Most species of birds in the order. The most important orders of birds

Signs of similarity between modern birds and reptiles. Modern birds and reptiles have a number of similarities: dry skin, scaly cover (on the legs of birds), cloaca, eggs are rich in yolk and have parchment-like or calcareous shells, development without transformation. In modern tropical birds, hoatzins, the chicks have fingers with which they cling to tree branches. All this indicates that modern birds and reptiles are related groups of animals and have common ancestors.

First birds. Important evidence of the origin of birds from ancient reptiles is the found fossilized imprints of the skeleton and feathers of one of the ancient birds, called the first bird, or Archeopteryx. The first bird was the size of a magpie. Jaws with teeth, a long tail with 20 vertebrae resembled reptiles. Their forelimbs had all the signs of bird wings. The hind limbs had a developed tarsus, and the toes were positioned like those of birds - three toes forward and one toe back. The first birds evolved approximately 180 million years ago from ancient reptiles that ran on the ground on their hind legs, could climb trees, and jump from branch to branch.

The most important orders of birds. About 30 orders have been identified in the class of birds. The largest of them is the order of passeriformes. It includes different species of larks, sparrows, swallows, wagtails, starlings, crows, magpies, blackbirds. Passeriformes are most numerous in forests. The feet of birds of this order are four-toed (three toes pointing forward and one back). During the nesting period, they live in pairs and build elaborate nests. The chicks are born naked and helpless.

Of the other orders of birds, the largest in terms of the number of species are Charadriiformes, Anseriformes, Galliformes, Falconiformes, and Storkiformes. The order of Charadriiformes includes woodcock, lapwing, plovers, plover and other waders - small and medium-sized birds with long legs and a thin long beak. They live in wetlands, along the banks of rivers and other bodies of water. Waders are brood birds. They feed mainly on invertebrates.

The order Anseriformes includes geese, ducks, and swans. These waterfowl have dense plumage with developed down, a large coccygeal gland, and swimming membranes between the toes. The edges of the wide beak have teeth or transverse plates that form a filtering apparatus. Many dive well, getting food from the bottom of the reservoir.

The order Galliformes (hazel grouse, grouse, wood grouse, quail, partridges, pheasants, wild bank and domestic chickens, turkeys) includes birds with strong legs, adapted for raking soil or forest litter when obtaining food, short and wide wings, providing a rapid take-off and short flight. They lead a mostly sedentary or nomadic lifestyle. Galliformes are brood birds. Chicks feed mainly on insects, worms and other invertebrates, while adults are mainly herbivorous.

The order Cioriformes (storks, herons, bitterns) unites birds of medium and large size with a long neck and long legs. They feed on damp meadows, swamps or in coastal parts of reservoirs on amphibians, small fish, and mollusks. They usually nest in colonies.

The order Falconiformes includes falcons, hawks, kites, and eagles. They have strong legs with sharp curved claws, a hooked beak, and sharp eyesight. The wings are either narrow, sharp, facilitating fast flight, or wide, allowing them to soar in the air in search of prey. The chicks of these birds hatch from eggs sighted and covered with thick down.

The order Woodpeckers includes the Greater and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, the Green Woodpecker, the Black Woodpecker (Green Woodpecker), and the Wingtail. They have a sharp chisel-shaped beak, a long, sharp tongue with jagged edges, elastic ends of the tail feathers curved towards the support, legs with two toes pointing forward and two back, which allows them to hold well on tree trunks. The exception is the whirligig, which has a straight and weak beak, and the tail shafts are inelastic. Woodpeckers are nestling birds, hollow nesters.

Anseriformes, or lamellate-billed(lat. Anseriformes) - a detachment of new palate birds, which, along with such familiar birds as geese, ducks, swans, also includes more exotic families (for example, palamedea from South America). Species of the order are widespread and play an important role in the biosphere of the Earth's temperate latitudes. Some species of Anseriformes are of great agricultural importance. In the order Anseriformes there are birds of large and medium size. The largest representative of the order is the mute swan, reaching 13 kg in weight. The smallest is the teal, which weighs about 200-300 g. As a rule, anseriformes have a weighty body and a relatively small head located on a long neck. With the exception of palamedae, anseriformes have a wide and flat beak, the tip of which is often marked with a hardening that makes it easier to pluck foliage and plant material. On the sides of the edge of the beak, jagged plates form a kind of sieve that allows you to filter edible particles from the water. They are especially developed in mergansers, which, thanks to these denticles, can hold caught fish in their beaks.

