A bird is a warm-blooded vertebrate animal that belongs to the class Aves. Birds are characterized by their feathers, beaked jaws, and the laying of hard-shelled eggs. They have a lightweight skeleton, which aids in flight, although some species are flightless. Birds are found in a wide variety of habitats around the world and exhibit a diverse range of sizes, colors, and behaviors.
Key features of birds include:
- Feathers: Unique to birds, feathers are essential for flight, insulation, and display.
- Beaks: Birds have beaks or bills that vary in shape and size, adapted to their feeding habits.
- Hollow Bones: Many birds have a lightweight skeletal structure with hollow bones, which helps reduce body weight for flight.
- Endothermy: Birds are warm-blooded, maintaining a constant body temperature regardless of their environment.
- Reproductive System: Birds lay eggs with hard shells, and many exhibit parental care for their young.
Birds are an important part of ecosystems, serving roles such as pollinators, seed dispersers, and predators. There are approximately 10,000 known species of birds, ranging from tiny hummingbirds to large ostriches.