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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
Sickle-winged Guan

Sickle-winged Guan

Sickle-winged Guan,Chamaepetes goudotii

Features:The upper body plumage is dark blue, the lower body dark brown

Chamaepetes goudotii and Sickle-winged Guan are unknown.Listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 2016 Red List of Threatened Species ver 3.1: Not Threatened (LC).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Aburria aburri

Aburria aburri

Aburria aburri,Wattled Guan

Features:Under the neck there is a long and bright red and yellow pendant that resembles a breastpiece

Its scientific name is Aburria aburri, its foreign name is Wattled Guan, and its specific habit is unknown.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 e...

Aburria pipile

Aburria pipile

Aburria pipile

Features:It is mostly black with a purple sheen and no facial feathers

Aburria pipile, also known as the common pheasant, is a type of crested pheasant.Songguan used to be a subspecies that included all songcrested pheasants. However, analysis of mitochondrial DNA, osteology and biogeography confirmed that these subspecies are in fact separate species, and it is sugges...

Aburria jacutinga

Aburria jacutinga

Aburria jacutinga

Features:It looks like a Turkey, with a young neck and a thin head

The black-fronted crested pheasant is known as Pipile jacutinga or Aburria jacutinga, which was previously classified as one of two species of crested pheasant. However, mitochondrial DNA, osteological and biogeographical analyses have revealed that the apoplectic crested is a black screw-crested ph...

Pipile cumanensis

Pipile cumanensis

Pipile cumanensis,Blue-throated Piping Guan

Features:

The Blue-throated Piping Guan is known as Pipile cumanensis and blue-throated piping guan.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Pipile cujubi

Pipile cujubi

Pipile cujubi,Red-throated Piping Guan

Features:

The pheasant is known as Pipile cujubi and Red-throated Piping Guan.Red List Protection level: Non-threatened species of Least Concern (LC).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Great Curassow

Great Curassow

Great Curassow,Crax rubra

Features:It is the northernmost species of Pheasant

The Great Curassow (Crax rubra) has two subspecies. The Great Crested pheasant is mixed with the blue-billed pheasant and the black pheasant.The Great Crested pheasant lives in tropical and subtropical forest areas. In pairs or small groups, mainly active in trees, occasionally below the ground, diu...

Crax pinima

Crax pinima

Crax pinima,Belem Curassow

Features:There is black bare skin around the eyes, black body feathers, and white buttocks

Crax pinima, also known as Belem Curassow, was once a subspecies of bare-faced crested pheasant, but was classified as a separate species in 2014. Half the size of the bare-faced crested pheasant, the female is paler, with darker, narrower markings. Specific habits are unknown.Listed on the Internat...

Crax globulosa

Crax globulosa

Crax globulosa,Wattled Curassow

Features:

It is known as Crax globulosa and Wattled Curassow. Specific habits are unknown.Listed in Appendices I, II and III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 2019 edition Appendix III.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecologi...

Crax fasciolata

Crax fasciolata

Crax fasciolata,Bared-faced Curassow

Features:

Crax fasciolata and Bared-faced Curassow are unknown.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Crax daubentoni

Crax daubentoni

Crax daubentoni

Features:Males have yellow nodules on the beak

Crax daubentoni feeds primarily on the ground and flies up into trees when threatened. An animal that eats fruits, leaves, seeds, and small particles. They build nests on the ground, both male and female, and the female lays two eggs at a time.Listed on the International Union for Conservation of Na...

Crax blumenbachii

Crax blumenbachii

Crax blumenbachii

Features:The male has a bright red-billed shell

The red-billed official bird (Crax blumenbachii), also known as the red-billed pheasant, is a type of crested pheasant endemic to Brazil. As the name suggests, the male's beak is red, but the female's is not. Although they are not very strong in f...

Crax alector

Crax alector

Crax alector,Black Curassow

Features:The plumage is black, with a distinct patch of white on the underbelly to the rump, and a curly, chic crown on the top of the head

The Black Curassow (Crax alector) spends much of its day on the ground in search of insects, fruit and other plant matter.Listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 2016 Red List of Threatened Species ver 3.1 - Vulnerable (VU).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Mai...

Craxalberti

Craxalberti

Craxalberti

Features:The top and back of the neck have a very gorgeous crest, and the tail is long, and it looks like a peahen

The blue-billed pheasant (Crax alberti) is a species of pheasant endemic to Colombia.Blue-billed crested pheasants like to eat seeds, fruits and fruits of various plants, and occasionally eat insects and small vertebrates such as lizards.The male bird of the blue-billed crested pheasant is the leade...

Pauxi unicornis

Pauxi unicornis

Pauxi unicornis,Horned Curassow

Features:It has long blue fleshy horns, protruding from the bright red beak

The Horned Curassow (Pauxi unicornis) was once divided into two subspecies, the named subspecies and the Peruvian subspecies. In 2014, the Peruvian subspecies was recognized as a separate species, the Peruvian Helmeted Pheasant. The difference between the two is that the Peruvian Helmeted pheasant i...

Pauxi pauxi

Pauxi pauxi

Pauxi pauxi,Helmeted Curassow

Features:It got its name from a bizarre blue-gray fig-shaped crown on its forehead

The common crested pheasant (Pauxi pauxi) is known by its foreign name Helmeted Curassow.Listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 2016 Red List of Threatened Species ver 3.1 - Endangered (EN).Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is ev...

Pauxi koepckeae

Pauxi koepckeae

Pauxi koepckeae,Sira Curassow

Features:The frontal side of the head has a long, dark gray helmet

Sira Curassow (Pauxi koepckeae) was once a subspecies of the horned helmeted pheasant (Pauxi unicornis) in Peru, and was classified as a separate species in 2014.The chirp is a long phrase repeated every four seconds with three or four notes, with the first note being the loudest. The alarm is an ex...

Mitu tuberosa

Mitu tuberosa

Mitu tuberosa,Razor-billed Curassow

Features:

Its scientific name is Mitu tuberosa and its foreign name is Razor-billed Curassow.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Crestless Curassow

Crestless Curassow

Crestless Curassow,Mitu tomentosa

Features:

It is known as Mitu tomentosa and Crestless Curassow, but its behavior is unknown.Protection level: Near critical.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Mitu salvini

Mitu salvini

Mitu salvini,Salvin’s Curassow

Features:

The pheasant's scientific name is Mitu salvini and its foreign name is Salvin's Curassow.Protect wild animals and eliminate wild meat.Maintaining ecological balance is everyone's responsibility!...

Mitu mitu,Alagoas

Mitu mitu,Alagoas

Mitu mitu,Alagoas Curassow

Features:

The Alagosian Curassow (Mitu mitu) is a relatively large black bird.The Alagoan helmet-billed pheasant was described in the early 17th century, but was not reported until 1951, when it was rediscovered in Alagoas, northeastern Brazil. The last known record of this species in the wild comes from an o...