Notes 7 CLASS AVES

Evolutionary perspective of birds

Birds descended from the ancient archosaurs – a lineage shared by the dinosaurs and
crocodilians. In 1861, a fossil of a pigeon sized animal Archaeopteryx lithographica that lived
during the Jurrasic period (150 million years ago) was found Bavarian limestone in Germany
150 millions years ago. It had clawed fore limbs, teeth and a long tail containing vertebrae. Its
skeletal anatomy indicates that it was a weak flier, and probably used to glide among trees. The
discovery of dinosaur fossil showing a furcula (wish bone) supports the dinosaur ancestry
hypothesis. The furcula is derived from a fusion of the clavicles (wish bone) and is an adaptation
for flight.

Interpretations of the life style of Archaeopteryx were important in explanation of the origin of
birds:
– The clavicles were well developed and probably provided points of wing attachments
– Other sites of wing muscle attachment like the sternum were less developed than in
modern birds
– These indicate that Archaeopteryx used to jump from branch to branch; at a later point ,
gliding evolved and finally weak flapping flight over short distances

Fifteen years later, a second fossil bird Sinornis was discovered in china. In addition to the
primitive dinosaur- like characteristics, Sinornis had some similarities with modern birds:
• Shortened body and tail
• Sternum with a large surface area for flight muscle attachment
• Reduced claws
• Fore limbs modified to permit folding of wings at rest
A recent discovery of a fossil bird from early cretaceous deposits in Spain provides additional
information on the origin of birds. This bird, Eoalulavis, was found in 115 million year old
deposits. It had a wingspan of about 17 cm, and a wing structure called an alula that is present in
modern birds that engage in slow hovering flight.

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The study of birds is known as ornithology. They are quiet diverse and are thought to have
evolved from reptiles. Available evidence shows that birds have many affinities to reptiles, e.g.
1. Both have scales
2. Both have a single occipital condyle
3. Both have one ear ossicle, the stapes.
4. The ankle joint in both is intertarsal i.e. between two rows of tarsal bones as contrasted to
that in mammals which is between the tibia and tarsal bones.
5. Their young have an egg tooth, a protruding structure on the upper jaw in newly hatched
young used to break the shell.
6. There is a small muscle called the ambiens muscles that occurs on the inner side of the
thigh in both reptiles and birds.

The large number of bird species (about 8600) makes it tedious to deal with individually. For
convenience, birds are grouped into orders. There are about 28 orders of birds ending with
“formes”. This classification is based on:
a- Interrelationship of birds from their evolutionary ancestor.
b- Morphology i.e. body size, shape and colour.
c- Comparative anatomy
d- Behavioral aspects e.g. songs, ecological niches.
e- At species level, characteristics like colour of eggs, size and shape of beak can be used
for classification.
It should be noted that none of the criteria should be used singly. E.g. birds may look a like
superficially due to their behaviour. Flightless birds like kiwi and ostrich were once classified
together but later they found out that they were not closely related.

To identify an animal as a bird, it should have these characteristics:

 All birds have feathers.
 Birds have a backbone. They are vertebrates.
 All birds are warm-blooded. They can regulate their body temperature.
 Female birds lay eggs. ...
 Birds have wings, but not all birds use them to fly.

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Flight ability is typical of all bird but there are several flightless species like the Ostrich, Kiwi,
and Emus. Flightless birds are collectively known as ratites because their breast bone lacks a
keel. In contrast, other birds are called carinate because they have a carina or sternal keel
supporting their large breast muscles. The only carinate birds that do not fly are the penguins
which use their breast muscles for swimming.

Notes 8 Major Orders of Class Aves

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Adaptive radiation has resulted into about 9100 species of living birds which are divided into
about 28 orders. Characteristic behaviors, song, anatomical differences and ecological niches
distinguish the orders.
Major orders include:
i. Pelecaniformes
Four toes joined in common web, nostril rudimentary or absent, large gular sac e.g.
pelicans, boobies, cormorants, anhinga, frigate birds.
ii. Gaviiformes
Strong straight bill; diving adaptations include legs far back on body, blade like tarsus,
webbed feet and heavy bones e.g loons
iii. Ciconiiformes
Have a long neck, often folded in flight; long legged waders, e.g. Herons, egrets,
storks, wood ibises, flamingos
iv. Podicipediformes
Short wings, soft and dense plumage, webbed feet with flattened nails e.g. Grebes,
v. Galliformes
Short beak; short concave wings; strong feet and claws; e.g. hoatzin (the only bird with
eye lashes), currasows, grouse, quail, turkeys
vi. Procelariiformes;
Tubular nostrils; large nasal glands;; long and narrow wings e.g. Albatrosses, shear
waters and petrels
vii. Anseriformes
Possess a wide flat bill and an undercoat of dense brown and webbed feet e.g. Geese,
ducks, swans
viii. Falconiformes
Have a strong hooked beak; large wings; raptorial feet. e.g. diurnal birds of prey e.g.
falcons, vultures, secretary bird, hawks, eagles, ospreys.
ix. Columbiformes.
Have dense feathers loosely set in skin; well developed crop. Include pigeons, sand
grouse and doves
x. Cuculiformes.

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Have a reversible fourth toe; soft tender skin e.g. plantain eaters, roadrunners and the
cuckoos (best known brood parasites)
xi. Piciformes
Usually have a long strong beak; strong legs and feet with fourth toe permanently
reversed in wood peckers e.g. Wood peckers, honey guides, barbets, toucans.
xii. Psittaciformes
Have a maxilla hinged to the skull; thick tongue; reversible fourth toe; usually brightly
coloured e.g. Parrots, parakeets, macaws
xiii. Strigiformes
Have a head with fixed eyes directed forward and raptorial feet. They are nocturnal birds
of preys e.g. owls.
xiv. Coraciiformes,
Perching birds with large heads, large beak and metallic plumage e.g. bee eaters,
hoopoes, hornbills, kingfishers, rollers, todies.
xv. Spheniciformes
Heavy bodied; flightless; flipperlike wings for swimming; well insulated with fat e.g.
Penguins
xvi. Gruiformes
Characteristics variable and not diagnostic. Includes marsh birds like crowned/crested
cranes, limpkins, rails, coots
xvii. Charadriiformes
Characteristics variable. It includes shorebirds, gulls, terns, auks.
xviii. Caprimulgiformes
Have owl like head and plumage, but weak bill and feet; beak with wide gape; are
insectivorous e.g. whippoorwills and goat suckers
xix. Apodiformes
Have long wings; weak feet. Includes swifts, and humming birds
xx. Passeriformes
Nearly 60% of the carinate birds belong to this order. It includes 69 families of perching
birds with variable external features e.g. swallows, weaver birds, ravens, crows, titmice,
larks, Jays and many others.

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