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Birds: different species, definitions, photos, and more

Birds are advanced vertebrates that are adapted to life on land and in the air. Birds in China are divided into six categories: waterfowl, wading birds, climbing birds, land birds, raptors, and songbirds. These six categories are collectively referred to as the six major ecological groups of birds. There are many species of birds, spread all over the world, and the ecology is diverse. There are more than 9,020 known bird species in existence, and more than 1,400 species in China.

Birds (Aves) are a unique category of vertebrates, known for their feathers covering their entire body, their ability to fly, and their ability to lay eggs. Birds are the only existing animals with feathers and play an important role in biodiversity and ecosystems.

  • Scientific name: Aves

  • Main features:

    1. Feathers: Feathers are a unique feature of birds and are used for flight, insulation and display.

    2. Homothermia: Birds are warm-blooded animals and can survive in a variety of environments.

    3. Flight ability: Most birds can fly, but there are exceptions (such as ostriches and penguins).

    4. Oviparous: Birds reproduce by laying eggs, which have hard shells.

    5. Beak: Birds have no teeth, and their beaks are adapted to different feeding needs.

  • Ecological role:

    • Pollination, seed dispersal, pest control.

    • An important link in the food chain.

  • Evolutionary history:

    • Birds originated from dinosaurs in the Mesozoic era (about 150 million years ago).

    • Archaeopteryx is considered an important transitional species between birds and dinosaurs.

Bird classification table

Birds include about 30 orders, covering more than 10,000 known species. The following is a detailed classification of birds, including major orders, families, genera and typical representatives.


Classification levelOrderFamilyGenusRepresentative birds (Examples)
Land birds
GalliformesPhasianidaePheasant (Phasianus)pheasant, peacock


Guinea fowl (Numididae)Guinea fowl (Numida)guinea fowl


MeleagrididaeMeleagrisTurkey
WaterfowlAnseriformesAnatidaeAnasWild duck, swan



BrantaBranta
Birds of preyFalconiformesFalconidaeFalcoSaker Falcon, Peregrine Falcon

AccipitriformesAccipitridaeAquilagolden eagle, vulture



MilvusRed kite, black kite
Wading birdsCiconiiformesStorks (Ciconiidae)CiconiaWhite stork, black stork

PelecaniformesPelecanidaePelecanusWhite Pelican, Brown Pelican


FregatidaeFregatafrigate bird
SongbirdsPasseriformesPasseridaePasserHouse sparrow, mountain sparrow


HirundinidaeHirundoBarn swallow, sand swallow


PsittacidaePsittacusafrican gray parrot
seabirdsCharadriiformesLaridaeLarusHerring Gull, Black-backed Gull


Plovidae (Charadriidae)CharadriusGolden Plover, Ring-necked Plover

Albatross (Procellariiformes)Albatross family (Diomedeidae)Albatross (Diomedea)Wandering Albatross
Climbing birdsWoodpeckers (Piciformes)Woodpeckers (Picidae)Woodpecker (Dendrocopos)Great Spotted Woodpecker

Buddha, Dharma and Sangha (Coraciiformes)CoraciiformesCoraciasBlue-breasted Buddha monk
Penguin categoryPenguin Order (Sphenisciformes)Penguin family (Spheniscidae)Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis)Emperor Penguin, Adélie Penguin

Main evolutionary history of birds

Origin

Birds originated from dinosaurs and are descendants of theropod dinosaurs. Archaeopteryx from the Mesozoic Era (about 150 million years ago) is the earliest known bird fossil, with dinosaur teeth and bird feathers, and is regarded as a transitional species between birds and dinosaurs.

Evolution and Diversity

  1. Cenozoic Flourish: After the extinction of the dinosaurs, birds underwent rapid adaptive radiation evolution, expanding into a variety of ecological niches.

  2. Flight and Adaptation: Birds have lightweight skeletons and streamlined bodies, which provide an evolutionary advantage for flight.

  3. Global Distribution: There are more than 10,000 existing species of birds, distributed in almost all habitats on Earth.

Ecological Roles of Birds

  1. Pollination and Seed Dispersal: Birds such as hummingbirds and parrots maintain plant diversity by pollinating and dispersing seeds.

  2. Pest Control: Woodpeckers and swallows control insect populations, which helps agriculture.

  3. Ecological Balance: Birds of prey such as eagles and falcons are at the top of the food chain and maintain the stability of the ecosystem.

Bird Conservation Status

  1. Habitat Loss: Deforestation and wetland destruction threaten bird survival.

  2. Climate Change: Climate change affects the reproduction and habitat of migratory birds.

  3. Conservation Actions: Bird sanctuaries, such as crane sanctuaries and wetland restoration projects, have been established around the world.

