Class Aves
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| Indian Peacock |
Prepare to take flight (sorry, penguins and ostriches) with the class of birds! There are almost 10,000 species in this class. Birds are similar to reptiles, but have many adaptations that make flight possible. They have feathers instead of scales, and their front limbs have been modified into wings. Types of birds include pelicans, herons, parrots, songbirds, raptors, toucans, and flightless birds.
Birds are endotherms. This means that they can regulate their own body temperature. Their bodies have a high metabolism rate, which is how they create body heat. Their feathers also help to keep their heat insulated.
These feathers are made out of proteins, and are used for warmth and flight. There are three types of feathers: down, body, and flight.
One interesting aspect of birds are their "hollow" bones. Their bones are not completely hollow, but have airspaces. Struts strengthen the bones. They run across the bones, in between the airspaces. This keeps the bones lightweight and ready to fly.
Their circulatory system includes a four chambered heart--two atria and two ventricles. They have two separate loops of circulation (pulmonary and systemic). Because there are two ventricles, there is no possibility of blood being mixed. This makes the birds' hearts very efficient.
Birds reproduce sexually with internal fertilization. They are oviparous (lay eggs). They have amniotic eggs, but with harder shells than that of reptiles.
Below, are only a few of the many species of birds:
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| Blue Jay |
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| Bald Eagle |
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| Keel-billed Toucan |
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| Horned Puffins |
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| Red-billed Hummingbird |
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| American Flamingoes |
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