Vertebrates: Birds

Some people think that what makes an animal a bird is its wings.  Bats have wings.  Flies have wings.  Bats and flies are not birds.  So what makes an animal a bird?

 

The answer is FEATHERS!

All birds have feathers and birds are the only animals that do.  The feathers on a bird’s wings and tail overlap.  Because they overlap, the feathers catch and hold the air.  This helps the bird to fly, steer itself and land.

Birds have 3 major differentiating characteristics: wings for flight, feathers, and a beak rather than teeth.

Birds are egg-laying vertebrate animals with feathers and that are born out of hard-shelled eggs. They evolved millions of years ago from land reptiles. Birds are animals with their forelimbs modified into wings. Almost all birds can fly with a few exceptions. Some birds are perching birds, which feed on fruits while others are great predators like vultures and eagles. Today, around 10,000 known species of birds exist.