Evolved from THEROPODS - two legged dinosaurs from the Jurassic period
-fossil evidence of theropods contains feathers
-shows that feathers evolved before flight
The EVOLUTION of birds:
Anatomy of a bird:
ARCHAEOPTERYX
-oldest known bird from the Cretacious period
-feathers
-wings
-teeth
-wing claws
-tail with many vertebrae
Adaptations for FLIGHT: comprises nearly every bird adaptation
WEIGHT-REDUCING Adaptations:
-no teeth
-tail with few vertebrae
-hollow feather shafts
-honeycombed bone structure - light but strong
The frigate bird has a wingspan of 2 meters but its skeletal weight is only 4 ounces!!!
This image shows the hollow feather shaft and the honeycombed bone structure of the wing.
WING Adaptations:
-feathers shape wings into airfoils
-provides lift and maneuverability during flight
-large breast muscles
-provide power
ENERGY-CONSERVING Adaptations:
-high metabolism
-endothermic
-feathers as insulators
-efficient circulatory system
-lungs skilled at extracting O2 from the air
SAFETY Adaptations:
-very keen eye-sight
-very smart
-have big brains relative to their size
Click Here to View a Parrot's Wings!
And Here to Watch Some Flight Paths! - Pay close attention to the movement in each bird's wings!
REPRODUCTION:
-complex mating behaviors
-singing and dancing...etc-- Watch the Birds of Paradise!
-eggs covered by hard shell
-most species are incubated by both mother and father, and then protected and raised after hatching
*!~NOT ALL BIRDS CAN FLY~!*
ostriches, penguins, emus, etc...
SOURCES
http://www.hickerphoto.com/birds-flying-6599-pictures.htm
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2644b.htm
http://www.animalloverworld.com/birds/Bird_anatomy.html
http://www.geologyrocks.co.uk/tutorials/origin_and_early_evolution_birds
http://io.uwinnipeg.ca/~simmons/16cm05/1116/16macro.htm
