Talk:Bird anatomy

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Merge of Parabronchi
Also, check out Lung for some good stuff, and is there any way to contact the owner of this site and request we use his animation?
 * Merge - Jack (talk) 23:26, 18 June 2006 (UTC)
 * I suggest send up a wikipedia.org word for an improvement to an app to draw lungs. There are no professional user options to upload images when you export your images to it. Are you kind to name a wikipedia extension app for professional drawing? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 188.25.104.152 (talk) 18:48, 23 July 2011 (UTC)

Merge of Syrinx (biology)
→Riede, Tobias, et al. “The Evolution of the Syrinx: An Acoustic Theory.” PLoS Biology, vol. 17, no. 2, Feb. 2019, pp. 1–22. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.2006507. Let me know if this is a good fit for the section and final thoughts on merge vs. separate. 77lemonpie (talk) 03:02, 20 March 2021 (UTC)
 * Merge - Jack (talk) 23:26, 18 June 2006 (UTC)
 * Keep separate -A look at what links here indicates a number of links that are specific to this article. Moreove, I judge that it is likely to be expanded over the next year or two. Walter Siegmund (talk) 13:08, 24 October 2006 (UTC)
 * Keep separate - I was reading the passerine birds article and I clicked the link to find out what a syrinx is. I'm sure I'm not the only person to do so. Burying it in an anatomy article would be a shame. LittleOldMe 16:18, 8 December 2006 (UTC)
 * Keep separate' - I agree that it belongs in a separate article. Kaw in stl 15:27, 20 December 2006 (UTC)
 * Merge - I think that the syrinx could go under the preexisting sections under the beak since it's in the area or be put under the reproductive systems since it's mating related. Also, I could help the concern for more information since I have a scholarly source about the mechanics:

Merge of Bird skeleton

 * The following two comments were copied from talk:bird skeleton on 4 August 2006

How about merging the whole of bird skeleton into the bird anatomy article too? - Jack (talk) 00:58, 19 June 2006 (UTC)
 * In fact, I dont find the merging of the bird skeleton into the bird anatomy a bad idea. The reason is that they both are overview articles with inevitably overlapping contents. If we have articles about a particular term or concept merged into an overview article, it is quite uncomfortable to find the information needed in there (being for example redirected from pygostyle to bird anatomy). But the  articles of bird anatomy and bird skeleton are not explanations of particular terms but broader reviews probably read by people with almost the same point of interest (i.e. bird anatomy) Kaarel 08:39, 28 June 2006 (UTC)
 * Support. Would be a good opportunity for complete makeover, internal links. Carpometacarpus, Tibiotarsus and Tarsometatarsus are still missing, which is a shame, but partially due to the Skeleton article having hardly any really relevant wikilinks. Dysmorodrepanis

Image
The image at the top labeled "bird anatomy" is not bird anatomy. It is bird topography. Grr... Birdman1 talk/contribs 19:08, 22 March 2007 (UTC)
 * I've changed the caption, as you could have done - this is a wiki! Andy Mabbett 19:48, 22 March 2007 (UTC)

Reproduction
Much of the reproduction section is behavioral, not anatomical and doesn't belong in this article. Perhaps it can be moved to a more appropriate article or separated to a new article. Fredwerner 05:10, 28 June 2007 (UTC)

It appears that it's been moved to another article, but it hasn't yet been replaced with a more relevant section.

Inadequate referencing
This is a high importance article and there are lots of facts but far too little referencing. Please add references or this will never travel towards GA much less A or FA. AshLin 10:04, 8 August 2007 (UTC)
 * I remember reading an old book in my college days almost thirty years ago - Bird by Darling & Darling. It had much of the material to be covered here. Does anyone have a copy and could add the info here? AshLin 10:20, 8 August 2007 (UTC)

Bird bones
Bird bones are not hollow! They are comprised of crisscrossing pieces of bone fused to either end of the "hollow" bone. Adolph172 (talk) 22:41, 12 February 2008 (UTC)adolph172 I rather think that any bone could be rightly described as hollow, our bones are not bone through-and-through. It's a commonly used term for bird bones, but you are right that it does not express a clear picture of what's in a bird's bones.173.8.113.1 (talk) 15:43, 28 March 2012 (UTC)

