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Classification of birds with examples of each group

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Birds constitute a well-defined group of vertebrate animals. As a class they form a more
homogeneous group than any other class of vertebrates. They possess a series of strongly marked
characters than any other class as follows.
(1) Body is more or less spindle-shaped and visible into four distinct regions: head, neck. Trunk and
tail. Jaw bones prolonged into a toothless beak or bill. Neck is long and flexible. Tail is short and
stumpy.
(2) Limbs are two pairs. Forelimbs are modified as wings for flying. Hindlimbs or legs are large, and
variously adapted for walking, running, scratching, perching, food capturing, swimming or wading,
etc. Each foot usually bears four clawed toes, of which the first or hallux is directed backwards.
(3) Exoskeleton is epidermal and horny, represented by (i) feathers forming a non-conducting body
covering for warmth, (ii) scales on the legs, similar to those of reptiles, (iii) claws on the toes and (iv)
sheaths on the beaks.
(4) Skin is dry and devoid of any glands except the oil or preens glands at the root of the tail.
(5) Endoskeleton fully ossified, light but strong and without epiphyses. Long bones pneumatic or
hollow and have no marrow.
(6) Pectoral muscles of light are well developed.
(7) Vertebral column short, vertebrae with heterocoelous centrum. A synsacrum is formed by the
fusion of posterior thoracic, lumber, sacral and anterior caudal vertebrae. The last 3 or 4 tail fused
into a ploughshare bone, pygostyle.
(8) Ribs double-headed and bear posteriorly directed uncinae processes.
(9) Oesophagus is dilated into a crop for quick feeding and storage.
(10) Stomach is divided into a glandular proventriculus and muscular gizzard.
(11) Junction of small intestine and rectum is marked by a pair of rectal ceaca. A three-chambered
cloacais present.
(12) Birds are the first vertebrates to have warm blood. Body temperature is regulated.
(13) Larynx without vocal cords. A sound box or syrinx, producing voice, lies at or near the junction
of trachea and bronchi.
(14) Urinary bladder absent. Ureters open onto cloaca. Birds are urecotelic.
(15) Eyes large and posses nictitating membrances, sclerotic plates and a vascular peceten.
(16) Sexes separate. Male has a pair of abdominal testes. A capulatory organ absent except ratities,
ducks, geese, etc. Female has a single functional left ovary. Females oviparous.
(17) Eggs develop by external incubation. Development direct.
(18) Parental care is well marked.
Classification of Birds

Birds show less diversification than any other group of vertebrate animals. About 9,000 living species
of birds are known at present. According to Wetmore (1960) , there are 34 orders, 27 orders of living
birds of which two have recently become extinct and 7 orders of fossil birds. The name of orders
ends in forms, which means form.
Class Aves is first divided into two subclasses as follows:
Sub-class I ARCHAEORNITHES : (Gr. archios, ancient + orinthos,bird)
1. Extinct, Jurassic birds of Mesozoic age.
2. Wings primitive with little power of flight.
3. Tail long, tapering, lizard-like, bearing two lateral rows of rectrices.
4. Skull with teeth in both the jaws, emebered in sockets.
5. Vertebrae amphicoelous.
6. Sterum without kell.
7. Tail with 18-20 free caudal vertebrae, without pygostyle.
8. Carpals and metacarpals free.
9. Thoracic ribs slender, without unicinate processes.
10. Abdominal ribs present.
This sub-class includes a single order
Order Archaeopterygiformes : Example Archaeopteryx lithographica, from Jurassic period of
Bavaria, Germany, one specimen lying in the British museum, London; the other lying in the Berlin
Museum, Berlin.
Sub-class II NEORNITHES :
1. Post-Jurassic birds living or extinct.
2. Wings usually well-developed and adopted for flight, with few exceptions.
3. Tail short and reduced, with rectries arranged in a fanlike manner.
4. Distal carpals fused with metacarpals to form carpometacarpus.
5. Thoracic ribs usually with uncinate processes.
6. Abdominal ribs present.
7. Vertebrae heterocoelous in living forms.
8. Few caudal vertebrae free, rest, fused into a pygostyle.
9. Sternum usually with a keel.
10. Wings composed of 3 partly fused fingers without claws.
This subclass is divisible into 4 super orders:Super-order 1. Odontognathae (Gr., odontos, teeth)
1. Jaws bear teeth, so advantageous for carchong fish.

2. Pygostyle absent.
3. Bones of forelimbs reduced.
4. Marine and extinct forms.
It includes two orders
Ex: - Hesoperomis, lchthyomis.
Super order -2. Palaeognathae pr Ratitae :
1. Modern, big-sized, flightless, running birds, without teeth.
2. Wings vestigial or rudimentary, feathers devoid of interlocking mechanism.
3. The rectrices are absent or irregularly arranged but without hooked barbules.
4. Sternum without keel but raft-like.
5. Uncinate processes are vestigial or absent.
6. Tail vertebrae free. Pygostyle small or absent.
7. Pectoral muscles poorly developed.
8. Syrinx is absent.
9. Male has a large and erectile penis; female has a clitoris.
10. Oil gland is absent, except in Titanus and kiwi.
It includes six orders.
Ex: Apertyx (kiwis) & Rhea, Casuaris etc.
Super order -3 IMPENNAE
1. Modern, flightless, with paddle-like wings of flippers.
2. Adapted to aquatic life.
3. Forelimbs modified into flippers for swimming.
4. Feet are webbed.
Example: Penguin.
Super order 4 NEOGNATHAE or CARINATAE:
1. Most modern, usually small-sized, flying birds.
2. Wings well-developed; feathers with interlocking mechanism.
3. Rectrices present and arranged regularly.
4. Oil gland is present.
5. Sternum with a well-developed keel.
6. Uncinate processes are present.
7. Pygostyle is present.
8. Pectoral muscles large.

9. Male has no copulatory organ.

10. Distributed all over the world.
This super order is distinguished into 22 orders.
Example: Sparrow, corvous, pigeon, parrot, fowl, cuckoo, duck, kingfisher, pelicans, heron, crane,
kite, owl, hawks, vulture etc.