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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
Ortalis cinereiceps

Ortalis cinereiceps

Ortalis cinereiceps，Grey-headed Chachalaca

Landfowl LC

Features：

The crested pheasant is called Ortalis cinereiceps in Latin and Grey-headed Chachalaca in English.Crested pheasants usually play an important role as seed dispersers. It feeds mainly on banana fruit, coffee berries and tree leaves. Leaves make up a larger proportion of the diet than fruit, and they...

Ortalis canicollis

Ortalis canicollis

Ortalis canicollis，Chaco Chachalaca

Landfowl LC

Features：

Ortalis canicollis, or Chaco Chachalaca, feeds mainly on banana fruits, coffee berries, and leaves, and occasionally pecks at insects.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Ortalis araucuan

Ortalis araucuan

Ortalis araucuan，East Brazilian Chachalaca

Landfowl LC

Features：

Eastern Brazilian Chachalaca (Ortalis araucuan), no subspecies.The Brazilian crested pheasant usually plays an important role as a seed disperser. It feeds mainly on banana fruit, coffee berries and tree leaves. Like the pheasants of the same genus, the diet consists more of leaves than fruit, and o...

Horned Guan

Horned Guan

Horned Guan，Oreophasis derbianus

Landfowl LC

Features：The forehead has a 6cm high trumpet shaped red crown, which is extremely distinctive

Some experts believe that the Horned Crested pheasant (Oreophasis derbianus) should be placed in a separate family, as there appear to be too many differences between it and the Crested pheasant family to be one of the species entirely belonging to this family.The pheasant mainly ate fruit (83±3%)...

Highland Guan

Highland Guan

Highland Guan，Penelopina nigra

Landfowl LC

Features：The whole plumage of the male is black, the whole plumage of the male is black

Highland Guan (Penelopina nigra), no subspecies.Crested pheasants spend a lot of time in trees, feeding on berries and fruits, and sometimes descend to the ground to catch and eat animals, including lizards and mice. They usually occur alone and in pairs or in small groups of 3-4 individuals. The ca...

Penelope superciliaris

Penelope superciliaris

Penelope superciliaris，Rusty-margined Guan

Landfowl LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Penelope superciliaris, and its foreign name is Rusty-margined Guan. Most of the time they live in pairs or in groups of 6-12. They walk on branches, looking for fruits and leaves to eat. A bird's nest is built on a tree or stump with branches and leaves. The female will l...

Penelope purpurascens

Penelope purpurascens

Penelope purpurascens，Crested Guan

Landfowl LC

Features：

Penelope purpurascens, Crested Guan, likes to live in groups. Most of the time they live in pairs or in groups of 6-12. They walk on branches, looking for fruits and leaves to eat. A bird's nest is built on a tree or stump with branches and leaves. The female will lay two to three eggs at a time...

Penelope pileata

Penelope pileata

Penelope pileata，White-crested Guan

Landfowl LC

Features：

The pheasant's scientific name is Penelope pileata, and its foreign name is White-crested Guan. Most of the time they live in pairs or in groups of 6-12. They walk on branches, looking for fruits and leaves to eat. A bird's nest is built on a tree or stump with branches and leaves. The femal...

Penelope perspicax

Penelope perspicax

Penelope perspicax，Cauca Guan

Landfowl LC

Features：

The crested pheasant's scientific name is Penelope perspicax, and its foreign name is Cauca Guan. Most of the time they live in pairs or in groups of 6-12. They walk on branches, looking for fruits and leaves to eat. A bird's nest is built on a tree or stump with branches and leaves. The fem...

baudo guan

baudo guan

baudo guan，Penelope ortoni

Landfowl LC

Features：

Ancient bronze crested pheasant scientific name Penelope ortoni, foreign name baudo guan, like to live in groups. Most of the time they live in pairs or in groups of 6-12. They walk on branches, looking for fruits and leaves to eat. A bird's nest is built on a tree or stump with branches and lea...

Penelope ochrogaster

Penelope ochrogaster

Penelope ochrogaster，Chestnut-bellied Guan

Landfowl LC

Features：

Its scientific name is Penelope ochrogaster, and its foreign name is chestney-bellied Guan. Most of the time they live in pairs or in groups of 6-12. They walk on branches, looking for fruits and leaves to eat. A bird's nest is built on a tree or stump with branches and leaves. The female will l...

