Birds, PAS-SIS
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.
Birds Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Passenger pigeon
Passenger pigeon, (Ectopistes migratorius), migratory bird hunted to extinction by humans. Billions of these birds......
Passeriform
Passeriform, (order Passeriformes), any member of the largest order of birds and the dominant avian group on Earth......
Pauraque
Pauraque, (Nyctidromus albicollis), nocturnal bird of brushlands from southern Texas to northern Argentina. It......
Peacock
Peacock, any of three species of resplendent birds of the pheasant family, Phasianidae (order Galliformes). Strictly,......
Pelecaniform
Pelecaniform, (order Pelecaniformes), any of the relatively large and diverse group of aquatic birds that share......
Pelican
Pelican, any of seven or eight species of water birds in the genus Pelecanus constituting the family Pelecanidae......
penguin
penguin, (order Sphenisciformes), any of 18β21 species of flightless marine birds that live only in the Southern......
Peppershrike
Peppershrike, (family Cyclarhidae), either of two species of stout-billed tropical American songbirds (order Passeriformes).......
Perching duck
Perching duck, any of the species of the tribe Cairinini, family Anatidae (order Anseriformes), waterfowl that......
Peregrine falcon
Peregrine falcon, (Falco peregrinus), the most widely distributed species of bird of prey, with breeding populations......
Petrel
Petrel, any of a number of seabirds of the order Procellariiformes, particularly certain members of the family......
Pewee
Pewee, any of eight species of birds of the genus Contopus (family Tyrannidae); it is named for its call, which......
Phalarope
Phalarope, (Greek: βcoot-footβ), any of three species of shorebirds that are part of the family Scolopacidae (order......
Pheasant
Pheasant, any bird of the family Phasianidae (order Galliformes) that is larger than a quail or partridge. Most......
Philepittidae
Philepittidae, bird family, order Passeriformes, consisting of the asities and false sunbirds, four species of......
Philippine eagle
Philippine eagle, (Pithecophaga jefferyi), large bird of prey inhabiting mountainous rainforests on the Philippine......
Phoebe
Phoebe, (genus Sayornis), any of three species of New World birds in the genus Sayornis of the family Tyrannidae......
Picidae
Picidae, bird family of the order Piciformes that includes woodpeckers, piculets, and wrynecks. The 210 species......
Piciform
Piciform, (order Piciformes), any member of the group of birds that includes the familiar woodpeckers and their......
Piculet
Piculet, any of about 29 species of small, stub-tailed birds related to the woodpeckers and constituting the subfamily......
Pigeon
Pigeon, any of several hundred species of birds constituting the family Columbidae (order Columbiformes). Smaller......
Pileated woodpecker
Pileated woodpecker, (Dryocopus pileatus), species of large nonmigratory woodpecker known for its black plumage,......
Pintail
Pintail, any of four species of sleek, long-tailed, long-necked dabbling ducks of the genus Anas (family Anatidae).......
Pipit
Pipit, any of about 50 species of small slender-bodied ground birds in the genera Anthus and Tmetothylacus in the......
Pitta
Pitta, (family Pittidae), any of about 30 species of exceptionally colourful Old World birds making up genus Pitta......
Plains wanderer
Plains wanderer, (species Pedionomus torquatus), Australian bird resembling a tiny quail. It has a mottled reddish......
Plantcutter
Plantcutter, any of three species of South American birds of the family Phytotomidae (order Passeriformes), with......
Ploceidae
Ploceidae, songbird family, order Passeriformes, including the bishops, weavers, and their allies. The approximately......
Plover
Plover, any of numerous species of plump-breasted birds of the shorebird family Charadriidae (order Charadriiformes).......
Pochard
Pochard, (tribe Aythyini), any of the 14 to 16 species of diving ducks of the tribe Aythyini (family Anatidae,......
Poorwill
Poorwill, (species Phalaenoptilus nuttallii), nocturnal bird of North America belonging to the nightjar family......
Potoo
Potoo, (genus Nyctibius), any of seven species of solitary, nocturnal birds of the American tropics. Its name imitates......
Poultry
Poultry, in animal husbandry, birds raised commercially or domestically for meat, eggs, and feathers. Chickens,......
