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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
Geophaps smithii

Geophaps smithii

Geophaps smithii，Partridge Pigeon

Landfowl LC

Features：

Geophaps smithii (geophaps SmithII), Partridge Pigeon (geophaps SmithII).Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ver 3.1:2010 Red List of birds - Near Threatened (NT).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibil...

Geophaps scripta

Geophaps scripta

Geophaps scripta，Squatter Pigeon

Landfowl LC

Features：

Geophaps scripta (geophaps scripta), Squatter Pigeon, is an unknown species.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!...

Zenaida asiatica

Zenaida asiatica

Zenaida asiatica，White-Winged Dove

Landfowl LC

Features：It is a brown-purple pigeon, with a wide white stripe on the horn and underside

White-Winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) is known as white-winged Dove and has three subspecies.White-winged mourning pigeons nest in trees in the city and eat mostly vegetarian food such as seeds, accounting for 95% of their total diet. They rarely eat snails or insects. He eats enough food to fill the...

Zenaida graysoni

Zenaida graysoni

Zenaida graysoni

Landfowl LC

Features：The body is dull and the feet are developed

Sogorodove Zenaida graysoni, also known as the Socorro pigeon, is a species of pigeon that is endemic to Socorro Island in the Pacific Ocean, where it is native, and is most common in forested areas above 500 m, but became extinct on the island in 1972. There are currently no more than 200 individua...

Zenaida meloda

Zenaida meloda

Zenaida meloda，Pacific Dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

Zenaida meloda, Pacific Dove, is a South American mourning 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 everyone's responsibility!...

Zenaida auriculata，

Zenaida auriculata，

Zenaida auriculata，

Landfowl LC

Features：

Zenaida macroura (Zenaida macroura) is a species of mourning pigeon in the family Dovetail.The food of the pigeon is mostly vegetarian such as seeds, accounting for 95% of its total diet. They rarely eat snails or insects. The mourning pigeon will eat enough food to fill its crop and then digest the...

Zenaida galapagoensis

Zenaida galapagoensis

Zenaida galapagoensis，Galapagos Dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

Zenaida galapagoensis and Galapagos Dove are unknown.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!...

Zenaida aurita

Zenaida aurita

Zenaida aurita，Zenaida Dove

Landfowl LC

Features：It looks like a mourning dove, but is smaller in size, with a shorter, rounded tail and a darker color

The mourning Dove (Zenaida aurita) has three subspecies.Mourning pigeons feed on the ground, mainly on shells and seeds, and sometimes insects. They tend to forage near water, often in pairs or small groups, and often swallow coarse sand, such as small grit and sand, to aid digestion. It mainly eats...

Zenaida macroura

Zenaida macroura

Zenaida macroura，Mourning Dove

Landfowl LC

Features：Pigeons have a special place in folklore and mythology

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is a mourning dove with five subspecies.Mourning pigeons that live in the south do not migrate. In the north are all migratory birds. They breed in the north and winter in the south. In particular, mourning pigeons, which live in southern Canada, spend the winter in...

Geotrygon albifacies

Geotrygon albifacies

Geotrygon albifacies，White-faced Quail-dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Geotrygon albifacies, and its foreign name is White-faced Quail-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 everyone's responsibility...

Geotrygon mystacea

Geotrygon mystacea

Geotrygon mystacea，Bridled Quail-dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Geotrygon mystacea, and its foreign name is Bridled Quail-dove, and its specific behavior is unknown.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...

Geotrygon versicolor

Geotrygon versicolor

Geotrygon versicolor，Crested Quail-dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

Geotrygon versicolor, Crested Quail-dove, is unknown.Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ver 3.1:2010 Red List of birds - Near Threatened (NT).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Geotrygon chrysia

Geotrygon chrysia

Geotrygon chrysia，Key West Quail-dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Geotrygon chrysia, and its foreign name is Key West Quail-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 everyone's responsibility!...

Geotrygon veraguensis

Geotrygon veraguensis

Geotrygon veraguensis，Olive-backed Quail-dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Geotrygon veraguensis and its foreign name is Olive backed Quail-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 everyone's responsibilit...

Geotrygon caniceps

Geotrygon caniceps

Geotrygon caniceps，Grey-headed Quail-dove，Grey-fronted Quail-dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

Geotrygon caniceps, Grey-headed Quail-dove, Grey-fronted Quail-dove, the specific habit is unknown.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 every...

Geotrygon linearis

Geotrygon linearis

Geotrygon linearis，Lined Quail-dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

The white-faced Quail dove is Geotrygon linearis and Lined Quail-dove. Its specific habits are unknown.Listed on the IUCN Red List of Birds ver 3.1:2000.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Geotrygon chiriquensis

Geotrygon chiriquensis

Geotrygon chiriquensis，Rufous-breasted Quail-dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

Geotrygon chiriquensis and Rufous-breasted Quail-dove are not known.Rare birds are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ver 3.1:2010 Red List of Birds.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Geotrygon saphirina

Geotrygon saphirina

Geotrygon saphirina，Sapphire Quail-dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

Blue Quail dove Geotrygon saphirina, foreign name Sapphire Quail-dove, the specific habit is unknown.Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ddver 3.1:2010 Red List of Birds.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's resp...

Geotrygon costaricensis

Geotrygon costaricensis

Geotrygon costaricensis，Buff-fronted Quail-dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Geotrygon costaricensis, and its foreign name is Buff-fronted Quail-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 everyone's responsibi...

Geotrygon goldmani

Geotrygon goldmani

Geotrygon goldmani，Russet-crowned Quail-dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

Yellow-capped Quail dove Geotrygon goldmani, foreign name Russet-crowned Quail-dove, the specific habit is unknown.Listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) ver 3.1:2010 Red List of birds - Near Threatened (NT).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecolog...

Geotrygon montana

Geotrygon montana

Geotrygon montana，Ruddy Quail-dove

Landfowl LC

Features：

Geotrygon montana and Ruddy Quail-dove are unknown.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!...

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