Birds, ACC-CAT

Hummingbirds, chickens, flamingos, pheasants: birds may come in all different shapes and sizes, but they all possess feathers, which is the easiest way to distinguish them from all other animals. Although not all species of bird can fly (sorry about that, ostriches), many birds do enjoy the power of flight, and this has permitted an almost unlimited diversification of birds, so that birds are now found virtually everywhere on Earth.
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Birds Encyclopedia Articles By Title

accentor
accentor, (genus Prunella), any of about 13 species of bird in the Old World family Prunellidae (order Passeriformes).......
accipiter
accipiter, (genus Accipiter), any of approximately 50 species of bird hawks (hawks that prey particularly on other......
Adélie penguin
Adélie penguin, (Pygoscelis adeliae), species of penguin (order Sphenisciformes) characterized by black and white......
Aegithalidae
Aegithalidae, songbird family that includes the long-tailed tits (or titmice) of the Old World and the bushtits......
African gray parrot
African gray parrot, (Psittacus erithacus), species of parrot (order Psittaciformes) characterized by distinctive......
African penguin
African penguin, (Spheniscus demersus), species of penguin (order Sphenisciformes) characterized by a single band......
albatross
albatross, (family Diomedeidae), any of more than a dozen species of large seabirds that collectively make up the......
Alcidae
Alcidae, bird family, order Charadriiformes, which includes the birds known as auk, auklet, dovekie, guillemot,......
amakihi
amakihi, (Loxops virens), perhaps the most common native songbird in Hawaii, a member of the Hawaiian honeycreeper......
American robin
American robin, (Turdus migratorius), common migratory North American songbird species known for its red-orange......
Anatidae
Anatidae, bird family that includes ducks, geese, and swans and constitutes the suborder Anseres—by far the larger......
ani
ani, any of three species of big-billed, glossy black birds of the genus Crotophaga of the cuckoo family (Cuculidae),......
Anser
Anser, bird genus of the family Anatidae (order Anseriformes). For a general discussion of the genus, see goose;......
antbird
antbird, (family Thamnophilidae), any of numerous insect-eating birds of the American tropics (order Passeriformes)......
antpipit
antpipit, either of two species of South American birds of the genus Corythopis that resemble pipits in size, shape,......
apapane
apapane, (Himatione sanguinea), Hawaiian songbird, common on larger islands, a nectar-feeding member of the Hawaiian......
apodiform
apodiform, (order Apodiformes), any member of one of two groups of birds, the swifts and the hummingbirds, that......
aracari
aracari, any of certain toucan species. See...
Archaeopteryx
Archaeopteryx, genus of feathered dinosaur that was once thought to be the oldest known fossil bird. The specimens......
Arctic tern
Arctic tern, (Sterna paradisaea), tern species that makes the longest annual migration of any bird. It breeds in......
asity
asity, either of two species of short-tailed, 15-centimetre- (6-inch-) long birds of the family Philepittidae (order......
auk
auk, in general, any of the 22 species (21 living) of diving birds of the family Alcidae (order Charadriiformes)......
auklet
auklet, any of six species of small seabirds of the family Alcidae (order Charadriiformes). They breed primarily......
avadavat
avadavat, (species Amandava, or Estrilda, amandava), plump, 8-centimetre- (3-inch-) long bird of the waxbill (q.v.)......
aviary
aviary, a structure for the keeping of captive birds, usually spacious enough for the aviculturist to enter. Aviaries......
aviculture
aviculture, raising and care of wild birds in captivity, for the breeding of game stock, the perpetuation of declining......
avocet
avocet, any of several large shorebirds belonging to the genus Recurvirostra, family Recurvirostridae. Avocets......
bald eagle
bald eagle, (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), the only eagle solely native to North America, and the national bird of......
baldpate
baldpate, popular North American game duck, also known as the American wigeon. See...