Pratincole
Pratincole, any of six or seven Old World shorebird species constituting the subfamily Glareolinae of the family......
Prinia
Prinia, any bird of the large genus Prinia, belonging to the Old World warbler family, Sylviidae. Prinias are sometimes......
Prion
Prion, any of several species of small Antarctic seabirds of the genus Pachyptila, in the family Procellariidae......
Procellariiform
Procellariiform, (order Procellariiformes), any of the group of seabirds that includes the albatrosses (family......
Psittaciform
Psittaciform, (order Psittaciformes), any member of the group of more than 360 species of generally brightly coloured......
Ptarmigan
Ptarmigan, any of three or four species of partridgelike grouse of cold regions, belonging to the genus Lagopus......
Puffbird
Puffbird, any of about 34 species of tropical American birds that constitute the family Bucconidae (order Piciformes).......
Puffin
Puffin, any of three species of diving birds that belong to the auk family, Alcidae (order Charadriiformes). They......
Pygmy owl
Pygmy owl, any of about 12 species of small owls in the family Strigidae. They are distributed through parts of......
Quail
Quail, any of roughly 130 species of small short-tailed game birds classified in the families Phasianidae and Odontophoridae......
Quelea
Quelea, (Quelea quelea), small brownish bird of Africa, belonging to the songbird family Ploceidae (order Passeriformes).......
Quetzal
Quetzal, (genus Pharomachrus), any of five species of colourful birds belonging to the genus Pharomachrus of the......
Rail
Rail, any of 127 species of slender, somewhat chicken-shaped marsh birds, with short rounded wings, short tail,......
Rail-babbler
Rail-babbler, any member of the songbird subfamily Orthonychinae (order Passeriformes), placed by some authorities......
Raptor
Raptor, in general, any bird of prey; the term raptor is sometimes restricted to birds of the order Falconiformes......
Ratite
Ratite, any bird whose sternum (breastbone) is smooth, or raftlike, because it lacks a keel to which flight muscles......
Raven
Raven, any of approximately 10 species of heavy-billed dark birds, larger than crows. Closely related, both ravens......
Razor-billed auk
Razor-billed auk, (Alca torda), black and white seabird of the North Atlantic, bearing a sharp, heavy, compressed......
Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae, bird family (order Charadriiformes) composed of seven species of moderately large (29β48 cm [11β19......
Red-tailed hawk
Red-tailed hawk, (Buteo jamaicensis), North American bird of prey (family Accipitridae) best known for its wide......
Redhead
Redhead, (Aythya americana), North American diving duck (family Anatidae), a popular game bird. The redhead breeds......
Redshank
Redshank, either of two species of Old World shorebirds of the family Scolopacidae (order Charadriiformes), characterized......
Redstart
Redstart, any of about 11 bird species of the Old World chat-thrush genus Phoenicurus (family Muscicapidae) or......
Reedling
Reedling, (species Panurus biarmicus), songbird often placed in the family Panuridae (order Passeriformes) but......
Remizidae
Remizidae, bird family (order Passeriformes) that contains the penduline tits and, usually, the verdin. Some authorities......
Rhea
Rhea, either of two species of large, flightless birds in the family Rheidae, order Rheiformes. They are native......
Ring-necked duck
Ring-necked duck, (species Aythya collaris), diving duck (family Anatidae), a popular game bird that is considered......
Roadrunner
Roadrunner, either of two species of terrestrial cuckoos, especially Geococcyx californianus, of the deserts of......
Robin
Robin, either of two species of thrushes (family Turdidae) distinguished by an orange or dull reddish breast. The......
Rockfowl
Rockfowl, either of the two species of western African birds, genus Picathartes, constituting the subfamily Picathartinae,......
Rockhopper penguin
Rockhopper penguin, either of two species of crested penguins (genus Eudyptes, order Sphenisciformes) characterized......
Roller
Roller, any of about 12 species of Old World birds constituting the family Coraciidae (order Coraciiformes), named......
Rook
Rook, (Corvus frugilegus), the most abundant Eurasian bird of the crow family Corvidae (q.v.). It resembles the......
Rosefinch
Rosefinch, any of the 21 or so species of the genus Carpodacus, of the songbird family Fringillidae. Rosefinches......
