BIOL4404
Ornithology

THIS PAGE HAS BEEN MODIFIED FOR OUR CLASS FROM ONE OF GARY RITCHISON'S WEB PAGES AT EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY!

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External Structural Characters

Characters of the Bill | Characters of the Feet | Characters of the Feet - Toes | Characters of the Feet - Nails | Glossary of terms
Characters of the Tail | Feathers - Shape & Structure | Nostrils | Modified feathers


Be able to define & identify the following terms:
 


Characters of the Bill 
  long 
  short 
  hooked 
  crossed 
  compressed 
  depressed 
  stout 
  terete 
  straight 
  recurved 
  decurved 
  bent 
  swollen 
  acute
  chisel-like 
  toothed 
  serrate 
  gibbous 
  spatulate 
  notched 
  conical 
  lamellate 
  angulated commissure 
  gular sac
Characters of the Feet 
  anisodactyl 
  syndactyl 
  heterodactyl 
  zygodactyl 
  pamprodactyl 
  raptorial 
  semipalmate 
  totipalmate 
  palmate 
  lobate 

Characters of the Feet (toes) 
  incumbent 
  elevated 
 

 

Characters of the Tail 
  long 
  short 
  square 
  rounded 
  graduated 
  pointed 
  emarginate 
  forked 

Modified Feathers 
  horns 
  crests 
  ruffs 
  pinnae 
  ears 
  facial disc 
  speculum 
  rictal bristles


Useful links:

The Bird Site - Bills & Beaks

The Bird Site - Feet