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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
Tachybaptus rufolavatus

Tachybaptus rufolavatus

Tachybaptus rufolavatus,Alaotra Grebe

Features:It was declared extinct on 26 May 2010

Little Grebe: Tachybaptus rufolavatus, Alaotra Grebe, is not good at flying. They use their feet instead of wings and rarely walk on the ground. Can dive for food, generally diving only 1 ~ 4m deep. Food is mainly aquatic insects and larvae, crustaceans, mollusks, small fish and grass.When breeding,...

Tachybaptus pelzelnii

Tachybaptus pelzelnii

Tachybaptus pelzelnii,Madagascar Grebe

Features:The main plumage of the body is dark brown, and the upper part of the head is lead-black like the crown of the hat

Tachybaptus pelzelnii, Madagascar Grebe, the little Falklands grebe is not good at flying. They use their feet instead of wings and rarely walk on the ground. Can dive for food, generally diving only 1-4m deep. Food is mainly aquatic insects and larvae, crustaceans, mollusks, small fish and grass.Th...

Tachybaptus novaehollandiae

Tachybaptus novaehollandiae

Tachybaptus novaehollandiae,Australasian Grebe

Features:

The specific habits of the black-throated grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae) are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Tachybaptus dominicus

Tachybaptus dominicus

Tachybaptus dominicus,Least Grebe

Features:The youngest member of the Grebe family

The creta Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus) is the smallest member of the Grebe family, with four subspecies.The creta spends almost all of its life in water, often living in clusters. Not good at flying. They use their feet instead of wings and rarely walk on the ground. Can dive for food, generally di...

Rollandia rolland

Rollandia rolland

Rollandia rolland,Podiceps rolland,White-tufted Grebe

Features:

Rollandia rolland, Podiceps rolland, or White-tufted Grebe, is a species of swimming bird.Great white grebe is not good for flight. They use their feet instead of wings and rarely walk on the ground. Can dive for food, generally diving only 1 ~ 4m deep. It lives in ponds and slow-moving streams and...

Poliocephalus rufopectus

Poliocephalus rufopectus

Poliocephalus rufopectus,New Zealand Grebe

Features:

The New Zealand Grebe, Poliocephalus rufopectus, or New Zealand grebe, is a swimming bird that, like other members of the Grebe family, is a highly social waterbird.The New Zealand grebe is not good at flying. They use their feet instead of wings and rarely walk on the ground. Can dive for food, gen...

Poliocephalus poliocephalus

Poliocephalus poliocephalus

Poliocephalus poliocephalus,Hoary-headed Grebe

Features:

The grey-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus) is a member of the Grebe family.Grey-headed grebe is not good at flying. They use their feet instead of wings and rarely walk on the ground. Can dive for food, generally diving only 1 ~ 4m deep. Food is mainly aquatic insects and larvae, crustacean...

Podilymbus podiceps

Podilymbus podiceps

Podilymbus podiceps,Pied-billed Grebe

Features:The neck is short, the head is large, the rump is tufted with white feathers, and the beak is thick and short and conical

The great Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps), known as Pied-billed Grebe, has three subspecies.The Great Grebe is the most common grebe in the New World and the most familiar in the temperate regions of North America. In flight, is the typical grebe silhouette, with a straight neck, slightly drooping half-...

Atitlan Grebe

Atitlan Grebe

Atitlan Grebe,Podilymbus gigas

Features:It is a native and extinct grebe of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

The great Grebe, Podilymbus gigas or Atitlan Grebe, is a giant, almost flightless bird. Crustacean eater. It became extinct in Guatemala's alpine lakes around 1990. Anne LaBastille, an American ecologist who spent 25 years observing the Atitlan Grebe, has detailed information on its extinction.P...

diceps taczanowskii

diceps taczanowskii

diceps taczanowskii,Junin Grebe,Junín Grebe,Puna Grebe

Features:The species' scientific name "taczanowskii" and the French name "Grebe de Taczanowski" are both in honor of the Polish zoologist "Wladyslaw Taczanowski".

Peruvian Grebe (Podiceps taczanowskii) : Junin Grebe, Junin Grebe, Puna Grebe, no subspecies.The Peruvian grebe is a resident bird. Often live in groups, forage and dive, feeding in open water, is an excellent loon, hunting prey underwater. The waterfowl are flightless, unable to take off but able t...

