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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
Phoeniculus bollei

Phoeniculus bollei

Phoeniculus bollei，White-headed Wood Hoopoe

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phoeniculus bollei, also known as White-headed Wood Hoopoe, is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phoeniculus somaliensis

Phoeniculus somaliensis

Phoeniculus somaliensis，Black-billed Wood Hoopoe

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phoeniculus somaliensis, also known as Black-billed Wood Hoopoe, is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phoeniculus damarensis

Phoeniculus damarensis

Phoeniculus damarensis，Violet Wood Hoopoe

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phoeniculus damarensis (Phoeniculus damarensis) and Violet Wood Hoopoe (Phoeniculus Damarensis).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phoeniculus purpureus

Phoeniculus purpureus

Phoeniculus purpureus，Green Wood hoopoe

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phoeniculus purpureus and Green Wood hoopoe are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Leptosomus discolor

Leptosomus discolor

Leptosomus discolor，Kirombo Courol，courol，Cuckoo Roller

Climbing birds LC

Features：Endemic to Madagascar

Leptosomus discolor, foreign name Kirombo Courol, courol, Cuckoo Roller, is a gray feathered forest bird, feeding on insects and reptiles, the only place is Madagascar, only cuckoo 𫁡 a species, named in 1783, totalProtect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is...

Upupa epops

Upupa epops

Upupa epops, Common Hoopoe in English, Hoopoe in French Huppe fasciee iالهدهدn Arabic

Climbing birds LC

Features：It's the national bird of Israel. It's a little unhygienic

Dyson (scientific name: Upupa epops) English Common Hoopoe, Hoopoe, French Huppe fasciee, Arabic Yan Yan is more than more, there are 8 subspecies.The appearance of the Dai Sheng bird is extremely unique, with colorful feathers on the top of the head, a long and narrow beak, a patchwork of feathers,...

Batrachostomus affinis

Batrachostomus affinis

Batrachostomus affinis，Blyth's Frogmouth

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Starthroated toad mouth scientific name Batrachostomus affinis, foreign name Blyth' s Frogmouth, whose specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Aegotheles archboldi

Aegotheles archboldi

Aegotheles archboldi，Archbold's owlet-nightjar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The bird's scientific name is Aegotheles archboldi, and its foreign name is Archbold' sowlet-nightjar, whose specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Aegotheles affinis

Aegotheles affinis

Aegotheles affinis，Vogelkop owlet-nightjar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Aegotheles affinis and Vogelkop owlet-nightjar are unknown habits and are suspected to be extinct.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Nyctidromus anthonyi

Nyctidromus anthonyi

Nyctidromus anthonyi，Anthony's Nightjar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The scientific name Nyctidromus anthonyi, foreign name Anthony' s Nightjar, whose specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Nyctiphrynus yucatanicus

Nyctiphrynus yucatanicus

Nyctiphrynus yucatanicus，Yucatan Poorwill

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Nyctiphrynus yucatanicus, and its foreign name is Yucatan Poorwill.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Nyctiphrynus rosenbergi

Nyctiphrynus rosenbergi

Nyctiphrynus rosenbergi，Choco Poorwill

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Nyctiphrynus rosenbergi, and its foreign name is Choco Poorwill.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Nyctiphrynus ocellatus

Nyctiphrynus ocellatus

Nyctiphrynus ocellatus，Ocellated Poorwill

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Nyctiphrynus ocellatus, and its foreign name is Ocellated Poorwill.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Nyctiphrynus mcleodi

Nyctiphrynus mcleodi

Nyctiphrynus mcleodi，Eared Poorwill

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Nyctiphrynus mcleodi, and its foreign name is Eared Poorwill.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Caprimulgus batesi

Caprimulgus batesi

Caprimulgus batesi，Bates's Nightjar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Caprimulgus batesi and its foreign name is Bates' s Nightjar, whose specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Caprimulgus prigoginei

Caprimulgus prigoginei

Caprimulgus prigoginei，Prigogine's Nightjar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The scientific name of prigoginei is Caprimulgus prigoginei, the foreign name is Prigogine' s Nightjar, whose specific habits are unknown. It is a known specimen of a female bird that entered Zaire in the Itombwe Mountains in February 1952. This appears to be a forest species, but nothing is k...

Caprimulgus centralasicus

Caprimulgus centralasicus

Caprimulgus centralasicus，Vaurie's Nightjar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Central Asian nightjar scientific name Caprimulgus centralasicus, foreign name Vaurie' s Nightjar, no subspecies.The habits of the Central Asian nighthawk conjectures other species of the same genus. As common nighthawks, alone or in pairs. Nocturnal, during the day more crouching in the forest...

Caprimulgus whitelyi

Caprimulgus whitelyi

Caprimulgus whitelyi，Roraiman Nightjar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Venezuelan Nightjar is known as Caprimulgus whitelyi and Roraiman Nightjar.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Caprimulgus badius

Caprimulgus badius

Caprimulgus badius，Yucatan Tawny-collared Nightjar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

It is known by its scientific name Caprimulgus badius and its foreign name Yucatan Tawny-collared Nightjar.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Caprimulgus salvini

Caprimulgus salvini

Caprimulgus salvini，Tawny-collared Nightjar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Caprimulgus salvini and Tawny-collared Nightjar are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Caprimulgus fossii

Caprimulgus fossii

Caprimulgus fossii，Gabon Nightjar，Square-tailed Nightjar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Caprimulgus fossii and its foreign name is Gabon Nightjar.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

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