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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
Aix sponsa

Aix sponsa

Aix sponsa,Wood Duck

Features:Recognized as the most beautiful teal in North America

Aix sponsa Wood Duck, no subspecies, is a small, brightly colored, tree-dwelling bird native to North America.The New Northern Forest Mandarin duck is related to the Mandarin duck, and is recognized as the most beautiful water duck in North America, because it is only found on the North American con...

Chauna torquata

Chauna torquata

Chauna torquata,Southern Screamer

Features:

The crested duck (Latin: Chauna torquata, English: Southern Screamer) has special webbing on its feet, so it is good at swimming, but it prefers to walk on land. The spikes on its wings are used to protect it from other species and predators. Crested ducks are good flyers, but they're not migrat...

chauna chavaria

chauna chavaria

chauna chavaria,Northern Screamer

Features:

The black-necked duck (Latin name: chauna chavaria, English name: Northern Screamer) is unknown. The population is less than 10,000.Iucn Red List: Near Threatened (NT)Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Anhima cornuta

Anhima cornuta

Anhima cornuta,Horned Screamer

Features:It gets its name from the high-pitched call it makes when flying or walking

The Horned duck (Anhima cornuta) is known as Horned Screamer and has no subspecies.In dangerous situations, the horned duck can fly quickly to the top of the tree in the house. They are resident birds and only make short flights. Mainly vegetarian, eating leaves, stems, flowers and plants, generally...

Pezophaps solitaria

Pezophaps solitaria

Pezophaps solitaria

Features:

The Rodrigues dodo is a bird that looks like a dodo, can't fly like a dodo, it's a kind of dodo. The dodo was hunted to extinction between 1662 and 1690, and the Reunion dodo was hunted to extinction, leaving only the Rodriguez dodo among the dodo species. Around 1730, it became one of the animals...

microgoura meeki

microgoura meeki

microgoura meeki,rothschild

Features:

Solomon's crown dove is known as microgoura meeki and rothschild. In the central Pacific Ocean, near the equator, there are hundreds of small islands made up of the country - Solomon Islands, one of which is called the province of Choiseul, their provincial flag painted in the middle of a pigeon...

Threskiornis solitarius

Threskiornis solitarius

Threskiornis solitarius

Features:

The Reunion pigeon (Threskiornis solitarius), also known as the Reunion dodo, is an extinct species endemic to the Reunion. They may be the same species of dodo (Raphus solitarius) discovered by Portuguese sailors in 1613.The Reunion pigeon was first described by Edmund de Selys-Longchamps in 1848,...

Columba jouyi

Columba jouyi

Columba jouyi

Features:It became extinct in 1936

Columba jouyi is an extinct pigeon species from the Japanese islands of Okinawa, where they were last seen in 1904, but disappeared from the eastern island of Western Europe after 1936, although it is believed that they may still exist on the outlying islands, but it is not certain. In theory, there...

Ptilinopus mercierii

Ptilinopus mercierii

Ptilinopus mercierii,Red-moustached Fruit-dove,Moustached Fruit Dove

Features:

The scientific name Ptilinopus mercierii, foreign name Red-moustached Fruit-dove, Moustached Fruit Dove, the specific habit is unknown.Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ver 3.1:2010 Red List of Birds - Extinct (EX).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Mainta...

Alectroenas rodericana

Alectroenas rodericana

Alectroenas rodericana

Features:

The Alectroenas rodericana (Alectroenas rodericana) is an extinct pigeon on Rodrigues Island in the Mascarene Islands. All that is known about them is a few sternum and other bone subfossils, and a few descriptions. They are believed to be gentle birds and like to eat melon seeds. In 1693, they were...

Gallicolumba salamonis

Gallicolumba salamonis

Gallicolumba salamonis

Features:

Thick-billed chicken dove, scientific name: Gallicolumba salamonis E. P. Ramsay (1882), an extinct pigeon of the genus Galleria, family Dovetail. Little is known about the thick-billed pigeon, with only two specimens collected in 1882 and 1927. The prototype is now housed at the Australian Mus...

Passenger pigeon

Passenger pigeon

North American passenger pigeon, Wandering pigeon, passenger pigeon, travelling pigeon

Features:It is two to three times the size of the mourning dove and resembles a turtle dove.

Passenger Pigeon (scientific name: Ectopistes migratorius) Passenger Pigeon, no subspecies, as the name suggests, is a particular kind of pigeon that likes to travel.Passenger pigeons are social birds that live in large groups in forests, gathering in large groups covering hundreds of square kilomet...

Raphus cucullatus,Dodo

Raphus cucullatus,Dodo

Raphus cucullatus,Dodo

Features:It was the first recorded extinction of a species

The Dodo (Raphus cucullatus) is one of the most famous extinct animals besides dinosaurs. It is also the only extinct bird of Mauritius to be designated as the national bird.Sailors who landed on Mauritius found much pleasure in watching the clumsy dodo's behaviour. One story tells of a dodo who...

Goura scheepmakeri

Goura scheepmakeri

Goura scheepmakeri,Southern crowned-pigeon

Features:It has a dark maroon chest

The yellow-breasted Crested pigeon (Goura scheepmakeri) is known as Southern crowned Pigeon and has two subspecies.The purple breasted Crested dove was first described by Otto Finsch, whose living specimen was obtained from C. Scheepmaker at the Amsterdam Zoo and named after him.The purple breasted...

Goura cristata

Goura cristata

Goura cristata,Blue Crowned Pigeon

Features:It is the most beautiful member of the pigeon family and the largest of the pigeons, almost as big as a Turkey

The Blue Crowned Pigeon (Goura cristata) has three subspecies.The blue crested dove is a resident bird. A bird's nest is built in a tree. They usually live and forage in small groups of 2-10, searching for fallen fruits and seeds, as well as eating any insects they encounter. Like a pheasant. Th...

Otidiphaps nobilis

Otidiphaps nobilis

Otidiphaps nobilis,Pheasant Pigeon

Features:A strong, walking bird

The Pheasant Pigeon is known as Otidiphaps nobilis and Pheasant pigeon.Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ver 3.1: Red List of Birds 2010.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Didunculus strigirostris

Didunculus strigirostris

Didunculus strigirostris,Tooth-billed Pigeon

Features:The mandible is named for having two "teeth"

Didunculus strigirostris Tooth-billed Pigeon, no subspecies.Doves live at altitudes ranging from 300 to 1400 meters above sea level and are sexually shy and difficult to approach. The singing sound is similar to that of ordinary domestic pigeons, often making a "gu-gu-gu" sound. It is...

Ptilinopus huttoni

Ptilinopus huttoni

Ptilinopus huttoni,Rapa Fruit Dove

Features:

The species is known as Ptilinopus huttoni and Rapa Fruit Dove.Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ver 3.1:2010 Red List of Birds - Vulnerable (VU).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Ptilinopus porphyrea

Ptilinopus porphyrea

Ptilinopus porphyrea,Pink-necked Fruit Dove

Features:

Ptilinopus porphyrea, also known as Pink-necked Fruit Dove, is unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Ptilinopus viridis

Ptilinopus viridis

Ptilinopus viridis

Features:

The scientific name Ptilinopus viridis is unknown.Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ver 3.1:2009 Bird Red List.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Ptilinopus coronulatus

Ptilinopus coronulatus

Ptilinopus coronulatus,Coroneted Fruit-dove,Coroneted Fruit Dove

Features:

Its scientific name is Ptilinopus coronulatus, and its foreign names are Coroneted fruit-dove and Coroneted Fruit Dove.Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ver 3.1: Red List of Birds 2010.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is ev...