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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
Phaethornis syrmatophorus

Phaethornis syrmatophorus

Phaethornis syrmatophorus，Tawny-bellied Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phaethornis syrmatophorus and Tawny-bellied Hermit are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phaethornis superciliosus

Phaethornis superciliosus

Phaethornis superciliosus，Long-tailed Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phaethornis superciliosus, a member of the Long-tailed Hermit family of hummingbirds; The Eastern Long-tailed Hermit, another name for the long-tailed hermit, has been the subject of much debate in ornithology, and as a result of this controversy, the long-tailed hermit has been given two new names:...

Phaethornis subochraceus

Phaethornis subochraceus

Phaethornis subochraceus，Buff-bellied Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phaethornis subochraceus and Buff-bellied Hermit, whose specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phaethornis stuarti

Phaethornis stuarti

Phaethornis stuarti，White-browed Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phaethornis stuarti is a White-browed Hermit, whose specific habit is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phaethornis striigularis

Phaethornis striigularis

Phaethornis striigularis，Stripe-throated Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phaethornis striigularis and Stripe-throated Hermit, whose specific habit is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phaethornis squalidus

Phaethornis squalidus

Phaethornis squalidus，Dusky-throated Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Phaethornis squalidus is known as the Dusky-throated Hermit, whose specific habits are unknown.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 responsibility!...

Phaethornis rupurumii

Phaethornis rupurumii

Phaethornis rupurumii

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phaethornis rupurumii, whose specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phaethornis ruber

Phaethornis ruber

Phaethornis ruber，Reddish Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Reddish Hermit is known only as the Reddish Hermit and its scientific name is Phaethornis ruber.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phaethornis pretrei

Phaethornis pretrei

Phaethornis pretrei，Planalto Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phaethornis pretrei and Planalto Hermit, whose specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phaethornis philippii

Phaethornis philippii

Phaethornis philippii，Needle-billed Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phaethornis philippii, or Needle-billed Hermit, is an unknown species.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phaethornis nattereri

Phaethornis nattereri

Phaethornis nattereri，Cinnamon-throated Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phaethornis nattereri and Cinnamon-throated Hermit are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phaethornis malaris

Phaethornis malaris

Phaethornis malaris，Great-billed Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phaethornis malaris, or Great-billed Hermit, is an unknown species.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phaethornis longuemareus

Phaethornis longuemareus

Phaethornis longuemareus，Little Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phaethornis longuemareus and Little Hermit, whose specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phaethornis longirostris

Phaethornis longirostris

Phaethornis longirostris，Long-billed Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phaethornis longirostris (Phaethornis longirostris) is a Long-billed Hermit, without subspecies, whose specific habits are unknown. The species was formerly known as the Western Long-tailed Hidden Hummingbird, but was later renamed the long-tailed Hidden Hummingbird because of its long beak, and the...

Phaethornis koepckeae

Phaethornis koepckeae

Phaethornis koepckeae，Koepcke's Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Hidden hummingbird (Latin name: Phaethornis koepckeae, English name: Koepcke' s Hermit) Specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phaethornis idaliae

Phaethornis idaliae

Phaethornis idaliae，Minute Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Phaethornis idaliae, and its foreign name is Minute Hermit.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phaethornis hispidus

Phaethornis hispidus

Phaethornis hispidus，White-beared Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phaethornis hispidus, or White-beared Hermit, is an unknown species.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phaethornis guy

Phaethornis guy

Phaethornis guy，Green hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Phaethornis guy, also known as the Green hermit, feeds mainly on the nectar of various flowers and also eats small insects. The green hidden hummingbird lays one egg at a time, a cone-shaped nest built under a large leaf, usually above the water. The eggs hatch for 17 to 18 days, and after 21 to...

Phaethornis griseogularis

Phaethornis griseogularis

Phaethornis griseogularis，Gray-chinned Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phaethornis griseogularis (Gray-chinned Hermit) is an unknown species.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phaethornis eurynome

Phaethornis eurynome

Phaethornis eurynome，cale-throated Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phaethornis eurynome or cale-throated Hermit, whose specific habit is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phaethornis bourcieri

Phaethornis bourcieri

Phaethornis bourcieri，Straight-billed Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phaethornis bourcieri, or Straight-billed Hermit, is an unknown species.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

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