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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 Wader Woodbird Landfowl Bird of prey Songbird
Lophoceros bradfieldi

Lophoceros bradfieldi

Lophoceros bradfieldi,Tockus bradfieldi,Bradfield's hornbill

Features:

Lophoceros bradfieldi, Tockus bradfieldi, and Bradfield's hornbill are exotic and rare large birds.Listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List Protection Level: Not Threatened (LC).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is eve...

Lophoceros alboterminatus

Lophoceros alboterminatus

Lophoceros alboterminatus,Tockus alboterminatus,Crowned Hornbill

Features:

Its scientific name is Tockus alboterminatus and its foreign name is Crowned Hornbill.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Tockus deckeni

Tockus deckeni

Tockus deckeni,Von der Decken's Hornbill

Features:

Tockus deckeni, also known as Von der Decken's Hornbill, is a tropical, near-passerine hornbill found in East Africa, named after the German explorer Baron Von der Decken (1833-1865).During their incubation period, they usually lay two or three white eggs, which are made of a cement-like mixture...

Tockus jacksoni

Tockus jacksoni

Tockus jacksoni,Jackson's Hornbill

Features:

Jackson's Hornbill is known as Tockus jacksoni or Jackson's Hornbill.Listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List Protection Level: Not Threatened (LC).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility...

Tockus leucomelas

Tockus leucomelas

Tockus leucomelas,Southern Yellow-billed hornbill

Features:

The Southern Yellow-billed hornbill is known as Tockus leucomelas and southern yellow-billed hornbill.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Tockus flavirostris

Tockus flavirostris

Tockus flavirostris,Northern yellow-billed hornbill,Eastern Yellow-billed hornbill

Features:

The scientific name of the Northern yellow-billed hornbill is Tockus flavirostris, and the foreign names are northern Yellow-billed hornbill and Eastern yellow-billed Hornbill.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Tockus monteiri

Tockus monteiri

Tockus monteiri,Monteiro's Hornbill

Features:

Its scientific name is Tockus monteiri, the foreign name is Monteiro's Hornbill, the specific habit is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Tockus kempi

Tockus kempi

Tockus kempi,Western red-billed hornbill

Features:

Western red-billed hornbill scientific name Tockus kempi, foreign name Western red-billed hornbill, the specific habit is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Tockus ruahae

Tockus ruahae

Tockus ruahae,Tanzanian red-billed hornbill

Features:

The Tanzanian red-billed hornbill is known as Tockus ruahae and Tanzanian red-billed hornbill.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Tockus rufirostris

Tockus rufirostris

Tockus rufirostris,Southern Red-billed Hornbill

Features:

The Southern Red-billed Hornbill is known as Tockus rufirostris or Southern red-billed hornbill.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Tockus damarensis

Tockus damarensis

Tockus damarensis,Damara Red-billed Hornbill

Features:

The Damara Red-billed Hornbill is known as Tockus damarensis or Damara red-billed Hornbill.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Tockus erythrorhynchus

Tockus erythrorhynchus

Tockus erythrorhynchus,Red-billed Hornbill,Northern red-billed hornbill

Features:

Tockus erythrorhynchus, Red-billed hornbill, Northern red-billed hornbill, is one of 14 species of small hornbill.The northern red-billed hornbill nests in tree holes and eats fruit and insects.The northern red-billed hornbill every breeding season, the male bird will stand on the highest point of t...

Tockus nasutus

Tockus nasutus

Tockus nasutus,African Grey Hornbill

Features:

The species is known as Tockus nasutus and African Grey Hornbill.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Tockus albocristatus

Tockus albocristatus

Tockus albocristatus,White-crested hornbill

Features:

The long-tailed curvebill is known as Tockus albocristatus and White-crested hornbill.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Ceratogymna brevis

Ceratogymna brevis

Ceratogymna brevis,Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

Features:

The scientific name Ceratogymna brevis, foreign name Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, the specific habit is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Ceratogymna subcylindricus

Ceratogymna subcylindricus

Ceratogymna subcylindricus,Black-and-Whited-casqued Hornbill

Features:

The species is known as Ceratogymna subcylindricus and Black-and-Whited-casqued Hornbill.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Ceratogymna cylindricus

Ceratogymna cylindricus

Ceratogymna cylindricus,Brown-cheeked Hornbill

Features:

Ceratogymna cylindricus, or Brown-cheeked Hornbill, is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Bycanistes albotibialis

Bycanistes albotibialis

Bycanistes albotibialis,White-thighed Hornbill

Features:

Its scientific name is Bycanistes albotibialis, and its foreign name is White-thighed Hornbill.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Bycanistes fistulator

Bycanistes fistulator

Bycanistes fistulator,Piping Hornbill

Features:

The scientific name of the Hornbill is Bycanistes fistulator, and the foreign name Piping Hornbill has 3 subspecies, the specific habits of which are unknown。Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Bycanistes bucinator

Bycanistes bucinator

Bycanistes bucinator,Trumpeter Hornbill

Features:The mouth has a large, long, curved helmet

The scientific name of the Hornbill is Bycanistes bucinator, or Trumpeter Hornbill, a bird of the genus Trumpeter Hornbill.The scientific name of the hornbill is Bycanistes bucinator, or horn hornbill, belonging to the genus Horn Hornbill. Hornbills feed on fruit from trees (especially figs), which...

Bucorvus leadbeateri

Bucorvus leadbeateri

Bucorvus leadbeateri,Southern ground hornbill

Features:Face, larynx and laryngeal sac, exposed skin is vermilion, the rest are black

Bucorvus leadbeateri, Southern ground hornbill, is one of the most important scavengers of scavengers.Unlike other hornbills that live in trees, the southern ground hornbill does not have large wings, but it has a pair of strong legs and feet. They live mainly on the ground, hunting insects, worms a...