Week 9 - Evolution and diversity of birds

Question 1

What is the study of birds called?

Answer 1

Ornithology

Question 2

Which phylum sub phylum and class are birds in ?

Answer 2

Phylum = Chordata
Subphylum = Vertebrata
Class = Aves

Question 3

What are feathers made of ?

Answer 3

Protein called keratin

Question 4

What are the 5 types of feather?

Answer 4

Contour
Plume
Semi plume
Filo plume
Bristle

Question 5

Describe the structure of a contour feather

Answer 5

Central shaft
Barbs extending out of shaft
Barbules and hooks

Question 6

Where are the feather pigments found ?

Answer 6

Barbs

Question 7

Which pigment is made by birds and which is produced from their diet ?

Answer 7

Melanins - made
Carotenoids - diet

Question 8

What are some differences between down and contour feathers ?

Answer 8

Down is smaller
Down lacks barbules and hooks

Question 9

What is the function of down feathers ?

Answer 9

Insulation

Question 10

What shape are semiplume feathers ?

Answer 10

In between contour and down

Question 11

Where are semiplume feathers found?

Answer 11

In between contour feathers

Question 12

What is the function of semiplume feathers?

Answer 12

Hold form and insulation

Question 13

What is the function of filoplume feathers?

Answer 13

Keep other feathers in order

Question 14

Which feather type has pressure/vibration receptors ?

Answer 14

Filoplume

Question 15

What is the function of bristle feathers ?

Answer 15

Filtering and protection

Question 16

What are the 4 functions of feathers?

Answer 16

Crypsis (camo)
Insulation
Attraction
Flight

Question 17

What are the 5 levels of feather care?

Answer 17

Preening
Sunning
Anting
Bathing
Moulting

Question 18

During moulting how are feathers replaced?

Answer 18

In an orderly predictable sequence

Question 19

What are 4 adaptions for flight ?

Answer 19

Light
Strong
Streamlined
Flexible

Question 20

How are birds adapted to be light?

Answer 20

Hollow bones
Fewer bones
No teeth
Oviparous
Seasonally enlarge organs
No heavy jaw

Question 21

How are birds adapted to be strong?

Answer 21

Fused bones
Wishbone
Keel
Muscles pectoralis
48 wing muscles

Question 22

What is the birds main sense and adaptations for it?

Answer 22

Sight :
Large eyes and brains

Question 23

How are wings adapted for flight?

Answer 23

Elaborate joints
Fused hand bones
Powerful tendons
Airfoil shape

Question 24

What are the opposing forces during flight?

Answer 24

Lift vs weight
Drag vs propulsion

Question 25

How does lift work in terms of pressure and speed of air flow ?

Answer 25

Above bird : Further to travel over bird due to shape, air speeds up, lower pressure = wind sucked upwards Below bird: Shorter distance across bird, Air is slower, Higher pressure = wind pushed upwards

Question 26

How does the curve of the airfoil affect the lift?

Answer 26

More curved increases the lift

Question 27

What is the difference between induced drag and friction drag?

Answer 27

Friction drag - consequence of air flow over body (reduced by streamlining) Induced drag - consequence of lift which changes air flow at top of wings

Question 28

How do birds create propulsion/thrust?

Answer 28

When wings are flapped mainly downwards

Question 29

What are the 4 types of flight?

Answer 29

Gliding Soaring Flapping Hovering

Question 30

What is gliding?

Answer 30

Using weight to overcome air resistance to forward motion

Question 31

What is soaring ?

Answer 31

Maintaining or gaining altitude without flapping

Question 32

What is flapping?

Answer 32

Using thrust

Question 33

What is thermal soaring?

Answer 33

Birds fly in circles due to heat causing air to circulate

Question 34

What is hovering?

Answer 34

Flying whilst maintaining same position

Question 35

What are the 4 wing shapes?

Answer 35

Elliptical High lift High speed Soaring

Question 36

What aspect ratio do elliptical wing shapes have and give an example of a bird with this shape

Answer 36

Low - woodpeckers

Question 37

What aspect ratio do High lift wings have and give an example

Answer 37

Moderate aspect ratio Soaring species - eagles

Question 38

What aspect ratio do high speed wings have and give an example

Answer 38

High aspect ratio Aerial feeding Long migrations Shore birds

Question 39

What aspect ratio do soaring wings have and give an example?

Answer 39

High aspect ratio Sea birds

Question 40

What are the 2 ways vocalisations are produced in birds?

Answer 40

Syrinx or non syrinx

Question 41

What are the types of vocalisation?

Answer 41

Songs and calls

Question 42

What are characteristics of songs?

Answer 42

Limited to perching birds Often complex Under the influence o sex hormones Important in reproduction

Question 43

What are characteristics of calls?

Answer 43

Given by most birds species Usually acoustically simple Not primarily sexual Important in maintenance activities

Question 44

What are some functions of calls?

Answer 44

Synchronise hatching Begging Warning danger

Question 45

What call do White-browned scrubwrens produce?

Answer 45

Call to warn danger which indicates urgency and elicits a suitable response

Question 46

How do birds communicate urgency ?

Answer 46

More elements in call when threat is closer

Question 47

How do Pied babblers recruit members?

Answer 47

Adults periodically give a ‘purr’ call Attracts others to caller Share foraging patch

Question 48

What scenarios is a call given?

Answer 48

At abundant, divisible food sources When independent fledglings are present

Question 49

What are benefits to calling ?

Answer 49

Fledglings gain increased foraging success Adults gain from increased survival of young

Question 50

Which birds use a purr call to recruit fledglings to food ?

Answer 50

Adult pied babblers

Question 51

What bird sings to attract females?

Answer 51

Male sedge warblers sing to attract females

Question 53

Which birds sing to defend their territories from rivals ?

Answer 53

Great tits

Question 54

What is combination signalling?

Answer 54

Group members combine to deter rival groups