Intersting Birds For A Report?

Question

I have a report and I need an intersting bird to do for a topic

I need to the the relationship between form and function, and in depth study of feathers, the digestive system and flight.

Do you know of any good birds to select as a topic?

Answer 1

You have some good answers already, so I'll build on them with my $.02:

a hoatzin is extremely interesting. The young are born with prehensile claws on thier wings that they use to climb with, and they are considered one of the most primitive bird species, closer in form to dionsaurs than any other. They glide rather than fly.

Loons are really amazing. They are one of the few birds without hollow bones, and they can dive up to 200 feet for fish. I am pretty sure their feathers lack oil glands, too, so they have to dry off. They are also very primitive, and are an interesting study for this reason.

Vultures have some of the most powerful digestive systems known, and can digest strychnine poison. They are one of two bird species (the kiwi being the other) that hunts for food using its sense of smell. Its featherless head allows it to disembowel carcasses without needing to clean its feathers.

Finally, hummingbirds are always amazing in form and function. Their heads are designed to fit inside flowers perfectly. They have to enter a state of smei-hibernation each night, or their metabolism cannot keep going. They must eat evey 15 mionutes. Their wings beat 90 times per second. Thier feathers are irridescent, and refrat the light that hits them. Some species migrate 100's of miles.

Other worth mentioning: oil birds, anhingas, spoonbills, cormorants, prairie chickens, woodcocks, cassowaries. There are lots of amazing ones out there. Check out the Cornell University's on-line ornithology site. Good luck and tell us what you chose!

Answer 2

The Peregrine Falcon always makes an interesting study, as it can dive at more than 200 mph as it chases its prey. The bird is perfectly designed to accomodate such speeds, from the shape of the body to the design of the wing feathers...

Another good option could be the Snowy Owl. You could go into the way the feathers insulate it against the cold...the way the mottled white and black coloring camoflauges it in the arctic...etc...etc...etc.

Hope this helps....

Answer 3

One interesting tack to take on this assignment might be to pick a totally 'atypical' bird, which may show some major variation from the form and function of many of the other birds being studied.

A bird like the kiwi (Apteryx) would be a really good one, with highly atypical feathers, related to its lack of flight.

Any of the penguins might also be interesting.

Even if you pick a bird with flight, maybe look at one that is not a strong flyer (i.e. chicken), or one that has extreme flight abilities (peregrine falcon, wandering albatross, hummingbird), and compare them to a 'typical' bird.

Answer 4

What you should do it on is the American kestrel, there is quite a bit of literature out there, so they have been studied quite a bit.
Besides, they are fantastic beautiful little raptors and are always an interesting topic!

Answer 5

Maybe Barn Owls, you can tell how they use the shape(facial disc) of their face to better hear to be able to pinpoint prey. Also, they have specialized feathers so that they are silent when they fly.

Answer 6

Maybe some rare form of Seagulls?

Answer 7

bat, crow