Birds

 

Hello everyone, this week we are looking at birds, did you know there are over 11,000 species of birds throughout the world and 800 different species in Australia.

Now I expect everyone knows that all birds have feathers, beaks and wings but not all can fly. I will talk about those that don’t fly next week.

The country with the largest number of different species in Colombia with about 1,917.

This remarkable avian diversity is due to Colombia's unique geography and climate.

The country with the fewest bird species is Vatican City, due to its extremely small size and limited natural habitat. However, if you're considering larger countries with more ecological context, Iceland is often cited as having notably low avian diversity.

Do you know the diet of birds, most eat plants and seeds but there are some that eat meat, meat eaters are considered birds of prey. However, there are some that are not like the Butcher bird and the Magpie both are native to Australia.

Birds that have musical voices are called songbirds; they have specially developed vocal cords which are called the syrinx which they use to produced sounds resembling songs. They also have a special section in their brain which helps them learn their songs.

The birds that fly do so to find food and avoid predators; birds have a very light skeleton and strong muscles and wings. The shape and size of their wings determine the distance between and type of flight they can do.

Birds have feathers for flight, insulation, communication, camouflage, and protection—making feathers one of the most versatile and essential adaptations in the animal kingdom.

However, their feathers are not just for flight, they have bright, patterned feathers are used in courtship rituals to attract mates. Males often display more vibrant colours than females. Birds fluff, spread, or raise feathers to signal aggression, readiness to mate, or submission.

Many birds have feather colours and patterns that match their surroundings, helping them avoid predators or sneak up on prey.

Some species molt into different plumage depending on the season for better camouflage.

Feathers protect birds from UV radiation, wind, rain, and physical injuries.

Dense feather layers help shield sensitive skin from harsh environments.