Conclusion

Birds are among the most diverse and adaptable animals on Earth. From songbirds to raptors, from land to sea, birds have demonstrated extraordinary evolutionary adaptability. Through this detailed classification list and bird introduction, users can gain in-depth knowledge of the evolutionary history, classification, and important role of birds in the ecosystem. This not only helps spread knowledge, but also provides a scientific basis for bird protection.

Waterfowl Wading birds Climbing birds Landfowl Bird of prey Songbird
Tricholaema frontata

Tricholaema frontata

Tricholaema frontata，Miombo Pied Barbet

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Tricholaema frontata and Miombo Pied Barbet are not known。Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Tricholaema diademata

Tricholaema diademata

Tricholaema diademata，Red-fronted Barbet

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Tricholaema diademata, also known as Red-fronted Barbet, is unknown。Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Tricholaema hirsuta

Tricholaema hirsuta

Tricholaema hirsuta，Hairy-breasted Barbet

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Tricholaema hirsuta and Hairy breasted Barbet are not known.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.It is everyone's responsibility to maintain ecological balance！...

Buccanodon duchaillui

Buccanodon duchaillui

Buccanodon duchaillui，Yellow-spotted Barbet

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The scientific name of the bird is Buccanodon duchaillui, and the foreign name is Yellow-spotted Barbet. The specific habit of the bird is unknown。Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Pogoniulus chrysoconus

Pogoniulus chrysoconus

Pogoniulus chrysoconus，Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird，Yellow-fronted tinker barbet

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The species is known as Pogoniulus chrysoconus and Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird or Yellow-fronted tinker barbet。Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Pogoniulus pusillus

Pogoniulus pusillus

Pogoniulus pusillus，Red-fronted Tinkerbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The species is known as Pogoniulus pusillus or Red-fronted Tinkerbird。Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Pogoniulus bilineatus

Pogoniulus bilineatus

Pogoniulus bilineatus，Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The species is known as Pogoniulus bilineatus and Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Pogoniulus subsulphureus

Pogoniulus subsulphureus

Pogoniulus subsulphureus，Yellow-throated Tinkerbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The species is known as Pogoniulus subsulphureus and Yellow-throated Tinkerbird.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Pogoniulus atroflavus

Pogoniulus atroflavus

Pogoniulus atroflavus，Red-rumped Tinkerbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The species is known as Pogoniulus atroflavus and Red-rumped Tinkerbird。Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Pogoniulus coryphaea

Pogoniulus coryphaea

Pogoniulus coryphaea，Western Tinkerbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The species is known as Pogoniulus coryphaea and Western Tinkerbird。Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.It is everyone's responsibility to maintain ecological balance！...

Pogoniulus leucomystax

Pogoniulus leucomystax

Pogoniulus leucomystax，Moustached Tinkerbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The species is known as Pogoniulus leucomystax and Moustached Tinkerbird。Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Pogoniulus simplex

Pogoniulus simplex

Pogoniulus simplex，Green Tinkerbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The species is known as Pogoniulus simplex and Green Tinkerbird.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Pogoniulus scolopaceus

Pogoniulus scolopaceus

Pogoniulus scolopaceus，Speckled Tinkerbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The bird's scientific name is Pogoniulus scolopaceus and its foreign name is Speckled Tinkerbird。Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Stactolaema olivacea

Stactolaema olivacea

Stactolaema olivacea，Green Barbet

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Stactolaema olivacea and Green Barbet are not known.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Stactolaema anchietae

Stactolaema anchietae

Stactolaema anchietae，Anchieta's Barbet

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The species is known as Stactolaema anchietae or Anchieta's Barbet.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Stactolaema whytii

Stactolaema whytii

Stactolaema whytii，Whyte's Barbet

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Stactolaema whytii and Whyte's Barbet are not known.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Stactolaema leucotis

Stactolaema leucotis

Stactolaema leucotis，White-eared Barbet

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The species is known as Stactolaema leucotis or White-eared Barbet。Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Gymnobucco peli

Gymnobucco peli

Gymnobucco peli，Bristle-nosed Barbet

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Gymnobucco peli and Bristle-nosed Barbet are not known.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Gymnobucco bonapartei

Gymnobucco bonapartei

Gymnobucco bonapartei，Grey-throated Barbet

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Gymnobucco bonapartei and Grey-throated Barbet are not known.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Gymnobucco calvus

Gymnobucco calvus

Gymnobucco calvus，Naked-faced Barbet

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Gymnobucco calvus (gymnobucco calvus), gymnobucco calvus (nake-faced Barbet).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.It is everyone's responsibility to maintain ecological balance！...

Semnornis frantzii

Semnornis frantzii

Semnornis frantzii，Prong-billed Barbet

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The species is known as Semnornis frantzii or Prong-billed Barbet.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

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