bananaquit
bananaquit, (Coereba flaveola), bird of the West Indies (except Cuba) and southern Mexico to Argentina. It is sometimes......
barbet
barbet, any of about 80 species of tropical birds constituting the family Capitonidae (order Piciformes). Barbets......
barn owl
barn owl, any of several species of nocturnal birds of prey of the genus Tyto (family Tytonidae). Barn owls are......
barnacle goose
barnacle goose, (Branta leucopsis), water bird of the family Anatidae (order Anseriformes) that resembles a small......
barred owl
barred owl, (Strix varia), owl species common in eastern North America, the Pacific Northwest and California, southern......
bateleur
bateleur, (species Terathopius ecaudatus), small eagle of Africa and Arabia, belonging to the subfamily Circaetinae......
bay owl
bay owl, (Phodilus badius), uncommon and atypical Asian owl classified with the barn owls (family Tytonidae). It......
becard
becard, any of many tropical American birds belonging to the family Cotingidae (order Passeriformes) that usually......
bee-eater
bee-eater, any of about 25 species of brightly coloured birds of the family Meropidea (order Coraciiformes). Found......
bell-magpie
bell-magpie, Australasian songbird belonging to the family Cracticidae (order Passeriformes), named for its loud,......
bellbird
bellbird, any of several unrelated birds from various locations around the world that are named for their ringing......
bird of prey
bird of prey, any bird that pursues other animals for food; it is a famous apex predator (meaning without a natural......
bird-of-paradise
bird-of-paradise, (family Paradisaeidae), any of approximately 45 species of small to medium-sized forest birds......
bird-watching
bird-watching, the observation of live birds in their natural habitat, a popular pastime and scientific sport that......
bishop
bishop, any of several small African birds belonging to the family Ploceidae (order Passeriformes) and constituting......
bittern
bittern, any of 12 species of solitary marsh birds of the subfamily Botaurinae, family Ardeidae (order Ciconiiformes),......
black duck
black duck, (Anas rubripes), highly prized game bird (family Anatidae) of eastern North America, inhabiting salt,......
blackbird
blackbird, in the New World, any of several species belonging to the family Icteridae (order Passeriformes); also,......
blackcap
blackcap, (Sylvia atricapilla), common warbler from Europe and northwestern Africa to central Asia. It belongs......
blackpoll warbler
blackpoll warbler, species of woodwarbler...
blue jay
blue jay, (Cyanocitta cristata), large North American member of the bird family Corvidae known for its primarily......
blue penguin
blue penguin, (Eudyptula minor), species of penguin (order Sphenisciformes) characterized by its diminutive stature......
bluebird
bluebird, any of the three species of the North American genus Sialia of the chat-thrush group (family Turdidae,......
bluecap
bluecap, species of fairy wren...
bluethroat
bluethroat, (Erithacus svecicus or Luscinia svecica), Eurasian chat-thrush of the thrush family, Turdidae (order......
bobolink
bobolink, (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), American bird of the family Icteridae (order Passeriformes) that breeds in northern......
bobwhite
bobwhite, North American quail species. See...
Bombycillidae
Bombycillidae, songbird family, order Passeriformes, that includes waxwings (see waxwing), the silky flycatchers......
boobook
boobook, (Ninox novaeseelandiae), small owl species classified with elf owls, hawk owls, and burrowing owls in......
booby
booby, any of six or seven species of large tropical seabirds constituting the family Sulidae (order Pelecaniformes......
bowerbird
bowerbird, any of approximately 20 bird species that constitute the family Ptilonorhynchidae of the order Passeriformes.......
brambling
brambling, (species Fringilla montifringilla), songbird belonging to the family Fringillidae (order Passeriformes)......
brant
brant, (Branta bernicla), water bird that resembles small, short-necked forms of the Canada goose but is much darker......
bristlehead
bristlehead, (species Psittrichas fulgidus), parrot of the forested slopes of northern New Guinea, the sole species......
