What are birds?
This might feel like a question with an obvious answer, but we can “dig deeper” and explore in depth just what makes a bird a bird. Birds are considered to be vertebrates. That’s right, they have backbone (or spine), just like we humans do. They range vastly in size, from the “nine-foot-tall ostrich” to the “two-inch-long bee hummingbird.” The diverse species and appearances of birds is precisely a product of evolution!
Interesting facts about birds
Birds aren’t only capable of flying; some can also “run, jump, swim, and dive.” Did you know that even penguins are technically classified as birds? According to National Geographic, they also have wings, but they “lost the ability to fly.”
Evolution and migration of birds have led them to be found in all sorts of different habitats. I guess their ability to fly allowed them to find more spacious habitats with greater resources, such as islands in the middle of a giant ocean!
More on bird anatomy
From an anatomical perspective, birds are really interesting animals. Birds are generally able to fly because of how their wing is shaped: “The leading edge is thicker than the back edge”. This allows the creature to gain lift, which is the upward force that propels it into the air.
Birds are not mammals, but some of their bones are similar to those mammals possess; for example, the humerus found in birds “is similar to the upper arm of a mammal.” However, it’s just that it is “hollow instead of solid”, better enabling it to fly. In fact, many bones within birds are connected to its “air sac system”, that is then connected to “its lungs”.
Birds generally have an interesting digestive system; they can eat something now but digest it later! In terms of bird reproduction, the reason birds lay eggs can also be credited to its need to fly! Unlike mammals like humans, birds cannot “[carry] the extra weight of [the] developing young inside their bodies”!
Other information about birds
Different species of birds also have different “social behaviors”, as some prefer to live and hunt on their own, while other types of birds opt to fly together in “close proximity.”
Whether we are talking about the grey parrots, rumored to be the “most intelligent [type] of bird”, or the kori bustard, “the heaviest flying bird” that is pictured above, birds are truly amazing creatures that deserve to be respected. Sadly, just like many other animals, there are also lots of bird species that are facing the threat of extinction, due to reasons such as habitat loss and global warming. Birds are truly valuable organisms that play a large and important role in the ecosystem; they deserve to be protected and loved.