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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
Apus batesi

Apus batesi

Apus batesi，Bates's Swift

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Apus batesi, its foreign name is Bates' s Swift, whose behavior is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Apus barbatus

Apus barbatus

Apus barbatus，African Black Swift

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The African Black Swift is known as Apus barbatus and African Black Swift.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Malagasy Black Swift

Malagasy Black Swift

Malagasy Black Swift，Apus balstoni

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Malagasy Black Swift (Apus balstoni) has an unknown habit.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Apus apus

Apus apus

Apus apus，Common Swift，European Swift，Swift，Martinet noir

Climbing birds LC

Features：The white throat and chest are separated by a dark brown band

The Common swallow (Apus apus) has two subspecies: common Swift, European Swift, Swift, and Martinet noir. The common louver was one of the many species described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae. He introduced the binomial name "Hirund...

Apus alexandri

Apus alexandri

Apus alexandri，Alexander's Swift

Climbing birds LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Apus alexandri, its foreign name is Alexander' s Swift, whose behavior is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Apus affinis

Apus affinis

Apus affinis，Little Swift，House Swift，Martinet des maisons

Climbing birds LC

Features：The tail looks round when fully unfolded

The small Swift (Apus affinis) has six subspecies: Little Swift, House Swift, Martinet des maisons.Small swift populations in the far western Palaearctic region and southern Africa are partially or entirely migratory, but populations in the tropics are resident birds. The young swifts that live in T...

Aerodramus maximus

Aerodramus maximus

Aerodramus maximus

Climbing birds LC

Features：

The Greater Swiftlet (Aerodramus maximus) is a species of animal in the genus Swiftlet.Large swiftlets can fly around dark caves like bats by echolocation. Its "sonar" is audible to the human ear and consists of "clicks" at a frequency of 1,500 to 5,500 Hertz, about six times per...

Pelecanoides urinatrix

Pelecanoides urinatrix

Pelecanoides urinatrix，South Georgia Diving petrel

Waterfowl LC

Features：

Pelecanoides urinatrix, South Georgia Diving petrel, unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Pelecanoides magellani

Pelecanoides magellani

Pelecanoides magellani，Magellanic Diving Petrel

Waterfowl LC

Features：

Magellanic Diving Petrel: Pelecanoides magellani, Magellanic diving petrel.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Pelecanoides garnotii

Pelecanoides garnotii

Pelecanoides garnotii，Peruvian Diving Petrel

Waterfowl LC

Features：

Peruvian pelican (Pelecanoides garnotii, Peruvian Diving Petrel), the specific habit is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Pelecanoides urinatrix

Pelecanoides urinatrix

Pelecanoides urinatrix，Common Diving Petrel

Waterfowl LC

Features：

Common Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides urinatrix) is a small diving petrel.During the breeding period of Pelican swallows, they often foraged on the continental shelf. Behavior during the non-breeding period is not known. Like other birds in the Pelican family, they flap their wings as thrust for diving...

Oceanodroma furcata

Oceanodroma furcata

Oceanodroma furcata，Fork-tailed Storm Petrel

Waterfowl LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Oceanodroma furcata and its foreign name is Fork-tailed Storm Petrel.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Ringed Storm Petrel

Ringed Storm Petrel

Ringed Storm Petrel，Oceanodroma hornbyi

Waterfowl LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Oceanodroma hornbyi, and its foreign name is Ringed Storm Petrel.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Oceanodroma homochroa

Oceanodroma homochroa

Oceanodroma homochroa，Ashy Storm Petrel

Waterfowl LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Oceanodroma homochroa and its foreign name is Ashy Storm Petrel.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Oceanodroma melania

Oceanodroma melania

Oceanodroma melania，Black Storm Petrel

Waterfowl LC

Features：

It is known as Oceanodroma melania or Black Storm Petrel, but its behavior is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Oceanodroma markhami

Oceanodroma markhami

Oceanodroma markhami，Sooty storm Petrel

Waterfowl LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Oceanodroma markhami, and its foreign name is Sooty storm Petrel.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Oceanodroma tristrami

Oceanodroma tristrami

Oceanodroma tristrami，Tristram's Storm Petrel

Waterfowl LC

Features：

Scientific name: Oceanodroma tristrami, foreign name: Tristram' s Storm Petrel, whose specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Hydrobates monteiroi

Hydrobates monteiroi

Hydrobates monteiroi，Monteiro's Storm Petrel

Waterfowl LC

Features：

Monteri's fork-tailed petrel (English name: Monteiro' s Storm Petrel (Hydrobates monteiroi), whose specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Oceanodroma monorhis

Oceanodroma monorhis

Oceanodroma monorhis，Hydrobates monorhis，Swinhoe's Storm-petrel，

Waterfowl LC

Features：When flying, the two wings have an M-shaped concave leading edge, which is close to the water surface, constantly changing the direction of flight, and the flying posture of the feet extending to the water surface from time to time

Hydrobates monorhis is a small sea bird. Austin (1952) combined this species with O. cucorhoa. Bretagnolle et al. (1991) and Daw-son (1992) divided them into two separate species because of their morphological and acoustical differences. Zheng Zuoxin (1994), Inskipp, Lindsey and Duckworth (1996), an...

Hydrobates jabejabe

Hydrobates jabejabe

Hydrobates jabejabe，Cape Verde Storm Petrel

Waterfowl LC

Features：

The Cape Verde Storm Petrel (Hydrobates jabejabe) is an unknown species.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Oceanodroma castro

Oceanodroma castro

Oceanodroma castro，Harcourt's Storm Petrel，Madeiran storm petrel

Waterfowl LC

Features：

Oceanodroma castro, Harcourt' s Storm Petrel are aggregative birds, either in nesting areas or at sea, mostly in small or loose groups, but some species are solitary. They spend their entire lives at sea, returning to land only to breed. With the exception of a few species that land during the d...

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