- Recommended addition concerning the furcula I suggest that the follow sentence include either a mention of theropod dinosaurs also having a furcula, or simply adding that birds are the only "extant" animals to have them:

"Birds are the only vertebrate animals to have a fused collarbone (the furcula or wishbone) or a keeled sternum or breastbone." DreamOfShadows (talk) 05:05, 10 November 2009 (UTC)

The image of the Wing Muscles, which actually is included in the muscular system but I couldn't find that section in talk, has the furcula (i.e. wishbone) behind the supracoracoideus muscle. It should be in front. Strangetruther (talk) 21:26, 22 August 2012 (UTC)

It looks like the secondary subheading entitled "Vertebral column" needs a few more citations to verify information especially near the beginning and end of the section. I can check some of the already cited sources in this section to see if they apply and find new sources as needed.

Potential new sources include: Curtisag (talk) 17:51, 16 March 2021 (UTC)
 * Storer, Robert W. (1982). "Fused Thoracic Vertebrae in Birds: Their Occurrence and Possible Significance." Journal of the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology. 14(2-3): 86-95. doi.org/10.3312/jyio1952.14.86.
 * Rashid, Dana J.; Chapman, Susan C.; Larsson, Hans C.E.; Organ, Chris L.; Bebin, Anne-Gaelle; Merzdorf, Christa S.; Bradley, Roger; Horner, John R. (29-07-2014). "From dinosaurs to birds: a tail of evolution." EvoDevo Journal. 5: 25. doi.org/10.1186/2041-9139-5-25.

Additions to secondary sub-heading "Vertebral Column"

After more source hunting, I compiled enough information about the different sections of the bird vertebral column to expand each section into tertiary sub-headings. I also added two images visualizing the unique pelvic girdle of birds and the overall location of each vertebral section. Feel free to leave suggestions about these edits if needed.Curtisag (talk) 05:22, 15 May 2021 (UTC)

Image
I just uploaded this image to Commons and was wondering whether it could find some use in the article. mgiganteus1 (talk) 13:16, 1 October 2008 (UTC) -+- Nice and useful image. Deserves to be shown. Strangetruther (talk) 15:13, 17 July 2012 (UTC)

L. Shyamal's attempt to update his/her airsac diagram failed. Users cannot readily change the name of their images once uploaded, and perhaps the failure to update has something to do with that mechanism.Strangetruther (talk) 15:33, 17 July 2012 (UTC)

Bird breathing
I am completely 100% confused about how birds breathe, and neither this article, other websites I've found or a documentary I saw on television, have left me any the wiser. Could somebody PLEASE improve that part of the article? -OOPSIE- (talk) 18:54, 18 December 2008 (UTC)

I'm afraid it's a bit complex and a bit counter-intuitive. It took a surprisingly long time to get to our current understanding, and I think it holds a special place in the "basic biological systems not very well understood" rankings :-S. There aren't many who understand it well and who also take simple explanation seriously! The Bird_anatomy Wikipedia page isn't bad and adds detail. I'm glad you said that though... - Strangetruther (talk) 19:48, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

Air sacs
The article states
 * Development of an efficient respiratory system enabled the evolution of flight in birds.

I don't think there's enough evidence to support the word "enabled"; "facilitated" or "preceded" seem to be safer bets. Bats evolved to fly just fine with an inefficient two-way lung, so it's not clear why a one-way lung would have been necessary for the evolution of flight in birds.
 * air sacs, structures unique to birds

Snakes have air sacs. Maybe other reptiles too? Apes and whales have air sacs too but presumably they aren't related. AxelBoldt (talk) 01:42, 9 March 2009 (UTC)

I agree with AxelBoldt. The sentence
 * Development of an efficient respiratory system enabled the evolution of flight in birds.

suggests that animals with less efficient lung systems would not be able to fly, and as bats are the obvious comparison, it doesn't seem to make sense without being sharpened up. But I wonder if it's worth it. Somewhere it should be said that birds can fly higher than bats, and that could combine with the problem sentence, but further down the article. I think it shouldn't just stay as it is; it should be chopped unless/until someone is prepared to make authoritive comparisons with bats. Strangetruther (talk) 19:38, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

I'm going to remove the part that says that air is forced out of the posterior air sacs during inhalation. This would have the bird, literally, breaking the laws of physics. Boyle's law: PV=k.

