Let's Talk About Birds!

What follows is a short list of words that relate to birds. We put this together to help you and your class as you prepare to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Many of these words apply to animals other than birds, but for the purposes of the count, we have modified our definitions specifically to birds. Of course, this list is just a sample of words that come to mind when we talk about birds. For more, visit our Bird-brained Bibliography page, which lists books that serve as excellent resources for all sorts of information about birds.

General Natural History

Population: The total number of individuals of a single species inhabiting a given area.

Distribution: The geographic area(s) where a given species of bird can be found.

Adaptation: A special physical or behavioral ability that has allowed a species adjust to a particular way of life.

Food Chain/Food Web: The interrelationships among animals and plants concerning the transfer of energy (food). Birds are part of the food chain because they feed on plants and animals and are fed upon by other animals (sometimes other birds).

Non-native Species: Birds that have been released from or have escaped captivity. In some cases (House Sparrows, Rock Doves, and others), such species have become established in North America.

Taxonomy: The way bird scientists classify bird species based on their similarities to or difference s from one another

Feathers

Plumage: The feathers that cover a bird's body.

Field Mark: A characteristic or combination of characteristics such as color, shape, or specific marking (eye rings, wing bars, breast stripes), by which a species of bird can be distinguished from other species Camouflage: Having a color and/or pattern that allows a bird to blend with its habitat.

Crest: A tuft of feathers on the top of a bird's head.

Sexual Dimorphism: When male and female birds differ in plumage.

Molt: The process by which a bird renews part or all of its plumage by shedding old, worn feathers and growing new ones.

Preening: The process by which a bird cleans, arranges, and cares for its feathers, usually by using its bill to adjust and smooth feathers.

Behavior

Diurnal: Used to describe birds that are active during the day. Most birds are diurnal.

Nocturnal: Used to describe birds that are active at night. Most owls are nocturnal.

Dominance: The ability of one bird to control the actions of another.

Flock: A group of birds made up of either the same or different species.

Roost: A place where a bird sleeps, sometimes in groups.

Habitat: The environment where a particular species of bird lives. Forests and wetlands are both examples of habitats.

Home Territory: The total area a bird inhabits while living in a given place.

Hovering: A technique a bird uses for various reasons, including to search for food. To hover, a bird remains stationary in mid-air, usually by rapidly flapping its wings

Migration: An extended journey a bird makes from one place to another (for example, when a bird flies from its wintering areas in South America to its breeding area in North America.)

Niche: The role a bird plays in the ecosystem, including what it eats and where it lives (habitat).

Permanent Resident: A species of bird that does not migrate and so spends the entire year in the same region.

Food and Feeding

Predation: When one animal kills another for food. The animal that is taken is the prey, and the animal doing the taking is the predator.

Raptors: Generally hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls. These birds prey upon Mammals, smaller birds, and other animals.

Herbivorous: Birds that eat primarily plants, such as the Canada Goose.

Frugivorous: Birds that feed primarily on fruit. Cedar Waxwings are frugivorous birds.

Insectivorous: Birds that eat mainly insects. Swallows are a good example.

Nectivorous: Birds that feed largely on the nectar of flowers or the juices of fruit, such as hummingbirds.

Carnivorous: Flesh-eating birds (usually fresh or live as opposed to carrion). Raptors (hawks and owls) are carnivorous birds.

Omnivorous: Birds that eat anything that is considered digestible/edible. American Crows are a common example.

Granivorous: Birds that eat grains or seeds, such as the Rock Dove (known commonly as "pigeon.")

Piscivorous: Fish-eating birds. The Osprey is piscivorous.

Crop: A sac inside a bird where its neck meets the body. It holds food before digestion.

Grit: Small pieces of rock, shell, or other hard substances that birds eat to help them digest other foods. Grit helps grind up coarse vegetable matter.