Royal penguin
Royal penguin, (Eudyptes schlegeli), species of crested penguin (genus Eudyptes, order Sphenisciformes) characterized......
Ruff
Ruff, (Philomachus pugnax), in zoology, Old World bird of the sandpiper subfamily Calidritinae (family Scolopacidae,......
Saddleback
Saddleback, (Creadion, sometimes Philesturnus, carunculatus), rare songbird of the family Callaeidae (Callaeatidae)......
Sanderling
Sanderling, (Calidris alba; sometimes Crocethia alba), abundant shorebird, a worldwide species of sandpiper belonging......
Sandgrouse
Sandgrouse, (order Pteroclidiformes), any of 16 species of birds of Asian and African deserts. According to some......
Sandhill crane
Sandhill crane, (Grus canadensis), Crane species (family Gruidae), 35β43 inches (90β110 cm) long, with a red crown,......
Sandpiper
Sandpiper, any of numerous shorebirds belonging to the family Scolopacidae (order Charadriiformes), which also......
Sapsucker
Sapsucker, either of two species of North American woodpeckers of the family Picidae (order Piciformes), noted......
Scaup
Scaup, (genus Aythya), any of three species of diving ducks (family Anatidae). The greater scaup (A. marila), also......
Scimitar-babbler
Scimitar-babbler, any of about 12 species of songbirds of the babbler family Timaliidae (order Passeriformes),......
Scoter
Scoter, (genus Melanitta), any of three species of sea duck of the family Anatidae. Within the divisions of true......
Screamer
Screamer, any of three species of South American waterfowl constituting the family Anhimidae (order Anseriformes).......
Screech owl
Screech owl, (genus Megascops), any of approximately 25 species of New World owls known for their shrill calls......
Scrub-bird
Scrub-bird, either of two species of rare Australian birds comprising the family Atrichornithidae (order Passeriformes),......
Scythebill
Scythebill, any of several birds of Central and South American tropical forests, belonging to the genus Campylorhamphus.......
Sea eagle
Sea eagle, any of various large fish-eating eagles (especially in the genus Haliaeetus), of which the bald eagle......
Secretary bird
Secretary bird, (Sagittarius serpentarius), bird of prey (family Sagittaridae) of the dry uplands of Africa, the......
Seedeater
Seedeater, broadly, any songbird that lives chiefly on seeds and typically has a more or less strong conical bill......
Seedsnipe
Seedsnipe, any of four species of South American birds comprising the family Thinocoridae (order Charadriiformes).......
Seriema
Seriema, South American bird of grasslands, constituting the family Cariamidae (order Gruiformes). There are two......
Sharpbill
Sharpbill, (Oxyruncus cristatus), bird of rain forests in scattered localities from Costa Rica southward to Paraguay.......
Shearwater
Shearwater, any member of more than a dozen species of long-winged oceanic birds belonging to the family Procellariidae......
Sheathbill
Sheathbill, (family Chionididae), either of two species of white stout-billed Antarctic shorebirds making up genus......
Sheldgoose
Sheldgoose, any of the larger members of the duck tribe Tadornini, family Anatidae (order Anseriformes). The smaller......
Shelduck
Shelduck, any of the smaller members of the duck tribe Tadornini, family Anatidae (order Anseriformes). The larger......
Shoebill
Shoebill, (Balaeniceps rex), large African wading bird, a single species that constitutes the family Balaenicipitidae......
Short-eared owl
Short-eared owl, (Asio flammeus), stocky bird of prey of the family Strigidae (order Strigiformes), about 40 cm......
Shoveler
Shoveler, any of four species of dabbling ducks in the genus Anas (family Anatidae) with large, long, spoon-shaped......
Shrike
Shrike, (family Laniidae), any of approximately 30 species of medium-sized predatory birds (order Passeriformes);......
Shrike-vireo
Shrike-vireo, (genus Vireolanius), any of about four species of tropical American songbirds, characterized by a......
Silky flycatcher
Silky flycatcher, (family Ptilogonatidae), any of four arboreal bird species found in dry, brushy regions from......
Silverbill
Silverbill, any of several birds named for bill colour. Some finches of the genus Lonchura (see munia) are called......
Siskin
Siskin, any of about 20 small brown-streaked birds, marked with yellow, that belong chiefly to the genus Carduelis......