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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
Uratelornis chimaera

Uratelornis chimaera

Uratelornis chimaera，Long-tailed Ground Roller

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The bird's scientific name is Uratelornis chimaera, and its foreign name is Long-tailed Ground Roller.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Brachypteracias leptosomus

Brachypteracias leptosomus

Brachypteracias leptosomus，Short-legged Ground Roller

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Brachypteracias leptosomus, Short-legged Ground Roller, is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Brachypteracias squamigera

Brachypteracias squamigera

Brachypteracias squamigera，Scaly Ground Roller

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Brachypteracias squamigera, Scaly Ground Roller, is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Atelornis crossleyi

Atelornis crossleyi

Atelornis crossleyi，Rufous-headed Ground Roller

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Atelornis crossleyi and its foreign name is Rufous-headed Ground Roller.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Atelornis pittoides

Atelornis pittoides

Atelornis pittoides，Pitta-like Ground Roller

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The bird's scientific name is Atelornis pittoides, and its foreign name is Pitta-like Ground Roller.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Eurystomus azureus

Eurystomus azureus

Eurystomus azureus，Purple Roller

Climbing birds LC

Features：Brightly feathered, it is a highly valued captive ornamental bird

The bird's scientific name is Eurystomus azureus, the foreign name is Purple Roller, the specific habits are unknown.The emerald blue three-treasure bird likes to eat green scarab and other beetles, but also eats locusts and longoxen, kowtovers, etc. The flight was slow, the long wings moving up...

Eurystomus gularis

Eurystomus gularis

Eurystomus gularis，Blue-throated Roller

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Eurystomus gularis, also known as Blue-throated Roller, is unknown.Listed in the International Red Book of Birds of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 2009 list ver 3.1 - Not Threatened (LR).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyo...

Eurystomus glaucurus

Eurystomus glaucurus

Eurystomus glaucurus，Broad-billed Roller

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Eurystomus glaucurus, also known as Broad-billed Roller, is a brown three-billed bird whose specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Eurystomus orientalis Linnaeus

Eurystomus orientalis Linnaeus

Eurystomus orientalis Linnaeus，Broad-billed Roller，Oriental Dollarbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：The name is translated from Japanese

Eurystomus orientalis Linnaeus, Broad-billed Roller, Oriental Dollarbird, specific habits are unknown.Sanbao birds like to eat green scarab beetles and other beetles, but also eat locusts, longans, golden flower insects, pear tigers, lifting tail insects, stone silkworm, kowtowing insects and so on....

Coracias cyanogaster

Coracias cyanogaster

Coracias cyanogaster，Blue-bellied Roller

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Blue-bellied Buddhist monk scientific name Coracias cyanogaster, foreign name blue-bellied Roller, no subspecies.Blue-belted Buddhas live in pairs or small groups. In some areas, the species is very unsociable. In Cote d 'Ivoire, small groups of 3 to 6 individuals may gather (up to 20 individual...

Coracias temminckii

Coracias temminckii

Coracias temminckii，Purple-winged Roller

Climbing birds LC

Features：Indonesian endemic species

The scientific name of the Purple winged monk is Coracias temminckii, and the foreign name is purpur-winged Roller.Due to habitat loss, this once relatively common local species was added to the IUCN Endangered Species list in 2006 and is in danger of extinction。Protect wild animals and eliminate w...

Coracias benghalensis

Coracias benghalensis

Coracias benghalensis，Indian Roller

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Coracias benghalensis, Indian Roller, is unknown.Brown-chest Buddhas often live alone or in pairs, and often stand on dead branches or wires at the top of trees in forest, village or farmland areas. Flocks of the birds are extremely rare and may form family groups. Diving into the water from a high...

Coracias naevius

Coracias naevius

Coracias naevius，Purple Roller

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Coracias naevius is the scientific name of the red-crowned Dharma monk, the foreign name is Purple Roller, the specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Coracias spatulatus

Coracias spatulatus

Coracias spatulatus，Racket-tailed Roller

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The wide-tailed monk's scientific name is Coracias spatulatus, the foreign name is Racket-tailed Roller, the specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Coracias caudatus

Coracias caudatus

Coracias caudatus，Lilac-breasted Roller

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Coracias caudatus and Lilac-breasted Roller are unknown.Purple chest Buddhas like vast woodland and grassland, group or solitary, living in a variety of environments, from mountains to plains, around rivers and lakes; Large forests to gardens and fields near settlements; From the water, in the soil,...

Coracias abyssinicus

Coracias abyssinicus

Coracias abyssinicus，Abyssinian Roller

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The blue-throated monk's scientific name is Coracias abyssinicus and foreign name is Abyssinian Roller. His specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Coracias garrulus

Coracias garrulus

Coracias garrulus，European Roller

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The blue-chested Buddhist monk is known as Coracias garrulus or European Roller, and has two subspecies。Blue-chested Buddhas often work alone or in pairs. Many fly in the air to hunt, but also to the ground to hunt food. Rest on dead branches or wires. It feeds on invertebrates such as beetles, cri...

Rhinopomastus minor

Rhinopomastus minor

Rhinopomastus minor，Abyssinian Scimitarbill

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Rhinopomastus minor, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Rhinopomastus aterrimus

Rhinopomastus aterrimus

Rhinopomastus aterrimus，Black Scimitarbill

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Black Scimitarbill is Rhinopomastus aterrimus and black scimitarbill.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas，Common Scimitarbill

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas and Common Scimitarbill are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phoeniculus castaneiceps

Phoeniculus castaneiceps

Phoeniculus castaneiceps，Forest Wood Hoopoe

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phoeniculus castaneiceps, Phoeniculus castaneiceps, Forest Wood Hoopoe. His specific behavior is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

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