The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to birds:

House sparrow, Passer domesticus

Birds (class Aves) – winged, bipedal, endothermic (warm-blooded), egg-laying, vertebrate animals. There are around 10,000 living species, making them the most varied of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic, to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from the 5 cm (2 in) bee hummingbird to the 2.75 m (9 ft) ostrich.

What type of thing is a bird?

edit

A bird can be described as all of the following:

  • Life form – entity or being that is living or alive.
    • Animal – multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia (also called Metazoa). Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their lives. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and independently.

Biological classification

edit
 
Cladogram showing the most recent classification of Neoaves, based on several phylogenetic studies

Nature of birds

edit

Bird

Bird anatomy

edit
 
External anatomy (topography) of a typical bird: 1 Beak, 2 Head, 3 Iris, 4 Pupil, 5 Mantle, 6 Lesser coverts, 7 Scapulars, 8 Coverts, 9 Tertials, 10 Rump, 11 Primaries, 12 Vent, 13 Thigh, 14 Tibio-tarsal articulation, 15 Tarsus, 16 Feet, 17 Tibia, 18 Belly, 19 Flanks, 20 Breast, 21 Throat, 22 Wattle, 23 Eyestripe

Bird anatomy

Bird behavior

edit

Bird behavior

Types of birds

edit

Orders

edit

Families

edit

Subfamilies

edit

Genera

edit

History of birds

edit

Study of birds

edit

Aviculture

edit

Aviculture

Bird diseases and parasites

edit

Threats and conservation

edit

Persons influential in the field of birds

edit

Artists

edit

Ornithologists

edit

List of ornithologists

Writers

edit

Birds in culture

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
edit