Birds Overview

Question 1

Which of the following is unique to birds?

a. Egg-laying
b. Endothermy
c. Feathers
d. Bepedalism

Answer 1

c. Feathers

Question 2

Gular fluttering is used by birds to:

a. warm up
b. drink
c. stay cool
d. swallow

Answer 2

c. stay cool

Question 3

Morning doves in the Sonoran Desert sit on their eggs largely to:

a. dampen them
b. dry them
c. cool them
d. hide them

Answer 3

c. cool them

Question 4

Which of the following type of birds exhibit promiscuity?

a. Oriols
b. Hummingbirds
c. Mockingbirds
d. Owls

Answer 4

b. Hummingbirds

Question 5

Over 90% of birds exhibit which mating system?

a. Polygamy
b. Polyandry
c. Monogamy
d. Promiscuity

Answer 5

c. Monogamy

Question 6

Recent fossil evidence has enhanced the theory that birds evolved from:

a. thecodonts
b. pterosaurs
c. dinosaurs
d. none of the above

Answer 6

c. dinosaurs

Question 7

Flight feathers attach to:

a. bone
b. skin
c. muscle
d. fat

Answer 7

a. bone

Question 8

Flight feathers can be distinguished from other feathers by:

a. symmetrical vanes
b. asymmetrical vanes
c. vanes absent
d. plumulaceous vanes

Answer 8

b. asymmetrical vanes

Question 9

The main function of the primary feathers is:

a. lift
b. thrust
c. steering
d. braking

Answer 9

b. thrust

Question 10

A set of eggs is called a (an):

a. brood
b. pack
c. assemblage
d. clutch

Answer 10

d. clutch

Question 11

Characteristics of altricial young include:

a. hatch fully feathered with down
b. eyes open
c. unable to leave nest right away
d. good motor skills

Answer 11

c. unable to leave nest right away

Question 12

Two Sonoran Desert region bird species that are on the U.S. Endangered Species list are the:

a. thick-billed parrot and masked bobwhite
b. lilac crowned parrot and roadrunner
c. masked bobwhite and lilac crowned parrot
d. roadrunner and thick-billed parrot

Answer 12

a. thick-billed parrot and masked bobwhite

Question 13

Raptors possess which of the following attributes adapted for hunting?

a. feet and keen smell
b. talons and a hooked beak
c. beauty and speed
d. keen smell and a hooked beak

Answer 13

b. talons and a hooked beak

Question 14

Plumage is replaced by molting.

True or False

Answer 14

True

Question 15

Territories are established and maintained by chases, displays and songs.

True or False

Answer 15

True

Question 16

Primary flight feathers are often modified structurally for courtship displays.

True or False

Answer 16

False

Question 17

In species with a polyandrous mating system, females are larger and more brightly-colored than males.

True or False

Answer 17

True

Question 18

Birds can acquire carotenoid (red, orange, and bright yellow) pigments only through their diet.

True or False

Answer 18

True

Question 19

The two most significant events in the annual cycle of a bird are feather molting and nesting.

True or False

Answer 19

True

Question 20

Types of feathers include flight feathers, contour feathers, bristles, down, semi-plumes, and filo-plumes.

True or False

Answer 20

True

Question 21

Groups of birds whose young are atricial include song birds, raptors, owls, cuckoos, parrots, waders (herons, egrets, etc).

True or False

Answer 21

True

Question 22

The three phases of bird migration are the preparatory phase (eat and store food), actual flight phase, and behavioral modification phase (diurnal birds to nocurnal birds).

True or False

Answer 22

True

Question 23

Primaries and secondaries are the flight feathers of the wing.

True or False

Answer 23

True

Question 24

Barbs and barbules make up the vane of a contour feather.

True or False

Answer 24

True

Question 25

Greater Roadrunners warm themselves by exposing black skin (apteria) on their backs to the sun, which absorbs the heat and raises the bird's body temperature. **True** or **False**

Answer 25

True

Question 26

Also know as birds of prey, raptors feed almost exclusively on meat and, except for carrion-eaters, pursue and kill the animals on which they feed. **True** or **False**

Answer 26

True

Question 27

All birds that eat meat are raptors. **True** or **False**

Answer 27

False

Question 28

Birds that live in the desert adapt to heat extremes by avaoidance, heat conduction and radiation, and evaporative cooling. **True** or **False**

Answer 28

True

Question 29

Feathers require routine maintenance. Check what birds may use to maintian their feathers. ## Footnote \_\_\_ Anting \_\_\_ Preening \_\_\_ Bathing in water \_\_\_ Bathing in dust \_\_\_ Uropygial gland or preening gland

Answer 29

\_\_X\_ Anting \_\_X\_ Preening \_\_X\_ Bathing in water \_\_X\_ Bathing in dust \_\_X\_ Uropygial gland or preening gland

Question 30

Check the function of nests. ## Footnote \_\_\_ Protect the eggs \_\_\_ Contain the eggs \_\_\_ Catch predators \_\_\_ Control temperature

Answer 30

\_X\_\_ Protect the eggs \_X\_\_ Contain the eggs \_\_\_\_ Catch predators \_X\_\_ Control temperature

Question 31

Check the reason)s) *Archaeopteryx* is an important fossil. ## Footnote \_\_\_ Is a 'missing' link between reptiles and birds. \_\_\_ Exhibits both avian and reptilian features. \_\_\_ It helped provide evidence the theory that birds are descended from reptiles.

Answer 31

\_X\_\_ Is a 'missing' link between reptiles and birds. \_X\_\_ Exhibits both avian and reptilian features. \_X\_\_ It helped provide evidence the theory that birds are descended from reptiles.

Question 32

Check the function(s) of feathers. ## Footnote \_\_\_ Thermoregulation \_\_\_ Locomotion \_\_\_ Camouflage \_\_\_ Communication

Answer 32

\_X\_\_ Thermoregulation \_X\_\_ Locomotion \_X\_\_ Camouflage \_X\_\_ Communication

Question 33

Check the adaptation(s) for flight that birds possess. ## Footnote \_\_\_ Pneumatized skeletons \_\_\_ Bones lost or reduced in size and fused together \_\_\_ Increased number of organs \_\_\_ Sexual organs atrophy after breeding season

Answer 33

\_X\_\_ Pneumatized skeletons \_X\_\_ Bones lost or reduced in size and fused together \_\_\_\_ Increased number of organs \_X\_\_ Sexual organs atrophy after breeding season

Question 34

There are two competing theories for the origin of flight in birds, Trees-Down and Ground-Up theories. Match the theory to the description. ## Footnote \_\_\_ Ground-Up Theory \_\_\_ Trees-Down Theory a. Feathers first evolved to extend leaps on the ground, eventually leading to flight. b. Feathers first evolved to keep ancestral birds warm in the cooler trees, then were used to extend jumps from trees into gliding flight.

Answer 34

\_a\_\_ Ground-Up Theory \_b\_\_ Trees-Down Theory a. Feathers first evolved to extend leaps on the ground, eventually leading to flight. b. Feathers first evolved to keep ancestral birds warm in the cooler trees, then were used to extend jumps from trees into gliding flight.

Question 35

Birds can be categorized by the food they eat. Match the following bird category to its food.

Answer 35

Question 36

Match the category to the list of birds whose primary food source is described by it. (Categories may be used more than once.)

Answer 36