The bird is inhaling, it's thoracoabdominal cavity is expanding therefore the posterior air sacs (which are inside the cavity) are expanding. Boyles law shows us that there is an inverse relation between pressure and volume for a constant mass of gas at a constant temperature. The air sacs are expanding therefore the pressure of the air inside them drops.

The posterior air sacs have open connections to the rest of the respiratory system and the air outside the bird. The air in the atmosphere is at a higher pressure therefore a pressure gradient is established and air blows into the air sacs to reduce the gradient.

There is no force that is forcing air out of these expanding air sacs. On the contrary, air is being forced into the air sacs due to the pressure gradient established by the work of inhalation (this is how inhalation works).

If you want to say that air is forced out of the posterior airsacs during inhalation then you need to name the force, say how the bird generates it, its mechanism of operation, how the bird maintains a steep pressure gradient between the sacs and the rest of the respiratory system (without physical valves), when this pressure gradient is eventually broken down, and where the air sacs get enough air to inflate the anterior air sacs given that the bird has just finished exhalation which should have emptied the posterior sacs.

The notion that air is forced out of the posterior sacs during inhalation is just nonsense. It really does not make sense. Frustratingnamesearch (talk) 09:17, 19 December 2015 (UTC)

Misplaced Air Sac Image

There seems to be an image that focuses on air sacs and respiration under the "Axial Skeleton" sub-heading. There are some good images under the respiratory section already, so I'm not sure the image is still needed. I included it below in case anyone else thinks it may add to the respiratory section. Curtisag (talk) 05:28, 15 May 2021 (UTC)

Do birds have a tongue?
I was just wondering and couldn't find the information in the article... 213.103.148.30 (talk) 20:13, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

Merge Bird anatomy with Scale (zoology)?
Hi,

I felt that scales are dealt with in 'Bird anatomy' far beyond what would be required. It could be shorter & concise with this section being transferred complete to 'Scale (zoology)'. Instead we need an equally detailed section on feathers, a unique evolutionary adaption of birds! 'Bird' has enough material to give a good start to feathers.

AshLin (talk) 09:43, 25 November 2009 (UTC)

Bone marrow
Do the non-hollow bones of birds contain bone marrow? If so, do all birds have some non-hollow bones? Or does some other part of the body serve the function marrow does in mammals? --ESP (talk) 14:57, 13 November 2010 (UTC)

A suggestion for this article...
Please re-read the section on bones, specifically the skull. There are a few adjectives in there that do not belong in a professional article. And it's not funny. It's things like that that cause respected Universities and Colleges to ban Wikipedia as a legitimate source in a paper. Clean up your act.68.36.101.124 (talk) 17:13, 11 May 2011 (UTC)
 * You are welcome to make improvements to the Wiki, and to remove vandalism. Snowman (talk) 14:16, 25 June 2011 (UTC)

In the section on the digestive system, it would be useful to explain the anatomy of the bird's mouth, it's bill. '“The entire mouth structure of a bird is called the bill,” said Larry Nemetz, DVM, a birds-only veterinarian in Santa Ana, California', while the beak is only the external part of the bill  Nozem (talk) 08:00, 11 April 2013 (UTC)

Merging Lore (anatomy) into this article
A new article has been created about the part between the beak and the eye. Surely this article is the place for that information? — Fly by Night  ( talk )  02:04, 18 June 2011 (UTC)
 * I see some logic there, but there is a lot of anatomy Stubs on the wiki. The "Lore (anatomy)" article has an informative image. I doubt if you could get all of bird anatomy with relevant illustrations on the "bird (anatomy)" article, so I suggest keeping this stub here. Snowman (talk) 14:03, 25 June 2011 (UTC)

