Pictures and Types of Birds
Like mammals, not all birds fit into one category. The birds that greet you in the morning with a cheerful melody are in a different family than the dove that just flew over your head. Whether you are a budding bird watcher or you just want to know more about those feathered creatures, you should know about the more common types of birds.
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Passerines
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Black-capped chickadee Passerines comprise 60 percent of the world's bird population. These birds also are known as perching birds or songbirds. However, some of the birds included in this group do not have pleasant sounds. An example would be a crow. Since passerines encompass a large variety, it is difficult to tell if a bird is a passerine based on coloring or song. However, if a bird has four clawed toes on the feet -- three facing forward and one facing back, it is a passerine. Other examples of passerines are robins, chickadees, warblers, wrens and swallows.
Raptors
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Bald eagle Raptors, or birds of prey, are birds that feed on vertebrate animals and include 500 different species of birds. These birds use their keen eye sight, powerful talons and impressive flight to capture their prey. They have hooked beaks, which help in tearing meat apart whether it be from a live animal or a carcass. The size of the raptor varies from the 3-oz. pygmy falcon to the 30-lb. condor. The female raptors are larger than the males. Some examples of raptors include owls, eagles, vultures, hawks and falcons.
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Psittaciformes
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Cockatoo Psittaciformes, or parrots, comprise 360 different species. Parrots are spotted by bright colors and curved bills. Parrots also have thick tongues that allow them to eat their food, which usually consists of fruits and seeds. The sizes of parrots range from the 3-inch buff-faced pygmy parrot to the 3.5-foot hyacinth macaw. Due to their gentle nature and behavior, they make popular pets and can even mimic human words. Some birds, such as the African grey parrot, seem to understand the meanings of words. Some examples of Psittaciformes include cockatoos, cockatiels, lovebirds and parakeets.
Galliformes
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Pheasant Galliformes also are known as game birds -- the birds that are the targets of hunters. These birds do not get much activity, leading to their typical fat, stocky build, which contrasts their small heads. These birds typically nest on the ground in tall grassy locations and fly low to the ground. Examples of these types include pheasant, grouse, turkeys, chicken, quail and partridge.
Anseriformes
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Goose Anseriformes are water fowl and contain 161 different species. Most of these birds are aquatic and all have bills rather than beaks. The smallest of these birds is the Indian pygmy goose and the largest is the trumpeter swan. Many people hunt water fowl or domesticate them. Many types of anseriformes migrate south for the winter. A common example of a migratory bird is the Canada goose. These birds fly south in a V formation and migrate back north in the spring. Some other examples of anseriformes are ducks and swans.
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