Bird Taxonomy Sheet #1

Question 1

Superorder Palaeognathae

Answer 1

Immobile structure of the upper bony palate

Question 2

Ratites

Answer 2

Group of flightless birds, reduced wing bones, and sternum lacks keel

Question 3

Order Struthioniformes

Answer 3

Ostriches: Largest living bird in Africa

Question 4

Order Rheiformes

Answer 4

Rheas: High-speed runners in South America

Question 5

Order Apterygiformes

Answer 5

Kiwis: Miniscule wings, poor vision, hair-like plumage

Question 6

Order Casuariiformes

Answer 6

Cassowaries and Emus: Dagger-like claw on second toe in Australia

Question 7

Order Tinamiformes

Answer 7

Tinamous: (reluctant) Flighted birds in Central and South America

Question 8

Superorder Neognathae

Answer 8

All other taxa of extant birds

Question 9

Order Galliformes

Answer 9

Fowl-like birds: Medium to large, terrestrial; short, rounded wings, well-developed keel found worldwide

Question 10

Family Odontophoridae

Answer 10

New world quails: Throaty, whistling calls found in the New World

Question 11

Family Phasianidae

Answer 11

Pheasants, grouse, turkey, Old World quails: Brilliant plumage due to intense sexual selection found worldwide

Question 12

Order Anseriformes

Answer 12

Waterfowl: Precocial young found worldwide except Antarctica

Question 13

Family Anatidae

Answer 13

Ducks, geese, swans: webbed feet, aquatic birds found worldwide except Antarctica

Question 14

Family Anhimidae

Answer 14

Screamers: Vestigial webbing on feet, loudly vocal, found in swampy wetlands in neotropics

Question 15

Order Caprimulgiformes

Answer 15

Nightjars and allies, swifts, hummingbirds: Small, weak bill and wide gap to capture insects found worldwide except Antarctica

Question 16

Family Caprimulgidae

Answer 16

Nightjars: Nocturnal insectivores with rictal bristles, longer bills, and cryptic plumage found worldwide except Antarctica

Question 17

Family Steatornithidae

Answer 17

Oilbirds: Nocturnal, fruit-eating feeders in neotropics

Question 17

Family Podargidae

Answer 17

Frogmouths: Nocturnal birds with strong, wide bill found in Asian and Australasian regions

Question 17

Family Nyctibiidae

Answer 17

Potoos: Nocturnal insectivores without rictal bristles, large heads, and massive bills found in neotropics

Question 17

Family Aegothelidae

Answer 17

Owlet-nightjars: Nocturnal birds with wide but rather weak bill found in Australasia

Question 18

Family Hemiprocnidae

Answer 18

Treeswifts: Branch-perching swifts, partly glossy, with long wingtips that fold scissor-like across deeply forked tail found in Asia

Question 19

Family Apodidae

Answer 19

Swifts: Fast fliers, long bones in outer portion of wing found worldwide except Antarctica

Question 20

Family Trochilidae

Answer 20

Hummingbirds: Smallest birds, wings beat at high frequencies, highest mass-specific metabolic rate of homeotherms found in the New World