Supracoracoideus picture
The picture currently shows the furcula (wishbone) behind the supracoracoideus muscle/tendon. I'm fairly sure it should be in front. Also, the way the tendon is carried round the top of the coracoid is not very well represented here. I made an upgraded and more complex version for my book but forgot to stop halfway to provide the upgrade for wiki, unfortunately. Strangetruther (talk) 19:31, 16 October 2012 (UTC)

Section on muscles
i needed some info about bird muscles, however, there aren't any references given! someone who knows about bird muscles PLEASE edit to add in bird muscle citations. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Number.6.freeman (talk • contribs) 10:51, 17 April 2013 (UTC)

Feathers
It's a little surprising that feathers do not have a short section here, with main links to Feathers and Flight feathers. I note that the anatomical illustration at top right includes terms such as Tertials and Lesser coverts, so it seems that feathers are at least sometimes considered part of the bird's anatomy. I'm not boldly adding it myself as this seems, like so many within this project, to be an article written by experts, and I prefer to leave it to them to decide on this. Justlettersandnumbers (talk) 12:14, 4 August 2013 (UTC)

Bird Kidneys
The section on bird kidney and "urinary" system seems wrong or incomplete, it talks about urine re absorption, but does not mention Uric acid production, the most noticeable part of bird faeces. Is this produced in the kidney, or somehow converted from soluble urea in the intestines, (since it comes out with the faeces). If so what is the mechanism to go from CO(NH2)2 to Uric acid? A C5 compound. Sensor97 (talk) 02:53, 12 July 2015 (UTC)

Hello everyone, I am planning to add "- Reptilian nephrons are more abundant but lack the distinctive loops of Henle seen in mammals. Because of the absence of the loop of Henle in birds, their ability to concentrate water doesn’t depend heavily on it. Water reabsorption depends entirely on the coprodeum and the rectum." this into the bird kidney section on May 2nd, 2022. Please let me know what you guys think and we can proceed accordingly. Bitran0205 (talk) 21:12, 29 April 2022 (UTC)

No feathers, no wings?
Astonishingly, there is no section on the wings of a bird. The article hardly mentions the word "wing" at all. The most prominent mention of feathers is in the section "scales". With these glaring omissions the article misses its topic by a large margin.

Unfortunately, I am not literate enough in bird anatomy to fill the gaps. But if someone with more knowledge reads this remark, please by all means go ahead and be bold!---&#60;)kmk(&#62;- (talk) 17:11, 1 September 2015 (UTC)

External links modified
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Possible Sections
Hello! My group is interested in adding a few additional heading with some specific info and we would love feedback!!!! Below you will find our thoughts and possible sources! Thank you!

I will be focusing on the digestive system, and specifically on the function of the Proventriculus as it works with the gizzard to break down larger food items.https://academic.oup.com/japr/article/23/2/306/761377/Function-of-the-digestive-system1

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hamida_Hamdi/publication/281656486_Anatomical_histological_and_histochemical_adaptations_of_the_avian_alimentary_canal_to_their_food_habits_I-Coturnix_coturnix/links/563681cb08aeb786b703f22c.pdf

IMMUNE SYSTEM

focusing on the bursa of fabricius; function and anatomy -Adrienne

Bursa of Fabricius

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8238949

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284170935_Bursa_of_Fabricius

Circulatory System -

focusing on the heart and its adaptations to improve efficiency allowing for flight.

http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/birdcirculatory.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2681264/

Nervous System -

focusing on the middle and inner ear and its adaptations that allow for improved distinguishing of auditory cues

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1294398/pdf/jrsocmed00087-0047.pdf

http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/276/1660/1355.short

— Preceding unsigned comment added by Adriennescarcella (talk • contribs) 16:43, 10 March 2017 (UTC)

Bursa of fabricius
I was wanting some feedback about the possible addition of this info.

