| A | B |
|---|
| How many bird species currently exist? | about 8,500 species |
| Are birds ectotherms or endotherms? | endotherms |
| How many chambers are found in a bird's heart? | four |
| Besides protection and waterproofing, what other important function is performed by a bird's feathers? | insulation ... it traps their body heat and prevents it from escaping |
| Describe a bird's egg. | it has a hard shell to prevent dehydration |
| How are the bodies of birds adapted to be light for flight? | many muscles and bones have been eliminated or reduced in size |
| How are the bones of birds designed for lightness? | they are hollow but have struts inside for strength |
| Describe the airfoil shape of a bird's wing. | curved on top and flat underneath |
| Which feathers on a bird's wing provide the lift for flight? | the feathers from the shoulder to the wrist |
| What feathers of a bird's wing provide propulsion in flight? | from wrist to the wingtip |
| How do birds use their crop? | to store food |
| How do birds use their gizzrds? | to grind up food |
| What is found in the gizzards of birds that act like teeth to grind up their food? | small pebbles known as grit |
| Besides lungs, what else do birds have to improve their respiratory systems? | 9 air sacs |
| Describe a bird's eyesight. | excellent both near and far |
| Since birds lack many eye muscles to control movement, how do they see in different directions? | they must move their entire heads |
| Do birds have ears and can they hear? | yes they have ears and average hearing |
| Which type of bird vocalization is repeated over and over again? | a song |
| Bird songs are used to stake out a territory ... true or false? | true |
| A migration is a round trip from one area to another and back again ... true or false? | true |
| Birds migrate to help them find mates ... true or false? | false |
| Birds use the stars to help them navigate at night ... true or false? | true |
| Which common local bird needs to run on top of the water to take off? | the American Coot |
| Which common local bird runs just out of the reach of the waves along the beach? | the Sanderling |
| Name our common local bird that is on the Federal Endangered Species List. | the Brown Pelican |
| What is our state bird? | the California Quail |
| Describe the sound of dove wings when they take off. | sounds like whistling |
| Describe the nesting behavior of Brown-headed Cowbirds. | they are nest parasites |
| How do Turkey Vultures find their food? | by smell |
| What common, local bird drills holes in trees to store acorns? | the Acorn Woodpecker |
| What common, local bird feeds on ants? | the Red-shafted Flicker |
| How do Killdeer distract predators away from their nests? | the act like they have a broken wing |
| What common, local bird sings at night? | the Mockingbird |
| Name our common local blue bird with the triangle-shaped crest on its head. | the Steller Jay |
