Interesting Facts About Birds

Most animal lovers would be interested to read articles about facts about animals.  This article, however, would specifically discuss all about birds.

Birds are a diverse group of vertebrates that belongs to the Class Aves. All birds are best known for their unmatched ability to fly and command of the skies.

Consider the Following Bird Facts

1. Based on recent studies, there are 9,865 species of birds existing today.  However, out of this huge number, there are a lot which are threatened or near threatened with extinction.

2. Archaeopteryx Lithographica, the first found skeleton of which, was discovered in 1861, was the earliest known bird. It lived about 150 million years ago.

3. Evolutionary scientists remain uncertain as to the main origin of birds due to the lack of sufficient details in the fossil records for early birds.

4. Feathers are the defining characteristic of birds which makes them unique. In plain language, if an animal has feathers, then it is a bird. The birds’ feathers serve a lot of functions, but it is most notable in its critical role of enabling birds to fly.

5. Although birds are best known to possess the ability to fly, they are not the only animals that are capable of flight. Bats, which are mammals, fly with great agility and insects, which are arthropods, were dancing in the air several million years back.

6. All birds reproduce by laying eggs varying in sizes and color depending on the species.
Most species lay their eggs in a nest which also vary in size, shape, and construction material.

7. Many species of birds migrate to regions of high latitude to breed during the spring and summer; while during the fall and winter months, they migrate to regions of lower latitude.

8. Birds do not have teeth; rather they have bills which come in different shapes and sizes and are adapted to the particular diet of each species.

9. The largest of all birds is the ostrich which is a flightless bird that has a large body, small head, long legs, and a long neck. Although they cannot fly, they are unbelievably fast runners.

10.  Birds do communicate among themselves by using visual and auditory signals. Signals can be interspecific or between species and intraspecific or within species. The most elaborate display of communications occurs during courtship, where birds “dance” in order to win the heart of the “love-bird's interest!

I hope animal lovers out there enjoyed reading this article about bird facts.

Ann Cervales, Philippines