broadbill
broadbill, any of about 15 species of Old World tropical birds belonging to the family Eurylaimidae, order Passeriformes.......
brown pelican
brown pelican, (Pelecanus occidentalis), pelican species common along the southern U.S. coast. See...
brownbul
brownbul, any of certain bird species of the bulbul family. See...
budgerigar
budgerigar, popular species of parakeet...
buffalo weaver
buffalo weaver, either of the two African birds constituting the subfamily Bubalornithinae of the family Ploceidae.......
bufflehead
bufflehead, (Bucephala albeola), small, rapid-flying duck of the family Anatidae, which breeds in woodland ponds......
bulbul
bulbul, any of about 140 species of birds of the family Pycnonotidae (order Passeriformes) of Africa and Asia,......
bullbat
bullbat, common American species of nighthawk...
bullfinch
bullfinch, any of several stocky stout-billed songbirds of the families Fringillidae and Emberizidae (order Passeriformes).......
bunting
bunting, any of about 50 species of seed-eating birds of the families Emberizidae and Cardinalidae, in the Old......
burrowing owl
burrowing owl, (Athene cunicularia), small owl of the family Strigidae (order Strigiformes) that inhabits prairie......
bush-shrike
bush-shrike, any of certain African shrike...
bushtit
bushtit, (Psaltriparus minimus), gray bird of western North America, belonging to the songbird family Aegithalidae......
bustard
bustard, any of numerous medium-to-large game birds of the family Otididae, related to the cranes and rails in......
butcherbird
butcherbird, in general, any bird that impales its prey (small vertebrates, large insects) on a thorn or wedges......
buteo
buteo, any of several birds of prey of the genus Buteo, variously classified as buzzards or hawks. See buzzard;...
button quail
button quail, any of numerous small, round-bodied birds belonging to the family Turnicidae of the order Gruiformes.......
buzzard
buzzard, any of several birds of prey of the genus Buteo and, in North America, various New World vultures (family......
cacique
cacique, any of a dozen tropical American birds belonging to the family Icteridae (order Passeriformes) and resembling......
Calidris
Calidris, bird genus in the family Scolopacidae (order Charadriiformes), which includes the shorebirds known as......
California condor
California condor, (genus Gymnogyps californianus), New World vulture (family Cathartidae) that is the largest......
Callaeidae
Callaeidae, songbird family, order Passeriformes, collectively called wattlebirds (a name also applied to certain......
Campephagidae
Campephagidae, songbird family, order Passeriformes, including cuckoo-shrikes and minivets. The nearly 90 species,......
Canada goose
Canada goose, (Branta canadensis), a brown-backed, light-breasted North American goose with a black head and neck.......
canary
canary, (species Serinus canaria), popular cage bird of the family Fringillidae (order Passeriformes). It owes......
canvasback
canvasback, (Aythya valisineria), bay duck, or pochard, of the family Anatidae, one of the most popular of game......
capercaillie
capercaillie, European game bird of the grouse family. See...
Caprimulgidae
Caprimulgidae, bird family of the order Caprimulgiformes. Birds of this family are commonly called nightjars, from......
caprimulgiform
caprimulgiform, (order Caprimulgiformes), any of about 120 species of soft-plumaged birds, the major groups of......
caracara
caracara, any of about 10 species of birds of prey of the New World subfamily Polyborinae (or Daptriinae) of the......
cardinal
cardinal, any of various medium-size thick-billed species of songbirds of the New World, many with crested heads.......
Carduelidae
Carduelidae, formerly accepted name of a family of songbirds, order Passeriformes, consisting of about 112 species......
cassowary
cassowary, (genus Casuarius), any of several species of large flightless birds of the Australo-Papuan region. Cassowaries......
casuariiform
casuariiform, (order Casuariiformes), any member of a group of large, flightless birds that includes two families......
catbird
catbird, any of five bird species named for their mewing calls, which are used in addition to song. The North American......

Birds Encyclopedia Articles By Title