Dichotomous Key/Neognathae
Key to Aves
edit- Phoenicopteridae: Large light pink to scarlet web-footed wading bird; Bill bent downward; Birds of brackish lakes. Flamingos.
- 2: Feet lobed or unlobed; small to large birds of various colors.
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edit- Trochilidae: Beak long and thin; Wings flap very rapidly, allowing it to hover; Generally feed on nectar. Hummingbirds.
- 5: Beak short; Does not generally flap wings very rapidly; Usually insectivorous.
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edit- 6: Nocturnal and carnivorous, feeding mostly on insects and small rodents; generally fly almost silently; Feathers have few radiates and longer pennulum; Large, tubular shaped eyes unable to move; Ear placement asymmetrical. Owls.
- 7: Nocturnal or diurnal with various feeding habits; Generally make noise during flight; Small, round eyes.
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edit- Apodidae: Not able to perch; Tail not deeply forked; Crest not present on head. Swifts.
- Hemiprocnidae: Able to perch; Tail deeply forked; Crest present on head. Treeswifts.
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edit- Strigidae: Inner toe shorter than third toe, which has a smooth edge; Circular facial disk; Four notches present in sternum which is not fused to the furcula. True owls.
- Tytonidae: Inner toe is the same size as other toes and has a pectinate claw; Heart-shaped facial disk; Two notches present in sternum which is fused to the furcula. Barn owls.
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edit- 8: Strong, curved bill; Two clawed toes face forward and two clawed toes face backward; Generally vividly multi-colored and eat seeds, nuts, fruit, buds, or other plant material.
- 9: Various bill shapes, but generally not strongly curved downward; Various dactyly, but generally not two claws forward and two backward.
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- Cacatuoidea (cockatoos), 21 species
- Psittacoidea (true parrots), 330 species
- Strigopoidea (New Zealand parrots), 9 species (excluding Kakapo- flightless)
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- Accipitridae (eagles, hawks, old world vultures)
- Pandion haliaetus (Osprey), 1 species
- Falconidae (Falcons & caracaras), ~60 species
- Sagittariius serpentarius (Secretarybird), 1 species
- Cathartidae (New World vulture), 7 species
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- Diomedeidae (albatrosses), 21 species (debated)
- Hydrobatidae (storm petrels), 7 species
- Pelecanoididae (diving petrels), 4 species
- Procellariidae, ~70 species
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edit- Opisthocomus hoazin: spiky reddish-brown crest present on head; Unfeathered blue face and red eyes; Manure-like odor.
- 14: Crest absent or if present, not spiky and reddish-brown.
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edit- Podicipedidae: Plumage is dense and waterproof; the underside the feathers are at right-angles to the skin, sticking straight out to begin with and curling at the tip. Grebes.
- 15: Plumage may or may not be waterproof, but if it is, feathers not at right angles to skin.
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