Penelope obscura

Penelope obscura

Penelope obscura，Dusky-legged Guan

Landfowl LC

Features：

The black-legged crested pheasant is known as Penelope obscura or Dusky-legged Guan. Most of the time they live in pairs or in groups of 6-12. They walk on branches, looking for fruits and leaves to eat. A bird's nest is built on a tree or stump with branches and leaves. The female will lay two...

Penelope montagnii

Penelope montagnii

Penelope montagnii，Andean Guan

Landfowl LC

Features：

The Andean crested pheasant is known by its scientific name Penelope montagnii and foreign name Andean Guan. Most of the time they live in pairs or in groups of 6-12. They walk on branches, looking for fruits and leaves to eat. A bird's nest is built on a tree or stump with branches and leaves....

Marail Guan

Marail Guan

Marail Guan

Landfowl LC

Features：

The green-backed crested pheasant (Penelopemarais), also known as Marail Guan, likes to live in large groups. Most of the time they live in pairs or in groups of 6-12. They walk on branches, looking for fruits and leaves to eat. A bird's nest is built on a tree or stump with branches and leaves....

White-browed Guan

White-browed Guan

White-browed Guan，Penelope jacucaca

Landfowl LC

Features：

It is also known as White-browed Guan or Penelope jacucaca. Likes to live in groups. Most of the time they live in pairs or in groups of 6-12. They walk on branches, looking for fruits and leaves to eat. A bird's nest is built on a tree or stump with branches and leaves. The female will lay two...

Penelope jacquacu

Penelope jacquacu

Penelope jacquacu，Spix's Guan

Landfowl LC

Features：It is mainly dark gray, with blue-gray skin and a red dewlap on the throat

Spix crested pheasant (scientific name: Penelope jacquacu) There are 4 subspecies of S. Guan.Spex Crested pheasants like to live in groups. Most of the time they live in pairs or in groups of 6-12. They walk on branches, looking for fruits and leaves to eat. It feeds mainly on the fruits of the uppe...

Penelope dabbenei

Penelope dabbenei

Penelope dabbenei，Red-faced Guan

Landfowl LC

Features：

The Red-faced crested pheasant (Penelope dabbenei) is a gregarious pheasant. Most of the time they live in pairs or in groups of 6-12. They walk on branches, looking for fruits and leaves to eat. A bird's nest is built on a tree or stump with branches and leaves. The female will lay two to three...

Penelope barbata

Penelope barbata

Penelope barbata，Bearded Guan

Landfowl LC

Features：

The Bearded pheasant, whose scientific name is Penelope barbata, Bearded Guan, lives in large groups. Most of the time they live in pairs or in groups of 6-12. They walk on branches, looking for fruits and leaves to eat. A bird's nest is built on a tree or stump with branches and leaves. The fem...

Penelope argyrotis

Penelope argyrotis

Penelope argyrotis，Band-tailed Guan

Landfowl LC

Features：

The pheasant's scientific name is Penelope argyrotis, and its foreign name is Band-tailed Guan. Most of the time they live in pairs or in groups of 6-12. They walk on branches, looking for fruits and leaves to eat. A bird's nest is built on a tree or stump with branches and leaves. The femal...

Penelope albipennis

Penelope albipennis

Penelope albipennis

Landfowl LC

Features：The plumage is dark brown with white primary feathers

The white-winged crested pheasant (Penelope albipennis), also known as the white-winged officer bird, is a type of crested pheasant.White-winged crested pheasants like to live in groups. Most of the time they live in pairs or in groups of 6-12. They walk on branches, looking for fruits and leaves to...

Chamaepetes unicolor

Chamaepetes unicolor

Chamaepetes unicolor，Black Guan

Landfowl LC

Features：The whole body feathers are black, the iris is red, and the legs are red

The pheasant's scientific name is Chamaepetes unicolor and its foreign name is Black Guan.Listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 2016 Red List of Threatened Species ver 3.1: Near Threatened (NT).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological bala...

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