Birds

Question 1

What are some general characteristics of birds?

Answer 1

4 chambered heart.
Toothless beak.
Hollow-boned.
Egg laying.
Flight capable.

Question 2

From what group of dinosaurs are birds meant to be descended from?

Answer 2

Dromaeosaurs.

Question 3

What bird-like features were possessed by dromaeosaurs like Compsognathus?

Answer 3

Long spindly legs + long neck.
Small head + large eyes.
Pubic bone rotation + fused clavicles.
Outwards arm rotation.

Question 4

What dinosaur features remained in dromaeosaurs like Compsognathus?

Answer 4

Clawed hands.
Teeth.
Long bulky tail.

Question 5

What were some species within the “proto-bird” assemblage?

Answer 5

Sinornithosaurus.
Caudipteryx.
Protarchaeopteryx.

Question 6

What bird-like features were possessed by Archaeopteryx?

Answer 6

Long spindly legs + long neck.
Small head + large eyes.
Pubic bone rotated backwards + fused clavicles.
Bird like feet.
"Modern" flight + contour feathers.

Question 7

What dinosaur features were possessed by Archaeopteryx?

Answer 7

3 clawed hands.
Long (but thin) bony tail.
Teeth.
Small sternum.
Solid bones.

Question 8

What bird-like features were possessed by Confuciusornis and Enantiornithes?

Answer 8

Hollow bones and a pygostyle (a bone used to control the tail feathers).

Question 9

What vestigial dinosaur-like feature is possessed by hoatzin chicks?

Answer 9

2 vestigial wing claws.

Question 10

What is the clade Euornithes?

Answer 10

The “early true birds”. Includes Patagopteryx, Ichthyornis and Hesperornis.

Question 11

How many modern bird lineages are there and what are their names?

Answer 11

Palaeognathae, Neoaves and Galloanserae.

Question 12

What orders are included in the group Palaeognathae?

Answer 12

Tinamous, Rheas, Ostriches, Kiwis, Cassowaries and Emus.

Question 13

What are some features of the group Palaeognathae?

Answer 13

Large (excluding tinamous) and flightless (excluding tinamous).

Question 14

How many orders are there in the lineage Neoaves?

Answer 14

35 orders (83 families).

Question 15

Which is the most speciose order within Neoaves?

Answer 15

The Passerines with over 5000 named species. There are 3 suborders: Acanthisitti, Tyranni and Passeri.

Question 16

How many orders are there in the lineage Galloanserae?

Answer 16

2 orders (8 families).

Question 17

What are the names of the orders in the lineage Galloanserae?

Answer 17

Anseriformes and Galliformes.

Question 18

How many orders are there in the lineage Palaeognathae?

Answer 18

6 orders (6 families).

Question 19

What birds are found in the order Anseriformes?

Answer 19

Most water birds such as ducks, geese and swans.

Question 20

What birds are found in the order Galliformes?

Answer 20

Grouse, pheasants, New World quails and guinea fowls.

Question 21

How many species of bird are there globally?

Answer 21

9-10,000 making them the most speciose tetrapod group.

Question 22

How many bird species have been lost during the Anthropocene extinctions?

Answer 22

Around 2000 species.

Question 23

What are some feather types?

Answer 23

Pennaceous/Vaned.
Filoplume.
Bristle.
Flight.
Semiplume.
Down.

Question 24

Describe the structure of a feather.

Answer 24

A vane made up of barbs which is attached to the shaft. The barbs possess barbules with hooks (barbicels)

Question 25

What are the upper and lower half of the shaft known as?

Answer 25

Upper half = rachis. | Lower half = calamus.

Question 26

What is the preen gland and where is it located?

Answer 26

A gland that secretes preen oil found at the base of the tail.

Question 27

Which species possess a preen gland?

Answer 27

Waterbirds.

Question 28

What is powder down?

Answer 28

A powdery substance produced by some birds that cleans and waterproofs the feathers. It can also prevent parasites.

Question 29

What is the process of anting?

Answer 29

The bird sits on an ant nest so the ants climb onto it. The ants then remove any external parasites.

Question 30

Why is moulting necessary?

Answer 30

To replace damaged or worn feathers.

Question 31

Which colours are reflected by caratenoid pigments?

Answer 31

Yellow and red.

Question 32

Which colours are reflected by pterin pigments?

Answer 32

White, yellow and red.

Question 33

Which colours are reflected by quinone pigments?

Answer 33

Yellow, red and orange.

Question 34

Which colours are reflected by verdin pigments?

Answer 34

Blue and green.

Question 35

What colours are reflected by porphyrins?

Answer 35

Depends on the metal ion: iron = red, magnesium = green and copper = red/violet/green.

Question 36

What colours are reflected by melanin?

Answer 36

Dark brown and black.

Question 37

What can pigmentation be used to indicate?

Answer 37

Foraging proficiency, age, rank or testosterone levels.

Question 38

What are the 2 forms of structural colours?

Answer 38

Scattering and multilayer interference.

Question 39

What strategies do birds use for body temperature regulation?

Answer 39

Complete homiothermy. Strategic hypothermia. Torpor. Hibernation.

Question 40

What distinguishes primary feathers?

Answer 40

Outermost feathers. Larger in size. Propel bird through air. Attached to "hand" bones.

Question 41

What distinguishes secondary feathers?

Answer 41

Innermost feathers. Smaller in size. Provide lift. Run along the "forearm" bones.

Question 42

What are the benefits of flight?

Answer 42

``` Escape opportunities. Catching prey. Access to nest sites. Larger home range. Display flights. ```

Question 43

What is the trees-down model for flight evolution?

Answer 43

Similar to "flying" squirrels/lizards etc. Foot morphology goes against this theory - not capable of climbing.

Question 44

What is the wing-assisted pouncing model for flight evolution?

Answer 44

Swooping down to catch prey from a vantage point. Supported by Archaeopteryx evidence - poorly adapted for flapping but advanced feathers.

Question 45

What is the ground-up model for flight evolution?

Answer 45

Similar to swan take-off. Unlikely early birds could run fast enough (12kph+).

Question 46

What is the wing-assisted incline-running model for flight evolution?

Answer 46

Upstrokes give feet increased grip but Archaeopteryx had a very weak upstroke.

Question 47

What is the wing-assisted water-walking model for flight evolution?

Answer 47

Similar to basilisk lizards crossing water.

Question 48

How do wings work?

Answer 48

Air has to travel further over the upper wing surface so has to move at a faster velocity. This results in lower pressure creating lift.

Question 49

How are the wings utilised by birds?

Answer 49

During flapping the downstroke increases pressure on the lower wing surface increasing lift.

Question 50

Why do modern birds typically possess toothless, non-keratinised bills?

Answer 50

Loss of teeth and keratinisation makes the head lighter which contributes to more efficient flight.

Question 51

In what group have tooth-like structures re-evolved? Why has this occurred?

Answer 51

Saw-bills, a group of ducks including goosanders. Keratin ridges have replaced enamilised teeth and are used to handle slippery fish.

Question 52

Define character displacement.

Answer 52

Anatomical changes in response to the selective environment that the organism faces at the time.

Question 53

How does the syrinx produce sound?

Answer 53

By vibrating one or both walls of the internal airway structure.

Question 54

What are the walls of the internal airways known as? What is their function during singing?

Answer 54

The 2 medial tympaniform membranes. They can vibrate at different frequencies to give 2 "voices".

Question 55

What is the function of a bill casque?

Answer 55

To act as a resonating chamber to modify their calls.