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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
Basilinna xantusii

Basilinna xantusii

Basilinna xantusii，Xantus's Hummingbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Basilinna xantusii, the scientific name of the hummingbird, is Xantus. s Hummingbird, whose behavior is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Basilinna leucotis

Basilinna leucotis

Basilinna leucotis，White-eared Hummingbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The White-eared Hummingbird, Basilinna leucotis or white-eared hummingbird, is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Avocettula recurvirostris

Avocettula recurvirostris

Avocettula recurvirostris，Fiery-tailed Awlbill

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The specific habits of the Fiery tailed Awlbill (Avocettula recurvirostris) are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Augastes scutatu

Augastes scutatu

Augastes scutatu，Hyacinth Visor-bearer

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Hummingbird Augastes scutatu, Hyacinth Visor-bearer, specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Augastes lumachellus

Augastes lumachellus

Augastes lumachellus，Hooded Visor-bearer

Climbing birds LC

Features：Ornithologists consider them to be the most drought-adapted hummingbirds

The hummingbird is Augastes lumachellus and Hooded Visor-bearer.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Atthis ellioti

Atthis ellioti

Atthis ellioti，Wine-throated Hummingbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The crabthroat Hummingbird's scientific name is Atthis ellioti, and its foreign name is Wine-throated hummingbird.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Archilochus colubris

Archilochus colubris

Archilochus colubris，Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The species is known as Archilochus colubris, Ruby-throated Hummingbird.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Archilochus alexandri

Archilochus alexandri

Archilochus alexandri，Black-chinned Hummingbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The species is known as Archilochus alexandri and Black-chinned Hummingbird.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Anthracothorax viridis

Anthracothorax viridis

Anthracothorax viridis

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The green mango hummingbird's scientific name is Anthracothorax viridis, but its specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Anthracothorax viridigula

Anthracothorax viridigula

Anthracothorax viridigula，Green-throated Mango

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Green-throated Mango hummingbird is known as Anthracothorax viridigula and green-throated mango.The female usually lays 2 white eggs in tall trees. The main diet of the green throated mango hummingbird is honey, but occasionally it will eat some flying insects.The green-throated mango hummingbir...

Anthracothorax veraguensis

Anthracothorax veraguensis

Anthracothorax veraguensis，Veraguan mango

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Panamanian mango hummingbird (Anthracothorax veraguensis) is known by its foreign name Veraguan mango.Listed on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Not Threatened (LC), 2012 assessment.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibili...

Anthracothorax prevostii

Anthracothorax prevostii

Anthracothorax prevostii，Green-breasted Mango

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The habit of the Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii) is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Anthracothorax nigricollis

Anthracothorax nigricollis

Anthracothorax nigricollis，black-throated Mango

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The black-throated Mango hummingbird (Latin: Anthracothorax viridigula), the green-throated Mango hummingbird and the Black-throated Mango hummingbird are similar, but not of the same species. The female usually lays 2 white eggs in tall trees. The main diet of the black-throated mango hummingbird i...

Anthracothorax mango

Anthracothorax mango

Anthracothorax mango，Jamaican Mango

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Jamaican Mango hummingbird is known as Anthracothorax mango and Jamaican Mango.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Anthracothorax dominicus

Anthracothorax dominicus

Anthracothorax dominicus，Antillean mango

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The black-breasted mango hummingbird (Anthracothorax dominicus) Antillean mango, whose specific habit is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Androdon aequqtorialis

Androdon aequqtorialis

Androdon aequqtorialis，Tooth-billed Hummingbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Tooth-billed Hummingbird, <span style="text-indent: 2em;" Tooth-billed hummingbird, <span style="text-indent: 2em;" Like other hummingbirds, toothed bill hummingbirds survive mainly on nectar, and by rapidly vibrating their wings they can hover in midair to feed.Protect wil...

Anthocephala floriceps

Anthocephala floriceps

Anthocephala floriceps，Blossomcrown

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The flowering hummingbird is known as Anthocephala floriceps or Blossomcrown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Amazilia yucatanensis

Amazilia yucatanensis

Amazilia yucatanensis，Buff-bellied Hummingbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The brown-bellied Hummingbird is Amazilia yucatanensis and Buff-bellied hummingbird.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Saucerottia viridigaster

Saucerottia viridigaster

Saucerottia viridigaster，Green-bellied Hummingbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Green-bellied Hummingbird (Latin name: Saucerottia viridigaster) is known as green-bellied hummingbird.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Agyrtria viridifrons

Agyrtria viridifrons

Agyrtria viridifrons，Green-fronted Hummingbird

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Agyrtria viridifrons, or Green-fronted Hummingbird, is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Agyrtria violiceps

Agyrtria violiceps

Agyrtria violiceps，Agyrtria violiceps

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The hummingbird's scientific name is Agyrtria violiceps, the foreign name is Agyrtria violiceps, the specific habit is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

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