Commonly kept birds in Australia

Transcription

1 Learning topic: Provide advice on animal breeds and species Commonly kept birds in Australia Features of the different orders of birds There are two groups of birds: ratites flightless carinates birds that can fly. Carinates are then divided into two types: passerines and non-passerines. Passerines are called perching birds. Many are good singers. Their nests vary enormously from neat, feather-lined grass nests (finch) to rough bundles of sticks (magpie) or cup-like nests made from mud (swallow). Most passerines hop. The young are hatched naked, with their eyes closed, and are dependent on the parents for food, such as insects, worms, fruit. Many live as isolated pairs. Many species are migratory. Two of the more commonly kept passerines in Australia are: canaries a type of finch Australian finches eg zebra finch. All other birds are non-passerines including waders, waterfowl, parrots, raptors, pigeons and cuckoos. Orders/families Modern birds are grouped into 29 orders throughout the world with 19 orders here in Australia. In these orders, there are over known species of birds found throughout the world with over 700 species in Australia. Struthioniformes eg emus and cassowaries bulky, flightless birds with powerful two or three toed feet hair like feathers 1

2 all originated in the southern hemisphere. An emu Podicipediformes eg grebes small to medium-sized fresh water diving birds slender bills dense, furry waterproof plumage short wings and broadly lobed toes set far back on the body to aid propulsion through the water. Sphenisciformes eg pelican thick webbed feet placed at the end of the body for steering and braking in water and for standing erect on land two layered plumage with an outer dense, oiled, waterproof coat and a dense underlying downy coat for insulation eat fish, crustaceans live in the water. Procellariformes eg tube-nosed seabirds, albatross, petrel oceanic birds that only come to land to nest, usually in colonies on islands 2

3 Learning topic: Provide advice on animal breeds and species strong musky odour long bills with tubular nostrils. Pelicaniformes eg cormorants, gannets fly and dive or swim underwater to catch their food sealed nostrils coarse feathers that need constant waterproofing from large preen gland. Ciconiiformes eg herons, storks, ibis, spoonbills large, long necked and heavy billed long legs for wading. A spoonbill Anseriformes eg geese, swans, ducks webbed toes, duck-billed live on water but roost and nest on land. Falconiformes eg birds of prey, eagles, kites, hawks, falcons strong bodied, short-necked carnivorous birds 3

4 sharply hooked beaks for ripping and tearing flesh taloned feet with three toes forward and one back for striking and grasping prey. A wedge-tailed eagle Falliformes eg quails, pheasants, turkeys, chickens, mound builders fowl-like birds with a crop all feed on ground, mainly on seeds and vegetable matter and scratch ground to find food wings short and flight laboured; quail make a whirring sound when flying. Gruiformes eg button quails, rails, bustards, crakes, gallinules (moorhens) small to very large thin headed, ground feeding birds usually have long necks, bills and legs for wading or walking. 4

5 Learning topic: Provide advice on animal breeds and species A quail Charadriiformes eg snipe, curlew, plover, skuas and gulls small to medium-sized shore birds and waders all feed, roost and nest on the ground many migrate. Columbiformes eg pigeons and doves (and the Dodo) squat, bulky seed and fruit eating land birds have a crop to store food. Psittaciformes eg cockatoos, parrots, budgies brilliantly coloured fruit, seed and nectar feeding birds hooked, cered bill, fleshy tongue and finely scaled feet with two toes forward and two backwards most have a crop for storing food their colour, ease of keeping and amusing mannerisms have made this group one of the most popular as pets. A parrot 5

6 Cuculiformes eg cuckoos, koels, coucals mostly arboreal (tree-living) land birds parrot-like feet (two toes facing forward and two backwards) some have heavy bills without a cere over nostrils. Strigiformes eg owls stocky, short necked, broad headed nocturnal birds of prey hooked bill for ripping and carrying prey forward facing binocular vision feathered feet and taloned toes soft plumage for silent flight asymmetrically placed large ears for pinpointing direction of sound. An owl Caprimulgiformes eg frogmouth, owlets and night jars nocturnal insect catchers with large eyes for night sight and wide, gaping bills usually fringed with long bristles. Apodiformes eg swifts 6

7 Learning topic: Provide advice on animal breeds and species small to tiny aerial birds with pointed wings moved by a short arm and long hand bones plumage often metallic small, smooth hanging or perched cup nests. Coraciformes eg kookaburra, kingfisher, bee-eaters and rollers large headed, stout billed birds with a lot of blue-green plumage. Passeriformes eg lyre birds, scrub birds, bower birds, crows, swallows, finches have a complex structured and muscled voice box, which allows them to sing and defend their territory by throwing their voice four toes, three point forward and one backwards to allow them to grip and perch on branches tend to make complex nests and the young are hatched naked and helpless (altricial) certain members of the finch family are very popular as caged birds. A kookaburra Psittacines eg parrot-like birds rounded body, short legs, broad rounded wings, short necks and large heads 7

8 they have a powerful hooked beak with a thickened area of bare skin at the top of the beak called a cere they walk rather than hop, and climb with the aid of the beak the young are hatched in hollow trees, banks, etc. and are naked, with their eyes closed and rely on their parents to feed and protect them (altricial) psittacines mostly live in flocks and they do not migrate they can form close attachments to owners. There are three groups of psittacines in Australia: Lorikeets live in trees; have special brush-like tongues to feed on nectar; very swift flying; travel in flocks wherever there are flowering trees or shrubs eg rainbow, scaly breasted lorikeet Cockatoos mostly large birds (40-46cm); short, squarish tail; erectile crest (crest of elongated, pointed feathers which they can raise and lower at will) eg sulphur crested, glossy, Major Mitchell, galah, cockatiel Parrots most have long, gradated tails; some live in trees, although two are completely terrestrial (ground and rock parrots). Other examples are king, red-rumped, rosellas, Bourkes, budgerigar Some of the more commonly kept psittacines in Australia These include: sulphur crested cockatoo galah Major Mitchell cockatoo king parrot budgerigar eg parakeet lovebirds eg peach-face lorikeets eg rainbow lorikeet rosellas eg eastern rosella grass parrots eg elegant parrot corellas eg little corella cockatiel. 8