Charadriiformes(lat. Charadriiformes) - one of the largest orders of aquatic and semi-aquatic birds, distributed throughout the world and differing significantly both morphologically and in behavioral characteristics. The birds are small to medium sized, with weights ranging from 19-30 g for the Little Sandpiper ( Calidris minutilla) up to 1.3-2 kg for sea gulls ( Larus marinus). Among them there are both colonial birds (such as tirkushki) and those living separately (for example, the hermit snail ( Tringa solitaria)). Morphologically, the order is quite diverse, although it also has common anatomical features. In behavior, the main link is attachment to the aquatic habitat - to sea or inland waters. Unlike many other birds, their biodiversity from the tropics to temperate and northern latitudes does not decrease, but rather increases, which has led to the development of various morphological and behavioral mechanisms adapted to cold climate conditions. One of the main such mechanisms is osmoregulation, as a result of which the control of the removal of water and salts from the body ensures the constancy of the osmotic pressure of blood and other intracellular fluid.

Almost all carnivorous species feed exclusively on other animals. They deftly lie in wait for their prey and pursue it in the air or on the ground, between tree branches or even in water, until they finally catch it and kill it; sometimes they are content with the corpses they find; in a word, in this respect they are quite similar to predatory mammals. Diurnal predators include birds of different sizes: large, medium, small. But no matter how great the difference between them in this respect, the general character is noticeable everywhere without exception, and diurnal raptors are difficult to confuse with other birds.
In general terms, it is quite easy to characterize these birds. The body is strong, laterally compressed, with a broad chest; the limbs are powerful and give the impression of excess strength, despite the fact that they sometimes seem disproportionately long. Their head is large, beautifully rounded, only in exceptional cases elongated; the neck is usually short and always thick, even when it reaches an extraordinary length; The body is short and wide, especially in the thoracic region. Their beak is short, the upper half of it has a curved back, a hooked tip and is covered at the base with a wax; but the upper half is motionless and wider than the lower half, which it embraces. Often the sharpness of the edges is enhanced by the presence of a tooth at the end of the upper jaw. The legs are short, strong and long-toed; the fingers (three forward, one backward) have developed claws, thanks to which the birds are adapted to catching prey. The claws are more or less strongly curved and pointed, rarely slightly curved and blunt; their upper side is rounded, the lower side is mostly somewhat hollowed out, so that it presents two sharp edges. They thus serve as a convenient grasping organ and at the same time a terrible weapon.

For millions of years, birds' ability to fly has allowed them to elude predators and therefore increased the number and diversity of species. In addition, each species has adapted to live in certain conditions. Each order of birds may include several families that differ greatly in appearance from each other.

Ratites- this is the African ostrich, rhea, emu, cassowary. They have all forgotten how to fly and use their keen eyesight to spot predators from afar and their long strong legs to escape at high speed. Ostriches can reach speeds of up to 65 km/h. Kiwis are small ratite birds with hair-like feathers. They detect predators using their excellent sense of hearing and smell, using sharp claws for defense.

Cassowaries roam the dense rainforests of Australia and Southeast Asia in search of food. With keratinized ridges (helmets) on their heads, they pave their way.

Penguins They also can't fly. Most of them live on the cold sea coast of Antarctica. Clumsy on land, at sea penguins become dexterous and agile.Using hard, flipper-likewings they dive for fish. Reproducethey are on land, where they form large colonies.

Waterfowl(ducks, geese, swans, grebes and loons) also obtain food from water, although they are mostly freshwater birds. They swim on the surface, moving their webbed feet. Their plumage is covered with a water-repellent lubricant that captures air and keeps the birds afloat. Ducks dip their heads into the water in search of food, while grebes and loons dive entirely into the water.

Ducks and geese- the fastest flyers. The long-nosed merganser (sea duck) is capable of flying at a speed of 100 km/h. To save energy during long flights,flocks of geese and lebethey fly like a wedge. Air vibrations arising with flapping wingseach bird, createextra liftgreat power for birds, flying nearby.

Squad birds of prey includes eagles, falcons, hawks and vultures. They are all carnivores with sharp, hooked beaks and strong claws. They dive from the air at very high speed onto their prey - small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects or fish. Most birds of prey also feed on carrion. All of them have extremely sharp vision.

Although owls They also belong to birds of prey; they form a completely special order. Many species hunt at dusk or in the dark. Their round faces collect sounds and direct them into their ears, which gives owls unusually acute hearing, which helps them when hunting. Owls have soft plumage, which allows them to fly completely silently and take prey by surprise.

Seabirds They spend most of their time in or near water and feed on fish and squid. Some species, such as cormorants and gannets, dive into the water directly from the air or from a high cliff. Albatrosses soar above the surface and snatch prey from the water. Many seabirds gather in large colonies on cliffs to hatch their eggs. Albatrosses and petrels return to land only to procreate.

Turkeys, chickens, pheasants, quails and partridges are birds called game birds. Their wings are short, so they are not able to stay in the air for long. Many species of game birds are bred for food and hunting.