Silvery Grebe

Silvery Grebe

Silvery Grebe,Podiceps occipitalis

Features:The adult bird has a black brown mixed brown ruff on the upper neck, black brown on the upper body, and white on the lower body

Silvery Grebe (Podiceps occipitalis) has two subspecies.The silver grebe spends almost all of its life in water, often living in clusters. Not good at flying. They use their feet instead of wings and rarely walk on the ground. Can dive for food, generally diving only 1-4 meters deep. Food is mainly...

Podiceps major

Podiceps major

Podiceps major,Great Grebe

Features:He has a small tuft of black feathers on his head and reddish-brown eyes

The Great Grebe (Podiceps major) is the largest loon in the Grebe family.Great grebe often gathers in small groups of three to five or more. Good at swimming and diving, and able to walk on land, but slow and clumsy. The flight force is weak, and when taking off on the water surface, it needs to wad...

Podiceps grisegena

Podiceps grisegena

Podiceps grisegena,Red-necked Grebe

Features:The crown and short crest of the summer feather are black, the cheeks and throat are grayish white, and the foreneck, side and upper breast are chestnut red

pit Grebe (scientific name: Podiceps grisegena) foreign language name Red-necked Grebe, there are 2 subspecies in the world, that is, the red-necked grebe named subspecies P. g. Grisegena (Boddaert, 1783) and the Red Necked Grebe Northern subspecies P. g. holboellii (Reinhardt, 1854). China has only...

Podiceps gallardoi

Podiceps gallardoi

Podiceps gallardoi,Hooded Grebe

Features:

The Argentine Grebe, known as Podiceps gallardoi or Hooded Grebe, is not good at flying. They use their feet instead of wings and rarely walk on the ground. Can dive for food, generally diving only 1 ~ 4m deep. Food is mainly aquatic insects and larvae, crustaceans, mollusks, small fish and grass.Wh...

Podiceps cristatus

Podiceps cristatus

Podiceps cristatus,Great Crested Grebe

Features:It is the largest grebe of all

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) has three subspecies.The earliest migration of the crested grebe to the northeast breeding grounds in the spring is in mid-late March, with large numbers appearing from mid-July to late April. The time to move away from the breeding grounds in autumn is mid-O...

Podiceps auritus

Podiceps auritus

Podiceps auritus,Horned Grebe,Slavonian Grebe

Features:

Horned grebe (pit) Podiceps auritus (foreign name Horned Grebe, Slavonian Grebe), as for subspecies differentiation, some scholars think that the species distributed in Europe and Asia is darker than the North American population, the head and back are more black and less gray, thus dividing this sp...

Podicepsandinus

Podicepsandinus

Podicepsandinus

Features:extinct

Colombian grebe Podiceps Andinus It's a grebe that lives in the eastern Andean Mountains of Colombia. They were still abundant in 1945. They are sometimes classified as a subspecies of the black-necked grebe. It is now extinct.The Colombian grebe often lives in clusters. Not good at flying. They...

Aechmophorus occidentalis

Aechmophorus occidentalis

Aechmophorus occidentalis,Western Grebe

Features:It is the longest of the Grebe species

The North American Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis), Western Grebe, has two subspecies.The North American grebe spends almost all of its life in the water, often living in clusters, often in pairs or small groups on open water. Not good at flying. They use their feet instead of wings and rarely wal...

Aechmophorus clarkii

Aechmophorus clarkii

Aechmophorus clarkii

Features:

The Grebe is known as Aechmophorus clarkii and often lives in clusters. Not good at flying. They use their feet instead of wings and rarely walk on the ground. Can dive for food, generally diving only 1 ~ 4m deep. Food is mainly aquatic insects and larvae, crustaceans, mollusks, small fish and grass...

Rollandia microptera

Rollandia microptera

Rollandia microptera,Titicaca Grebe

Features:Body feathers and wings brown mixed black, white neck white chest, red mouth, straight mouth, flat side, pointed

The short winged Grebe is Rollandia microptera and Titicaca Grebe. Not good at flying. They use their feet instead of wings and rarely walk on the ground. Can dive for food, generally diving only 1 ~ 4m deep. Food is mainly aquatic insects and larvae, crustaceans, mollusks, small fish and grass.When...

Gavia adamsii

Gavia adamsii

Gavia adamsii,Yellow-billed Loon,White-billed Diver

Features:It is the largest diver

The white-billed loon (Gavia adamsii) is a large waterfowl belonging to the Lobiidae family of the order Lobiidae. The white-billed loon is similar in appearance to the great North American loon (G.i. mmer), so some scholars have considered it a subspecies of the Arctic loon. However, due to their o...