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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
Puffinus assimilis

Puffinus assimilis

Puffinus assimilis,Little Shearwater,水薙鸟

Features:The bird has a black bill, dark brown eyes, blue legs and webbed feet, and the male and female are identical, but the female has a slightly shorter tail

assimilis Puffinus assimilis, also known as Little Shearwater, is a bird of the genus Puffinus assimilis. There are five subspecies.Petrels are resident birds, spending most of the year around their homes and visiting them even outside of the breeding season. The species flies to the water's edg...

Pterodroma rostrata

Pterodroma rostrata

Pterodroma rostrata,Tahiti Petrel

Features:The upper body is dark brown, the lower body is gray-black from chin, throat to anterior neck, and white below the chest

Tahiti Petrel (Pterodroma rostrata) is a medium-sized seabird of the Petreidae family, Pterodroma, with three subspecies.< img SRC = "/ static/upload/images / 20230310/2023031015441399. JPG" title = "2023031015441399 jpg" Alt = "_ nine ray image converter.jpg" / >The hook-billed shearw...

Pterodroma gouldi

Pterodroma gouldi

Pterodroma gouldi,Grey-faced Petrel

Features:It is a large seabird with dark plumage, long pointed wings, and a wedge-shaped tail

The Grey-faced Petrel (Pterodroma gouldi) has no subspecies. Petrel del Hoyo and Collar 2014) and Pterodroma macroptera (Pterodroma macroptera) were classified as two subspecies before 1993. Pterodroma macroptera" It was divided into two separate species in 2014.During the breeding season, the...

Pterodroma lessonii

Pterodroma lessonii

Pterodroma lessonii,White-headed Petrel

Features:

The White-headed Petrel (Pterodroma lessonii, white-headed Petrel) is a Marine bird.The white-headed shearwater usually calls during flight. The white-headed shearwater is usually found in the ocean and in the upper and middle levels, rarely approaching flat land. It mainly feeds on squid and crusta...

Pterodroma incerta

Pterodroma incerta

Pterodroma incerta,Atlantic Petrel

Features:

The Atlantic Petrel (Latin: Pterodroma incerta, Atlantic Petrel) is a Marine bird.The Atlantic Shearwater has the same sound as the grey-faced Shearwater. It mainly feeds on cephalopods (especially squid) and some mid-ocean fishes.The Atlantic Shearwater is an endangered species that is in danger of...

Pterodroma hasitata

Pterodroma hasitata

Pterodroma hasitata,Black-capped Petrel

Features:

The Black-capped Petrel (Latin name: Pterodroma hasitata, English name: Black-capped Petrel) is a Marine bird of the genus Pterodroma, family Petrema.Little is known about the diet of the black-capped petrel, but it probably consists mainly of squid and fish. Petrel is an endangered species, which i...

Pterodroma cahow

Pterodroma cahow

Pterodroma cahow,Bermuda Petrel,Cahow,Fardela de Bermudas,Petrel cahow

Features:It is a medium-sized petrel with brown, grey and white plumage

Bermuda Petrel (Pterodroma cahow) Bermuda Petrel, Cahow, Fardela de Bermudas, Petrel cahow, no subspecies.The Bermuda Shearwater is a good flyer, spending most of its adult life at sea. It is a nocturnal seabird that feeds on fish, cuttlefish, jellyfish, and other Marine animals.The breeding period...

Pseudobulweriaaterrima

Pseudobulweriaaterrima

Pseudobulweriaaterrima,Mascarene Petrel

Features:

The black-tailed shearwater (Pseudobulweria aterrima, Mascarene Petrel) has no details, but has recently been observed removing floating internal organs on the surface of the water.Petrel is a critically endangered species. Two bird sightings were recorded in the 1970s, but few sightings have been r...

Pterodroma alba

Pterodroma alba

Pterodroma alba,Phoenix Petrel

Features:The underside of the wing is also white, with two black slashes and a black outer edge

The Latin name is Pterodroma alba, and the foreign name is Phoenix Petrel. There is only one subspecies in China.The Shearwater feeds on fish and crustaceans. Like to fly in a circle in the sky, chirping and suddenly falling posture, field observation features are obvious, easy to identify. It is an...

