Birds And More Birds

Welcome back to my blog!  We have finally gotten to my favorite group of animals. I thought we would never get here.  We see these animals all around us. We may call them the flying feathered ones or just birds.  Today, you will learn about what all birds have in common, what are the different feather types and how a bird is able to fly. 

What makes a bird a bird?????

Is it singing ability?  Is it dancing ability? 

 Well, these are four characteristics shared by all birds:

1.      They all are endothermic and vertebrates

2.      They all have wings

3.      They all have bills or beaks

4.      The females all lay eggs to reproduce

Endotherms and Vertebrates

All birds are endotherms and vertebrates.  This means that they all have a back bone and they keep their bodies at a constant internal body temperature of about 40 degrees Celsius. 

Wings

Not all flying animals are birds and not all birds can fly. I hope that I did not confuse you.  Think about this, Bats fly but they are mammals and not birds.  Look at the ostrich, it is a bird but it cannot fly.   All birds have wings but some wings are developed to help the bird fly but others are not.  Flying birds' wings are shaped to provide lift.  Flightless birds like the penguins may not be able to use their wings to fly but it comes in handy to help them swim fast.

 Look at those HUGE wings of the Bald Eagle!  It is the national bird of America.




 I may not be able to fly but I am one quick swimmer, thanks to my wings.
 

Bills and Beaks

No toothbrush or toothpaste for these animals, lucky birds.  They don’t have to worry about cavities because birds don’t have any teeth.  Birds have what you call bills or beaks.  Their bills or beaks are made of the protein keratin and come in many shapes and sizes depending on what they eat. Herons beaks are sharp and pointed to help them catch fish. Finches have short cone shaped beaks for cracking open seeds.  Bills and beaks can be very dangerous weapons, so stay away.  I will never forger screaming and being chased down the street by a goose which was trying to peck me.

Look at the Herons sharp beak !!!

Check out the cone shaped beaks of the finches !!!

Lay Eggs

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Pick me, I know the answer. How about both. There is not a correct answer to this question. All birds lay eggs to reproduce. Female birds lay their eggs in a nest and sit on them to incubate them. These egg shells have to be strong enough so the mother does not break it by accident. Eggs shells are made of calcium carbonate which is the same chemical that seashells are made of.


This is a chicken nest.

What are Contour Feathers and Down Feathers?

If you look closely at a chicken or any other bird’s body you will notice that there are two types of feathers. These feathers are called contour feathers and down feathers. Contour feathers are the strong and lightweight feathers. They are very colorful, smooth and sleek shape. If you have ever seen a Native American headdress you will notice lots of beautiful and colorful contour feathers. Down feathers are the soft and fluffy feathers closest to the skin which keep birds warm. Did you know that Down feathers are also used by people to stay warm? Down feathers are very fluffy and warm in pillows and comforters but if you suffer from allergies like I do, stay away. Check out this Native American Headdress with colorful
contour feathers.

  

 How Are A Bird's Feathers, Air Sacs, and Skeleton Adapted for Flight?

Man has always wanted to fly like the birds. Although the airplane was invented, man is still not happy and is continuing to invent things like jet packs to try to be like the birds. In order for a bird to fly it must have a very light and strong skeleton, wings and feathers. Contour feathers allow birds to fly. These feathers are lightweight and are located on the bird’s wings and tail to help it steer and not tip over. In order to get up and stay in the air a bird has to be light. I mean light as a feather. That is why most of a bird’s bones are hollow and filled with air sacs.
A bird's light and hollow bone. A bird's wing covered with feathers.

I Really Like This Bird?

I like the Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo because it can imitate people talking and it can be an excellent pet. The first time I saw a Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo was in the movie Rio. Do you remember that evil bird? The Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo has a bright yellow crest and the rest of his feathers are white which is a very unusual color for a parrot. You see, parrots are the world most colorful birds however, the Sulfur– Crested Cockatoo is not so much. This bird lives in a range of different habitats. You can find it from forest to farmland, roosting high in eucalyptus trees. This bird’s home is Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand.

These are two Sulfur-Crested Cockatoos.

Here is the Sulfur Crested Cockatoo from Rio.

What is Georgia State Bird?

The official bird of the State of Georgia is the Brown Thrasher. Brown Thrashers are what you would call a copy cat. They mimic the calls of other birds. They are heard before they are seen. You can find them in dense vegetation, fields, and woods looking for food on the ground. These birds are extremely secretive and it can be hard to find them. This would definitely explain why I have lived in Georgia all my life and have never seen one of these birds.

Sorry Mr. Brown Thrasher, I have never met you.

Please come back to visit and check out my bird joke!!!!!!!!


Q: If a rooster lays an egg on the middle of a slanted roof, on which side will it fall?
A: Neither side. Roosters don't lay eggs!