Many birds have bright plumage. Most often, flashy crayfish is characteristic of males, who thereby attract females. Females are more modestly colored to camouflage themselves when nesting.
Bee-eaters and kingfishers- medium-sized birds, usually with bright plumage. Bee-eaters prey on bees, wasps and other insects. Before swallowing prey, they break the insect's sting by hitting it on a branch. Kingfishers they sit on a branch above the water and dive, snatching fish with their beaks.

Long-legged herons and storks also feed on fish, although some storks eat carrion. Most storks and herons - swamp birds, they stand in shallow water and catch fish with their long beaks. Their relatives flamingo, owe their pink color to tiny plants and animals that live in the water near which they feed.

Hummingbirds and swifts- excellent flyers. These are small birds with long pointed wings. Swifts mate in flight, hunt flying insects, and even sleep.

Woodpeckers sit on tree trunks and poke them with their beaks, extracting insects from under the bark. They dig holes for nests in the same way. Two toes on the woodpecker's foot are directed forward, and two are directed back, which allows the bird to stay on vertical surfaces.

The smallest hummingbirds are only 5.4 cm long. Hummingbirds hover in the air in front of a flower and drink nectar with their long beak. They flap their wings 80 times per second.

Many family members cuckoos lay eggs in the nests of other birds. Cuckoo hatchlings hatch and often kill the chicks of their adoptive parents. The hoatzin also belongs to this family. It nests above us in tropical forests. When in danger, the chicks fall into the water and then climb into the nest, clinging with sharp claws on their wings.

Squad parrots includes parrots themselves, macaws, cockatoos and budgerigars. They feed on fruits, nuts and seeds, picking them up with their dexterous fingers. With their powerful beaks, parrots can crack the shells of the hardest nuts. Many species of parrots are able to imitate human voices.

Passeriformes
Passeriformes are the most numerous, which includes more than 5,000 species. They vary greatly in size - from a tiny blue tit or wren to a large raven. All of them are land animals, have four fingers without membranes, with three fingers directed forward and one back. Many small passerines fly in leaps and bounds, alternately opening and closing their wings.

Most passerines belong to the suborder singers birds. Songbirds have additional muscles in their larynx that allow them to perform complex musical numbers. Males sing to mark their territory and attract females. The song repertoire of each species can be quite extensive, with birds from different places having their own “accent.”

Most passerines build nests in the crowns of trees and bushes, where their chicks are safe from attack by predators. The chicks that are born are naked, blind and completely helpless. The parents feed and keep them warm until the chicks fledge and leave the nest. In birds such as ducks and gulls, which nest in more vulnerable places, the chicks hatch feathered and almost immediately able to feed themselves. Many birds migrate to warmer regions with the onset of winter, when food becomes scarce. Before migrating, they eat and store fat, which serves as fuel for them during the long flight. In the spring, when there is enough food again, they return and hatch chicks.

The order of birds is considered one of the most ancient. Its appearance dates back to the beginning of the Jurassic period. There are opinions that the ancestors of birds were mammals, the structure of which changed with the course of evolution.

Bird body temperature

Representatives of this class have a constant and very high level that is not affected by changes in weather conditions. Animals with this phenomenon are called homeothermic. In mammals it is much lower. The average temperature for a variety of birds is 42 °C. Representatives of the passerine order have the highest body temperature - 45.5 °C. Such serious indicators play a big role in the course of various processes and metabolism in the bird’s body.

One of the most important factors is the constancy of body temperature; this is of great importance for the functioning of the brain during the cold season. Despite the low temperature, for example in winter, thanks to this phenomenon, all birds lead an active lifestyle.

Similarities and differences with mammals

There are several characteristics that make birds similar to mammals:

• thin skin and a small number of glands in it;
• horny formations on the body are well developed;
• there is a cesspool, etc.

However, individual qualities significantly distinguish them:

• a constant temperature of 40-42 °C does not decrease due to certain processes;
• method of reproduction, namely building a nest, incubating eggs and feeding offspring;
• the central nervous system is more developed, this explains adaptive existence.

Characteristics of the species. Feathers

The order Birds are vertebrate animals, their body is usually covered with feathers and their wings are the forelimbs. The legs are well developed, the body has a streamlined shape. Thin skin allows the feathers to be mobile. There are two types of them - down and contour.

The contour feather has a strong trunk from which plates emerge; they are covered with short beards, fastened together with hooks. Not the entire surface of the skin is covered with such feathers. Where they are not present, fluff and down feathers are usually observed, they have a softer texture and lack a trunk. Contour feathers are so named because of their arrangement, as they are mainly found along the contour of the bird's entire body, on the wings and on the back. They play the main role in flight. Another important function of feather covering is to protect the body from damage and heat loss.

