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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 augusti

Phaethornis augusti

Phaethornis augusti，Sooty-capped Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

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

Phaethornis atrimentalis

Phaethornis atrimentalis

Phaethornis atrimentalis，Black-throated Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Black-throated Hermit, Phaethornis atrimentalis, is an unknown species.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Phaethornis anthophilus

Phaethornis anthophilus

Phaethornis anthophilus，Pale-bellied Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

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

Phaethornis aethopygus

Phaethornis aethopygus

Phaethornis aethopygus，Tapajós Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Phaethornis aethopygus, Tapajos Hermit, whose specific habits are unknown.Listed on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Near Threatened (NT), 2012 assessment.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Glaucis hirsuta

Glaucis hirsuta

Glaucis hirsuta，Rufous-breasted Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The brown-breasted hummingbird is Glaucis hirsuta and Rufous-breasted Hermit, whose specific habit is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Glaucis dohrnii

Glaucis dohrnii

Glaucis dohrnii，Hook-billed Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：The body is generally dark, the upper body has a metallic sheen of copper-green feathers (including the head), the lower body is yellowish-brown

Hook-billed copper hummingbird (Glaucis dohrnii) Hook-billed Hermit, no subspecies.Hook-billed copper hummingbirds feed mainly on the nectar of a variety of bright, fragrant flowers from trees, herbs, shrubs and epiphytes. Prefers high-sugar nectar (usually from red tubular flowers). As a clip-feedi...

Glaucis aenea

Glaucis aenea

Glaucis aenea，Bronzy Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The bronze hummingbird's scientific name is Glaucis aenea, and its foreign name is Bronzy Hermit.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Eutoxeres condamini

Eutoxeres condamini

Eutoxeres condamini，Buff-tailed Sicklebill

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The yellow-tailed Sicklebill hummingbird (Eutoxeres condamini) is Buff-tailed sicklebill.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!...

Eutoxeres aquila

Eutoxeres aquila

Eutoxeres aquila，White-tipped Sicklebill

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The species is known as Eutoxeres aquila or White-tipped Sicklebill, but its behavior is unknown.International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List Protection Level: No Threat (LC).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibilit...

Anopetia gounellei

Anopetia gounellei

Anopetia gounellei，Broad-tipped Hermit

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Anopetia gounellei, or Broad-tipped Hermit, is an unknown species.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Hemiprocne comata

Hemiprocne comata

Hemiprocne comata，Whiskered Treeswift

Climbing birds LC

Features：It is the most beautiful bird species in the order Swallow

The Whiskered Treeswift (Hemiprocne comata), because of its large body and long wings, is like a small aircraft in the air, sometimes flying low and sometimes rising into the air.Instead of continuously flying through the air to feed, the smallowl Swift often rests on the top branches of the tree ca...

Hemiprocne coronata

Hemiprocne coronata

Hemiprocne coronata，Crested Treeswift

Climbing birds LC

Features：The head has a long crest, shining with green luster

Hemiprocne coronata, Crested Treeswift, has 6 subspecies.The swallowtail flies in small groups, often flying in circles over open land and forests, and sometimes over water such as rivers. Their diet is mainly a variety of flying insects such as mosquitoes and moths, and they can also hunt while fly...

Hemiprocne mystacea

Hemiprocne mystacea

Hemiprocne mystacea，Moustached Treeswift

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Hemiprocne mystacea and its foreign name is Moustached Treeswift.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Apus unicolor

Apus unicolor

Apus unicolor，Plain Swift

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Apus unicolor, the foreign name is Plain Swift, and its specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Apus sladeniae

Apus sladeniae

Apus sladeniae，Fernando Po Swift，Martinet de Fernando Po

Climbing birds LC

Features：It has a short forked tail and very long swept wings, similar to a crescent or boomerang

Apus sladeniae, also known as Fernando Po Swift or Martinet de Fernando Po, was once a subspecies of the African black Swift. The population size of this species has not been quantified; We only know from 10 records. Reason for trend: Population trends are unknown because the species is only known f...

Apus pallidus

Apus pallidus

Apus pallidus，Pallid Swift

Climbing birds LC

Features：

pallidus pallidus, foreign name Pallid Swift, is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Apus niansae

Apus niansae

Apus niansae，Nyanza Swift

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Apus niansae and its foreign name is Nyanza Swift.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Apus horus

Apus horus

Apus horus，Horus Swift

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Apus horus, and its foreign name is Horus Swift.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Apus caffer

Apus caffer

Apus caffer，White-rumped Swift

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The African White-rumped Swift is known as white-rumped swift or Apus caffer.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Apus bradfieldi

Apus bradfieldi

Apus bradfieldi，Bradfield's Swift

Climbing birds LC

Features：

bradfieldi's scientific name is Apus bradfieldi, the foreign name is Bradfield' s Swift, whose behavior is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Berlioz's Swift

Berlioz's Swift

Berlioz's Swift，Apus berliozi

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The scientific name of the swift Berlioz; s Swift, foreign name Apus berliozi, specific habits unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

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