortices (outer layers of the bone) to reduce weight of the bones 2. Internal cavities within the bone (to reduce bone weight) 3. Many pneumatic bones (to reduce bone weight) 4. Reduction of joints (many are fused to stabilise trunk) 5. Enlarged keel bone (sternum) to accomodate flight muscles

Question 44

What season do birds start mating?

Answer 44

Later summer

Question 45

What is the function of the preen gland in birds?

Answer 45

Production of oil + to keep plumage in good condition

Question 46

Name 2 species of bird that produce a fine dust, to help keep their plumage in good condition

Answer 46

1. Cockatiels 2. Cockatoos

Question 47

What is the function of the crop in some species of bird?

Answer 47

A storage organ for food

Question 48

# They both begin with p... What 2 species of bird produce 'crop milk' to feed their young?

Answer 48

1. Pigeons 2. Parrots

Question 49

Name the 2 chambers of the stomach that are present in the majority of most species of bird

Answer 49

1. Proventriculus (Glandular) 2. Ventriculus (Gizzard)

Question 50

Name 1 species of bird that does not contain a ventriculus?

Answer 50

The Hummingbird, due to it's liquid nectivorous diet

Question 51

Why does a budgerigar posses 2 large caeca, whereas the sunbird does not posses any?

Answer 51

Because the budgerigar is herbivorous, therefore they require a greater site for bacterial digestion for their high-vegetable matter diet. Whereas the sunbird, is nectivorous + therefore does not require one.

Question 52

Why is GA more risky in birds, than mammals of a comparable size?

Answer 52

Because birds are particulary sensitive to alterations in the level of inhalation of anaesthetic agents + therefore will have rapid changes in levels of conciousness

Question 53

Where should you administer an intra-muscular injection to a parakeet?

Answer 53

The Pectoral muscles, as they are strong + thick + muscular (either side of sternum/keel bone) or Leg muscles

Question 54

What area should you be most aware of when restraining birds + why?

Answer 54

The chest, as they do not possess a diaphragm to breathe, they use their thoracic muscles for respiration. Note = remember they have complete tracheal rings, so it is harder to cause damage or inhibit respiration by neck asphyxiation

Question 55

How many air sacs do birds typically have?

Answer 55

9

Question 56

Why are there air sacs attached to the lungs in birds?

Answer 56

To help supplement more oxygen for respiration

Question 57

Name 2 unique characteristics of the bird's lungs

Answer 57

They are: * Spongy * **In**elastic