The bird order is also subject to molting, as feathers tend to wear out. There are species in which the entire cover changes simultaneously. For this period of time, they are deprived of the ability to fly and find places inaccessible to predators. This type of molting is observed mainly in those birds that are able to provide themselves with food without flying into the sky. In other individuals this process occurs gradually. Shedding may also begin due to the change of seasons.

The color of the feather cover is also varied. It depends on the habitat of the birds, time of year, gender and climatic conditions.

Reproduction process

The order of birds belongs to dioecious animals. Typically, breeding begins after the birds return from wintering and the onset of favorable weather conditions. Naturally, for it to proceed fully, individuals of different sexes are needed. In many species of birds, it all begins with the mating dance of the male, with which he tries to attract the attention of the female. Very often this is accompanied by unusual behavior and interesting sounds. After the lady accepts courtship, a couple is formed. Many birds are already looking for a new partner for the next season, but some enter into a union for life.

It should be noted that there are species of birds in which the pair jointly builds the nest and feeds the chicks. And there are some males who only fertilize the female, and all worries take place without their participation.

After the pair has formed, nest construction begins. Next, eggs are laid; they are usually incubated by females, who are temporarily replaced by males. Raising and feeding the offspring is also done jointly. This lasts until the chicks become able to find their own food.

Species or orders of birds

There is an opinion that the first stage of division, or superorder, are penguins and all birds known to science (new palatines). The reason that penguins are classified as a separate group is due to significant differences in structure and origin from all other birds. There is a lot of debate among scientists about which order or class to classify some birds, or whether to create a separate family for them.

All orders of birds can still be divided into domestic and wild, migratory and non-migratory, waterfowl, birds of prey, forest birds, those living in open spaces and cultural landscapes.

Chicken squad

Birds of the gallinaceous order can live in forests, fields and are kept in farmsteads. These include chickens, hazel grouse, wood grouse, black grouse, white grouse, etc. All
representatives of this order remain to spend the winter in their usual places, with the exception of quail. In birds of this species, only the female takes care of the offspring. A significant part of Galliformes are domestic animals.

Squad of owls

The bird of the owl order is a predatory one. The majority of them are nocturnal. This species includes the white eagle owl, great gray owl, etc. Their biggest advantage is excellent hearing. It is he who helps catch animals in the dark. To reproduce, owls create a permanent pair. The eggs are incubated by the female, but feeding the offspring is the responsibility of both parents. Among daytime hunters, it is worth noting the Great Snowy Owl and the Smokey Owl, which is an excellent hunter of food both day and night.

Since owls are birds of prey, photos of most of them, like images of other birds of prey, evoke trembling and some fear.

Passerine order

Birds of the passerine order are known to absolutely everyone. They live almost throughout the entire globe, with the exception of Antarctica. This is the largest order of birds in terms of number - about 5000. These include the siskin, sparrow, magpie, jackdaw, wren, jay, robin, blue tit, tit, etc. They feed on seeds and small insects.

The role of the bird order

The order of birds is the main link in the fight against pests of various plants. They also help spread their seeds. They, in turn, feed on other animals.

Wherever we are - in a forest or in a field, in a big city or on a deserted sea coast, we will definitely meet birds. Well, if you ask any of you: how many species of birds do you know? How many varieties can you confidently distinguish in nature and name correctly? You can be sure in advance that this number will not exceed, at best, one or two dozen.

Meanwhile, more than 700 species of birds live on the territory of our Motherland! Surely many people don’t even know the names of the birds that will be discussed. Most of them are useful for humans. Some destroy pests - insects and rodents, others give us meat, fluff, eggs, others decorate forests, enliven parks, fill the world with songs, and this is also very important!

Imagine a spring forest in deathly silence, and you will understand that these are not empty words. Birds are our national wealth, our heritage, they need to be protected and loved. And for this, first of all, you need to know birds, be able to distinguish them from each other, know where and how they live.

So we will try to help you with this.

In the category “Birds by order” we will divide all the feathered inhabitants of Russia into orders - this way it will be more convenient to perceive information about a particular bird, its description, structure, size, habitat, features of nesting and reproduction.

First, general information about birds: body temperature averages 42.3 degrees Celsius (maximum 45.5 in the smallest birds). The mass of birds has very wide boundaries - from a few grams, like a hummingbird, to almost 100 kilograms - these are ostriches. Due to the high level of metabolism necessary for survival (especially for northern birds), they can absorb food per day with a total weight of up to 30% of their weight, and some eat food as heavy as themselves.

They feed on both plant and animal foods. They reproduce by laying eggs. They have feathers and are mostly capable of flight. But there are exceptions (penguins, ostriches), but this is a secondary phenomenon.

Today, there are more than 8,400 species of birds in nature, divided into forty orders. Almost 730 species of birds from 24 orders live, nest and migrate in Russia.

Based on the reference book edited by Professor G.P. Dementieva.

1. - warblers
2. - finches
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