Birds
Feathers
Formed with keratin, the same material as mammal hair.
Four different types of feathers: down, contour, tail, and wing.
Descended from dinosaurs like Velociraptors.
Almost 10,000 species of birds and most can be split into these categories:
Flightless birds
Waterbirds
Waders, gulls, and auks
Birds of prey
Owls
Fruit and nectar eaters
Passerines, perching birds, songbirds
Ostrich
Struthio camelus
The world's largest and heaviest bird, ranging from 5 ⅗ ft to 9 ft tall. Weighing from 198 lbs
to 286 ⅗ lbs. Also the fastest bird, can propel itself forward up to 16ft at a time, reach up to
40 mph, and run for about 30 minutes. Feeds on plants, insects, and lizards. Found in W.,
E., and Southern Africa.
Common Rhea
Rhea americana
Known as the American ostrich, but only about half the size. (3-5 ft, 33-66 lbs) Top speed of
37 mph. Live in groups of six and eat broad-leafed plants, seeds, fruits, insects, lizards, and
small snakes. A male will mate with up to 12 females and make one nest for all the eggs
which it protects. Found in South America
Emu
Dromaius novaehollandiae
Australia’s biggest bird at 5-6 ft and 66-121 lbs. Named after the Portuguese word ema,
meaning “large bird”. Live in flocks with dozens of birds. Eats berries, seeds, and insects,
pecking seeds from animal droppings.
Birds of Prey
Also known as raptors with more than 300 species.
Can see up to 4x more than a human
Many have keen sense of smell and hearing
With hooked bills and strong legs/talons
Eagles, hawks, kites, harriers, and Old world Vultures
Condors and New World vultures
Ospreys
Falcons
Secretary bird
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
One of the largest falcons (13in-20in) with females about twice the size of the males. Weigh
1 -3 ¼ lbs. One of the fastest animals on earth can reach up to 199 mph while stooping.
They exist worldwide and eat other birds.
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
A height of 29 ½ in to 35 in and a wingspan of 7 ½ ft. The name comes from the golden
feathers of the neck. Europe, North America, Asia, North Africa. Eats birds, reptiles, and
small mammals.
White-backed vulture
Gyps africanus
Despite its size of 37 in tall, the white- backed can be timid and is jostled around when
eating a fresh carcass open by others. Located in Central and southern Africa.
Secretary bird
Sagittarius serpentarius
Being the only bird in the Secretary category, this bird is unlike any other bird of prey. With
its long legs, it can run very fast. At 4-5ft tall and weighing 5 ½ -10 lbs. Eat snakes, insects,
and small rodents. In Central and southern Africa.
Northern goshawk
Accipiter gentilis
Often hides in trees ready to pounce on prey passing by. 19-24 ⅖ in and 2 ¼ - 3 ¼ lbs. Diet
consisting of birds, reptiles, and small mammals. In Europe, North America, Mexico, and
Asia.
Osprey
Pandion haliaentus
Well adapted for hunting fish, with talons that grip both sides of the fish and small spines
on the soles of the feet. Hovers over rivers or lakes when waiting for fish. 21 ⅗ -23 in tall
and weigh 3 ¼-4 ½ lbs and exists worldwide.
Andean condor
Vultur gryphus
The largest wings of any bird stands at 3 ¼-4 ¼ ft and weighing 24 ¼-33 lbs. Eats freshly
dead animals and especially likes deer and cattle. Males are typically larger than females
unlike other birds of prey. Also have a fleshy comb atop their head. In Western South
America.
Crested caracara
Caracara plancus
Eat leftovers from other animals, but also steal food from other birds, raid nests, and eat
insects passing by. 19 ½ in-23 in tall and weigh 1 ¾ - 3 ¼ lbs. Located in Southern US,
Central and South America
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Wingspans up to 8 ft, 28-38 ft tall and weigh 6 ¼-14 lbs. Known for its white head, brown
body, and white tails (which does not develop till age five). Females are larger than males,
and pair up for life, laying between 1-3 eggs a year. Will fight others for food. National bird
of the US since 1782 and protected since 1940. The Latin name means “sea eagle”. Can lift
half their body weight and swim with fish to shore.
Silent Owls
Owls are nocturnal birds capable of swooping down silently on their prey with especially
soft wings. Despite having large eyes, they cannot move their eyes and instead need to
rotate their whole neck, which can rotate 360 degrees. Swallow animals whole and barf out
the rest indigestible in the form of pellets. More than 200 species.
Snowy Owl
Nyctea scandica
Lives farther north than any other owl (polar regions)and uses long thick feathers to keep it
insulated. 22-27 ½ in tall, 2 ¼ -5 ½ lbs. Eats lemmings, rabbits, hares, and waterfowls.
Pel’s fishing owl
Scotopelia peli
Feeds on fishes and frogs, nests in treeholes at the edges of lakes or other bodies of water.
And uses long curved talons to hold onto its prey. Located in Africa and weighing 4 ½ - 5 ½
lbs at 22-25 in tall.
Spectacle Owl
Pulsatrix perspicillata
Named after the ring of white feathers around its eyes. Lives in dense rainforests in S.
Mexico and C. South America. 17-20 ½ in, and 21-35 oz and eats small mammals, insects,
and crabs.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
Most widespread owl found in all continents except Antarctica. Nests in hollow trees and
makes a shriek rather than a hoot. 11 ½ -17 in, 11-23 oz and eats small rodents.
Southern Boobook
Ninox novaeseelandiae.
Named after its cry,” Boo Book” that it produces. Australia’s smallest owl, 12-14 in, 5-6 oz,
and eats insects, small mammals, and birds.
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
Largest American owl (20-23 ½ in and 1 ½-5 ½ lbs) with an instantly recognizable hoot.
Females laying 1-5 eggs and caring for the young for at least six weeks. Small mammals,
insects, reptiles, amphibians, and birds, (North, Central, and South America.)
Common Scops Owl
Otus scops
Feathers help them camouflage against tree bark and can imitate a branch while swaying.
Its call is a low whistle. 6 ½ -8in, 2 ⅛-4 ¾ oz. Eats insects, spiders, worms, bats, and small
birds. Lives in Europe, Central Asia, and Africa.
Game Birds
Usually live on the ground, and are hunted for sport. Around 290 species in which the
males (cocks) are brightly colored in plumage and skin to attract the duller colored hens
(females) through courtship displays. Use camouflage to hide from predators.
Common Peafowl
Pavo cristatus
The male (peacock) has a train of brightly colored tail feathers which end in a colorful “eye”
(the more eyes the better). With a height of 6-7 ½ ft and weighing 8 ¾ - 13 lbs, it's a giant
bird. Eats fruit, seeds, insects, and snakes and can be found in parts of South Asia.
Temminck’s tragopan
Tragopan temminckii
In courtship, it inflates its blue and red throat wattle, which is a show of strength. Mates
with many, but doesn’t raise the young. 25 in, 2-3 ½ lbs, eats plants and insects, and located
in Central and Southeast Asia.
Red jungle-fowl
Gallus gallus
Ancestor of domestic chicken. Up to 27 ½ in tall and 1-3 ¼ lbs. Eats seed and small insects
and is in Southern Asia.
Gunnison sage-grouse
Centrocerus minimus
Males have two yellow air sacks on its chest that make popping sounds and swishing
sounds through the brushing of its wings against white feathers. 12 ⅗-22 in, 2-5 ¼ lbs, and
eats plants and insects. Located in Utah and Colorado.
Reptiles
Amphibians
Fish
Invertebrates