Procellaria conspicillata

Procellaria conspicillata

Procellaria conspicillata,Spectacled Petrel

Features:

The behavior of Spectacled Petrel (Procellaria conspicillata) is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Procellaria cinerea

Procellaria cinerea

Procellaria cinerea,Grey Shearwater

Features:

Its scientific name is Procellaria cinerea and its foreign name is Grey Shearwater.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Procellaria westlandica

Procellaria westlandica

Procellaria westlandica,Westland Petrel

Features:

The Petrel is Procellaria westlandica and Westland Petrel.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Procellaria parkinsoni

Procellaria parkinsoni

Procellaria parkinsoni,Parkinson's Petrel

Features:

Procellaria parkinsoni, Parkinson' s Petrel, whose specific habits are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

White-chinned Petrel

White-chinned Petrel

White-chinned Petrel,Procellaria aequinoctialis

Features:It is the second largest petrel after the giant shearwater

Procellaria aequinoctialis (White-chinned Petrel, Procellaria aequinoctialis) is a bird of the genus Procellaria, family Petrema, order Petrelidae.The shearwater feeds on krill and some fish, and likes to follow boats to pick up food waste and catch debris, so it is particularly prone to death by lo...

Pagodroma nivea

Pagodroma nivea

Pagodroma nivea,Snow Petrel

Features:

Snow Petrel (Pagodroma nivea) has two subspecies.Snow shearwaters are found in Marine areas and are found on closely linked ice floes. Snow shearwaters mainly feed on krill (genus krill), fish, squid and so on.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone...

Macronectes halli

Macronectes halli

Macronectes halli,Northern Giant Petrel

Features:

Macronectes halli (Northern Giant Petrel) The giant Petrel feeds on a variety of animals, both alive and dead, and preys heavily on the young of many social seabirds.Huoshi giant Shearwater is not endangered species, the degree of threat is low, and the protection status is relatively safe.Protect w...

Fulmarus glacialoides

Fulmarus glacialoides

Fulmarus glacialoides,Southern Fulmar

Features:

Fulmarus glacialoides (Southern Fulmar) is a Marine bird of the genus Fulmarus in the Petrel family Fulmaridae.Silvery shearwaters are usually silent at sea. Silvery Shearwaters feed on most crustaceans, fish, and cephalopods.The silver-grey storm Shearwater is a non-endangered species, the degree o...

Fulmarus glacialis

Fulmarus glacialis

Fulmarus glacialis,Northern Fulmar,Fulmar

Features:It looks like a gull in appearance and color, with a white head, neck, and underbody, and a black spot before the eyes

Fulmarus glacialis (Fulmarus glacialis) is a medium-sized seabird in the family Fulmaridae of the order Fulmar, with three subspecies.Tempetrel migratory birds. In spring, it migrates to the northern breeding ground in April and May, and leaves the breeding ground to the southern sea in September an...

Daption capense

Daption capense

Daption capense

Features:The back feathers are black and white

Its scientific name is Daption capense, but its specific habits are unknown.Groups can often be seen flying in the air and like to follow the boats.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Calonectris leucomelas

Calonectris leucomelas

Calonectris leucomelas,Streaked Shearwater

Features:It is a large duck with a white forehead, the front of the head, and the sides of the head and neck

The white-fronted Shearwater (Calonectris leucomelas) is a typical Marine bird known as Streaked Shearwater.The white-fronted shearwater is active at sea except during the breeding season. Good at flying, also good at swimming and diving, often for a long time in the sea over the day and night fligh...

Calonectris diomedea

Calonectris diomedea

Calonectris diomedea,Scopoli's Shearwater

Features:It is the largest seabird in the Atlantic Ocean and the only species that can be observed flying high and can soar in heat currents

Mighty Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) Scopoli' s Shearwater, no subspecies.In addition to being the largest seabird in the Atlantic Ocean, the mighty Shearwater is the only species that can be observed flying high and can soar in heat currents. It is easy to distinguish it from other seabirds...