REN R205 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Least Flycatcher, Barn Swallow, Horned Lark

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Renewable Resources
• Course: REN R205
• Professor: John Acorn

Document Summary

Largest order of birds in the world (5100/8650) We cover 26 families in the u. s. and canada (out of ~30) Adaptation in hallux tendon that enhances perching ability. Distinctive forelimb (wing) and hind limb musculature. Anisodactyl foot: digits 2, 3, 4 in front and digit 1 (hallux) in the back. Hallux tendon tightens when bird leans back, allowing for tight grip while at rest. Innate song (they do not need to learn their songs) includes the tyrant flycatchers (family tyrannidae) Worldwide distribution complex voice box capacity to learn songs corvids, shrikes and vireos form a subdivision of the oscines the other families are within another subdividison. Morphological similarty is not always evidence for similar grouping convergent evolution results in development of similar characters in distantly related groups: finch-like birds, warbler-like birds. With experience, it is easier to remember all of the individual species than always trying to group by shared characters.