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bird
Table of Contents
References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images, Videos & Interactives
zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) basic body feather tracts on a generalized songbird feather types black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) pigeon skeleton The origins of birds. North American bird migration red jungle fowl California quail canary
For Students
bird summary
Quizzes
Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). Animals, mammals.
Ultimate Animals Quiz
Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters
Animal Group Names
pigeon. pigeon and dove. member of the order Columbiformes, family Columbidae
Ultimate Bird Trivia Quiz
Lion (panthera leo)
Deadliest Animals Quiz
Young chimpanzee dressed in a shirt and sweater vest, scratching his head thinking. (primates)
Wild Words from the Animal Kingdom Vocabulary Quiz
Read Next
Shoebill. A Shoebill Stork (Balaeniceps rex), aka 'Whalehead' standing in shallow marsh. Resides in tropical East Africa. A very large bird related to the storks. It derives its name from its massive shoe-shaped bill.
Funky Feathers: 10 Bizarre Birds
sea turtle (reptile). Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) (C. mydas) off the Hawaii Islands, Pacific Islands. Green sea turtle, chelonian. Homepage blog 2011, science and technology, animal
5 Vertebrate Groups
Magpie (Pica pica), perched on a log, bird
Eurasian Magpie: A True Bird Brain
Common, or southern, cassowary (Casuarius casuarius).
8 Birds That Can’t Fly
animal. Amphibian. Frog. Anura. Ranidae. Frog in grass.
Abundant Animals: The Most Numerous Organisms in the World
Discover
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Italian Renaissance painter from Florence. Engraving by Cosomo Colombini (d. 1812) after a Leonardo self portrait. Ca. 1500.
10 Famous Artworks by Leonardo da Vinci
Santa Claus flying in his sleigh, christmas, reindeer
Was Santa Claus a Real Person?
An ancient egyptian hieroglyphic painted carving showing the falcon headed god Horus seated on a throne and holding a golden fly whisk. Before him are the Pharoah Seti and the goddess Isis. Interior wall of the temple to Osiris at Abydos, Egypt.
11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
Super Typhoon Noru over the western tropical Pacific Ocean as observed by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA Aqua satellite July 31 2017
What Is the Difference Between a Typhoon and a Super Typhoon?
Rural Irish landscape, Sligo, Ireland.
Why Is Ireland Two Countries?
Close up of books. Stack of books, pile of books, literature, reading. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
12 Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written”
A human Inuit skull in a stone chambered cairn in Ilulissat in Greenland. These ancient graves are pre christian and are at least 2000
14 Tough Questions Answered

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Videos

View a flock of red-billed queleas at the Etosha National Park
A flock of red-billed queleas (Quelea quelea), Etosha National Park, Namibia.
Video: © EcoView/Fotolia
Evolution and diversity in Galapagos finches
Galapagos finches have evolved many adaptations that allow them to survive throughout...
Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Learn how a hummingbird can fly in any direction and about its iridescent plumage
The unique architecture of the hummingbird's wings allow it to hover over flowers...
Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Observe flightless cormorants in their natural habitat on coasts of Fernandina and Isabela islands
The flightless cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi), endemic to the Galpagos...
Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
See the black skimmer water bird skim the calm surface with its longer lower mandible in search of prey
Black skimmer (Rynchops nigra) feeding along the water's surface.
Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
How are birds and dinosaurs related?
If some dinosaurs had feathers, does that make them birds?
Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Archaeopteryx: The holy grail of fossils
Archaeopteryx is the earliest known dinosaur that's also a bird.
Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Why don't birds have teeth?
Birds descended from dinosaurs, but they don't have their ancestors' bite.
Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
A close look at Seychelles' Bird Island, a nature reserve
Overview of Bird Island, Seychelles.
Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
How climate change affects bird migration patterns
Learn how global warming affects the migratory patterns of birds.
Video: Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail © Wessel Cirkel/Dreamstime.com
Study the courtship practices of these flightless ratites and watch a mother ostrich care for its young
The long legs of the ostrich (Struthio camelus) are well-adapted to running,...
Video: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Images

zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata)
A brightly colored zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) perched on a branch.
© Natalia van D/Shutterstock.com
basic body feather tracts on a generalized songbird
Basic body feather tracts on a generalized songbird. The shaded areas show the right...
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
feather types
Feather types and their distribution on a typical perching bird.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)
A black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) greeting its young in a tree.
© sonnyrollins / Imazins/Getty Images
pigeon skeleton
Pigeon skeleton, with the near wing raised and the far wing omitted.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
North American bird migration
Proportion of North American birds that migrate to the tropics.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
red jungle fowl
Red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus).
Painting by Murrell Butler
California quail
California quail (Callipepla californica).
© William H. Mullins, The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers
canary
The canary (Serinus canaria), a member of the finch family, is one of the...
Eric Hosking
European, or common, starling
European, or common, starling (Sturnus vulgaris).
George W. Robinson—Root Resources/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
red-billed quelea
Flock of red-billed queleas (Quelea quelea), Etosha National Park, Namibia....
© iStock/Thinkstock
dusky seaside sparrow
The dusky seaside sparrow, which went extinct in 1987.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
black guillemot
Black guillemot (Cepphus grylle).
Peter Laub/Ardea London
avian pectoral girdle
Pectoral girdle of a generalized bird.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
albatross flight pattern
Flight pattern of the albatross.
Drawing by R. Keane
perching mechanism of a pigeon
Perching mechanism of a pigeon with the leg extended and flexed.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
avian foot modifications
Modifications of the foot of perching birds for (A) perching and clambering, (B)...
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
carmine bee-eater
Carmine bee-eater (Merops nubicus).
© Index Open
mallard
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos).
© Index Open
social weaver nests
Nests of the social weaver (Philetairus socius).
Sven-Olof Lindblad—The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers
nest and young of a robin
Nest and young of the American robin (Turdus migratorius).
Jeff Foott/Bruce Coleman Inc.
nest of the long-tailed tit
Nest of the long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus).
Stephen Dalton—The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers
European cukoo egg in a reed warbler nest
European cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) egg (at left) in the nest of a reed warbler...
John Markham/Bruce Coleman Ltd.
fledgling European cuckoo being fed by an adult reed warbler
A fledgling European cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), having kicked out the young...
John Markham/Bruce Coleman Ltd.
beaks
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
hairy woodpecker skull
Position of hyoid bones (shaded) with tongue retracted (A) and extended (B), shown...
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
great blue heron
Great blue heron (Ardea herodias).
© Wilfredo Rodríguez (A Britannica Publishing Partner)
avian brain structure
Avian brain structure.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Parts of a feather
The parts of a bird's feather: quill, rachis (shaft), barb, barbule, and hooks.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Caribbean flamingo
Caribbean flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) showing carotenoid pigmentation...
C. Laubscher/Bruce Coleman Inc.
Rivoli's hummingbird
Rivoli's hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens) has iridescent structural colour.
Earl Kubis—Root Resources/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
macaw cranium
Kinesis of the cranium of a macaw with upper mandible lowered (left), with upper...
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
avain bone cross-section
The hollow bones of birds are strengthened by internal struts.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
avian lung and air sac system
Avian lung and air sac system in a generalized bird.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
structural components of an egg
The structural components of an egg.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
feather development
Development of a typical down feather. The epidermal ridges give rise to the barbs...
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Archaeopteryx
Archaeopteryx, a late Jurassic dinosaur, is also considered the first known...
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Hesperornis
Hesperornis skeleton.
Courtesy of the American Museum of Natural History, New York
bananaquit
Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola).
Dusty Roades
blackbird
Blackbird (Turdus merula).
© mauribo —E+/Getty Images
bobwhite
Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus).
BS Thurner Hof
brant
Brant (Branta bernicla).
Mike Baird
bufflehead
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola).
Mdf
cactus wren
Cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus).
Mark Wagner
common waxbill
Common waxbill (Estrilda astrild).
André Simons
A variety of bird eggs.
Encylopædia Britannica, Inc.
European white pelican
European white pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus) in flight.
© Digital Vision/Getty Images
evening grosbeak
Evening grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina).
Mdf
European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis). This member of the family Fringillidae...
Armin Maerz
gray butcherbird
Gray butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus).
Mike Funnell
greylag
Greylag (Anser anser).
Piotr Kuczynski
greylag
Greylag (Anser anser).
Jdforrester
kaka
Kaka (Nestor meridionalis).
Duncan Wright
kingfisher
Malachite kingfisher (Alcedo cristata).
© Digital Vision/Getty Images
lesser scaup
Lesser scaup (Aythya affinis).
Adrian Pingstone
nene
Nene (Branta sandvicensis).
Alejandro Bárcenas
ostrich
Ostrich (Struthio camelus) running.
© Digital Vision/Getty Images
Raggiana bird-of-paradise
A male Raggiana bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea raggiana) displaying its colourful...
Baiyer River Sanctuary, New Guinea; photograph, Tom McHugh—The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers
red-tailed tropic bird
Red-tailed tropic bird (Phaethon rubricauda).
Mila Zinkova
social weaver
Social weaver (Philetairus socius).
Thomas Schoch
verdin
Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps).
© Hal Beral—The Image Bank/Getty Images
western bluebird
Western bluebird (Sialia mexicana).
Calibas
whinchat
Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra).
Artur Mikołajewski
white-fronted goose
White-fronted goose (Anser albifrons).
© ihorhvozdetskiy/stock.adobe.com
willet
Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus).
Marcel Karssies
yellow bee-eaters
Yellow bee-eaters on a branch.
© Digital Vision/Getty Images
vertebrate: skeleton
Selected vertebrate skeletons.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
structural relationships
Structural relationship between Troodon (a dinosaur) and Archaeopteryx...
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
longevity: animals
Maximum life spans of selected animals.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
generalized labyrinth of vertebrates
Generalized labyrinth of various vertebrates.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
elephant bird (Vorombe titan)
Vorombe titan was the largest member of the Aepyornithidae, an extinct family...
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc./Christine McCabe
Tree of life illustrating the three-domain classification of life-forms
The tree of life according to the three-domain system of biological classification.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Principal features of a songbird.
© Merriam-Webster Inc.

Interactives

The origins of birds.
Join the search for how birds evolved from Mesozoic-era dinosaurs in our interactive.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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