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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
Opisthoprora euryptera

Opisthoprora euryptera

Opisthoprora euryptera

Climbing birds LC

Features：Turn the end of your mouth up

Opisthoprora euryptera are long-legged shorebirds with long, thin beaks. During the breeding season, one female will mate with up to 10 males, who incubate the eggs and care for the chicks.On August 1, 2000, the State Forestry Administration issued the List of beneficial land wildlife under State pr...

Ocreatus underwoodii

Ocreatus underwoodii

Ocreatus underwoodii，Booted Racquet-Tail

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The hummingbird is known as Ocreatus underwoodii and Booted Racquet-Tail.In the rainforest, hummingbirds need to fly thousands of times to maintain the calories they need to metabolize. It must keep flying, racing against time. But bees also need nectar for food. There must be a competition be...

Myrtis yarrellii

Myrtis yarrellii

Myrtis yarrellii，Chilean Woodstar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Chilean hummingbird is known as Myrtis yarrellii and Chilean Woodstar。Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Myrtis fanny

Myrtis fanny

Myrtis fanny，Purple-collared Woodstar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The bird is known as Myrtis fanny or Purple-collared Woodstar.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Myrmia micrura

Myrmia micrura

Myrmia micrura，Short-tailed Woodstar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Short-tailed hummingbird is known as Myrmia micrura and short-tailed Woodstar.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Microstilbon burmeisteri

Microstilbon burmeisteri

Microstilbon burmeisteri，Slender-tailed Woodstar

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Microstilbon burmeisteri (Slender-tailed Woodstar) is an unknown species.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Microchera albocoronata

Microchera albocoronata

Microchera albocoronata，Snowcap

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The white-topped hummingbird is known as Microchera albocoronata or Snowcap, but its specific habits are unknown。Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Viridian Metaltail

Viridian Metaltail

Viridian Metaltail，Metallura williami

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Viridian Metaltail and Metallura williami are not known for their specific habits.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Metallura tyrianthina

Metallura tyrianthina

Metallura tyrianthina

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Metallura tyrianthina is a hummingbird whose specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.It is everyone's responsibility to maintain ecological balance！...

Metallura theresiae

Metallura theresiae

Metallura theresiae，Coppery Metaltail

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The scientific name of the bird is Metallura theresiae, the foreign name Coppery Metaltail, the specific habits of which are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Metallura phoebe

Metallura phoebe

Metallura phoebe，Black Metaltail

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Black Metaltail hummingbird is known as Metallura phoebe or Black Metaltail.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Metallura odomae

Metallura odomae

Metallura odomae，Neblina Metaltail

Climbing birds LC

Features：

It is known as Metallura odomae or Neblina Metaltail.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Metallura iracunda

Metallura iracunda

Metallura iracunda，Perija Metaltail

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The species is known as Metallura iracunda or Perija Metaltail.World League for Animal Protection: Endangered.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Metallura eupogon

Metallura eupogon

Metallura eupogon，Fire-throated Metaltail

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Fire-throated Metaltail hummingbird is known as Metallura eupogon or fire-throated metaltail.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Metallura baroni

Metallura baroni

Metallura baroni

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Metallura baroni is a hummingbird that loves humidity and lives in the swamps of the Americas. It can be found in many African wetlands. It can be seen that although the same purple throat bright tail hummingbird, but its origin is different, different habits, individual differences are very obvious...

Metallura aneocauda

Metallura aneocauda

Metallura aneocauda，Scaled Metaltail

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The species is called Metallura aneocauda or Scaled Metaltail.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Mellisuga minima

Mellisuga minima

Mellisuga minima，Vervain Hummingbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Mellisuga minima and Vervain Hummingbird are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Mellisuga helenae

Mellisuga helenae

Mellisuga helenae，Bee Hummingbird，Zunzuncito

Climbing birds LC

Features：It is the smallest species of hummingbird

The Zunzuncito Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) is one of the world's smallest birds and the world's smallest warm-blooded animal.Bee-sucking birds seek and actively protect high-quality food sources. Males mark out feeding areas and chase off other males and large insects, such as bumble...

Lophornis stictolophus

Lophornis stictolophus

Lophornis stictolophus，Spangled Coquette

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Lophornis stictolophus or Spangled Coquette is not known.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Lophornispavoninus

Lophornispavoninus

Lophornispavoninus

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The peacock crested hummingbird's scientific name is Lophornispavoninus, but its specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Lophornis ornatus

Lophornis ornatus

Lophornis ornatus，tufted coquette

Climbing birds LC

Features：Orange or red feathers on the crown and cheeks are the main features of the bird, which appear metallic when exposed to sunlight

The crofted hummingbird (Lophornis ornatus) is tufted coquette, no subspecies。Crown-topped hummingbirds feed primarily on the nectar of a variety of brightly colored, fragrant flowers that grow on trees, herbs, shrubs, and epiphytes. Favoring nectar with high sugar content, it can pick out flowers...

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