Home>>All Animals>>Birds

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
Rhodopis vesper

Rhodopis vesper

Rhodopis vesper，Oasis Hummingbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The scientific name of the Oasis Hummingbird is Rhodopis vesper, the foreign name is Oasis Hummingbird, the specific habit is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Ramphomicron microrhynchum

Ramphomicron microrhynchum

Ramphomicron microrhynchum，Purple-backed Thornbill

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The hummingbird is known as Ramphomicron microrhynchum and Purple-backed Thornbill.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Ramphomicron dorsale

Ramphomicron dorsale

Ramphomicron dorsale，Black-backed Thornbill

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Black-backed Thornbill hummingbird is known as Ramphomicron dorsale and black-backed thornbill.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Pterophanes cyanopterus

Pterophanes cyanopterus

Pterophanes cyanopterus，Great Sapphirewing

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The blue-winged Great hummingbird is Pterophanes cyanopterus and Great Sapphirewing.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Polytmus theresiae

Polytmus theresiae

Polytmus theresiae，Green-tailed Goldenthroat

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The species is known as Polytmus theresiae and Green-tailed Goldenthroat.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Polytmus milleri

Polytmus milleri

Polytmus milleri，Tepui Goldenthroat

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The black-billed and Goldenthroat hummingbird is known as Polytmus milleri or Tepui Goldenthroat.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Polytmus guainumbi

Polytmus guainumbi

Polytmus guainumbi，White-tailed Goldenthroat

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The White-tailed Goldenthroat hummingbird is known as Polytmus guainumbi or white-tailed goldenthroat.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Polyonymus caroli

Polyonymus caroli

Polyonymus caroli，Bronze-tailed Comet

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Copper-tailed hummingbird Polyonymus caroli, foreign name Bronze-tailed Comet, specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phlogophilus hemileucurus

Phlogophilus hemileucurus

Phlogophilus hemileucurus，Ecuadorean Piedtail

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Ecuadorean hummingbird is known as Phlogophilus hemileucurus and Ecuadorean Piedtail.The Ecuadorian spotted hummingbird is listed on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phlogophilus harterti

Phlogophilus harterti

Phlogophilus harterti，Peruvian Piedtail

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Peruvian Piedtail hummingbird Phlogophilus harterti, Peruvian Piedtail, the specific habitat is unknown。Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Patagona gigas

Patagona gigas

Patagona gigas，Giant Hummingbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：It is the largest member of the hummingbird family

The behavior of the Giant Hummingbird (Patagona gigas, Giant Hummingbird) is unknown.Giant hummingbird is a non-endangered species, the degree of threat is low, and the protection status is relatively safe.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's...

Panterpe insignis

Panterpe insignis

Panterpe insignis，Fiery-throated Hummingbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The specific habits of the fire-throated Hummingbird (Panterpe insignis, Fiery throated Hummingbird) are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Oxypogon guerinii

Oxypogon guerinii

Oxypogon guerinii

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The bearded hummingbird, Oxypogon guerinii, includes (green bearded hummingbird, pale yellow bearded hummingbird, blue bearded hummingbird, white bearded hummingbird) the specific habitat is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's respons...

Orthorhyncus cristatus

Orthorhyncus cristatus

Orthorhyncus cristatus，Antillean Crested Hummingbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：It is the only bird that can fly backwards and one of the smallest birds in the world

Antillean Crested Hummingbird (Orthorhyncus cristatus) is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Oreotrochilus stolzmanni

Oreotrochilus stolzmanni

Oreotrochilus stolzmanni，Green-headed Hillstar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The hummingbird's scientific name is Oreotrochilus stolzmanni, and its foreign name is Green-headed Hillstar.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Oreotrochilus melanogaster

Oreotrochilus melanogaster

Oreotrochilus melanogaster，Black-breasted Hillstar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Oreotrochilus melanogaster or Black-breasted Hillstar is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Oreotrochilus leucopleurus

Oreotrochilus leucopleurus

Oreotrochilus leucopleurus，White-sided Hillstar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The species is known by its scientific name Oreotrochilus leucopleurus and White-sided Hillstar.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Oreotrochilus estella

Oreotrochilus estella

Oreotrochilus estella，Andean Hillstar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Andean hummingbird is known by its scientific name Oreotrochilus estella and its foreign name Andean Hillstar.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Oreotrochilus chimborazo

Oreotrochilus chimborazo

Oreotrochilus chimborazo，Chimborazo Hillstar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The hummingbird's scientific name is Oreotrochilus chimborazo, and its foreign name is Chimborazo Hillstar.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Oreotrochilus adela

Oreotrochilus adela

Oreotrochilus adela，Wedge-tailed Hillstar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Oreotrochilus adela, or Wedge-tailed Hillstar, is an unknown species.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Oreonympha nobilis

Oreonympha nobilis

Oreonympha nobilis，Bearded Mountaineer

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Bearded hummingbird's scientific name is Oreonympha nobilis, Bearded Mountaineer, and its specific habits are unknown.保护野生动物，杜绝野味。维护生态平衡，人人有责！...

Email: jsset#163.com (change # to @) Please indicate your purpose of visit!
Guangdong ICP No. 2022053326 XML| map| Chinese