Bursa of Fabricius (Immune System)[edit | edit source] Function[edit | edit source] The bursa of fabricius, also known as the cloacal bursa, is lymphoid organ which aids in the production of B-lymphocytes during Humoral immunity.[1] B lymphocyte, or B-cells, play a crucial role in the immune system producing antibodies. B-cells can recognize specific foreign substances, multiply rapidly, and attack the foreign substance. These B-cells will recognize the same foreign substances based off of the shape of the invader if the body is invaded again, which leads to immunity from an additional attack. This organ is present during juvenile stages but involutes after the sparrow reaches sexual maturity.[1] Anatomy[edit | edit source] The structure of the bursa of fabricius consists of a circular pouch connected to the dorsal side of the cloaca. The bursa is composed of many folds, known as plica, which are lined by follicles surrounded by mesenchyme.The bursa of fabricius is surrounded by 10,000 plus follicles that aid in producing an ideal microenvironment for the production of B-cells, while each follicle is encompassed by connective tissue. Each follicle is comprised of a cortex surrounding a medulla. The cortex houses the highly compacted B lymphocytes, while the medulla houses lymphocyte loosely.[2] The medulla is separated from the lumen by follicular-associated epithelium, that aids in the transport of epithelial cells into the lumine of the bursa.[3] Per follicle there are 150,000 B lymphocytes located. [2]! Note: I am trying to find an image still.

Adrienne — Preceding unsigned comment added by Adriennescarcella (talk • contribs) 05:12, 8 April 2017 (UTC)

Muscular System Edits
The muscular system could be expanded to further discuss the muscles involved in flight and the general muscular system of birds. I am working with a group of comparative anatomy students looking to add to this part of the page. Are there any thoughts on my expanding this? Kurtames (talk) 16:45, 9 March 2019 (UTC)Kurtames

Bird anatomy versus Respiratory system
Bird anatomy and Respiratory system say much of the same things, using mostly the same images and around 60% identical citations.

I collected the citations on each, and highlighted the duplicates. This may be useful to anyone who would like to merge them, compare them, or improve one using content from the other.

Bird_anatomy

References #47-55

Calder, William A. (1996). Size, Function, and Life History. Mineola, New York: Courier Dove Publications. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-486-69191-6.

Maina, John N. (2005). The lung air sac system of birds development, structure, and function; with 6 tables. Berlin: Springer. pp. 3.2–3.3 "Lung", "Airway (Bronchiol) System" 66–82. ISBN 978-3-540-25595-6.

Krautwald-Junghanns, Maria-Elisabeth; et al. (2010). Diagnostic Imaging of Exotic Pets: Birds, Small Mammals, Reptiles. Germany: Manson Publishing. ISBN 978-3-89993-049-8.

Whittow, G. Causey (2000). Sturkie's Avian Physiology. San Diego, California: Academic Press. pp. 233–241. ISBN 978-0-12-747605-6.

Ritchson, G. "BIO 554/754 – Ornithology: Avian respiration". Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University. Retrieved 2009-04-23.

Sturkie, P.D. (1976). Sturkie, P. D (ed.). Avian Physiology. New York: Springer Verlag. p. 201. doi:10.1007/978-1-4612-4862-0. ISBN 978-1-4612-9335-4. S2CID 36415426.

Scott, Graham R. (2011). "Commentary: Elevated performance: the unique physiology of birds that fly at high altitudes". Journal of Experimental Biology. 214 (15): 2455–2462. doi:10.1242/jeb.052548. PMID 21753038.

"Bird lung". Archived from the original on March 11, 2007.

Sinn-Hanlon, Janet. "Comparative Anatomy of the Chicken Heart". University Of Illinois.

Respiratory_system

References #44-53

Campbell, Neil A. (1990). Biology (2nd ed.). Redwood City, Calif.: Benjamin/Cummings Pub. Co. pp. 836–844. ISBN 0-8053-1800-3.

Whittow, G. Causey (2000). Sturkie's Avian Physiology. San Diego, California: Academic Press. pp. 233–241. ISBN 978-0-12-747605-6.

Ritchson, G. "BIO 554/754 – Ornithology: Avian respiration". Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University. Retrieved 2009-04-23.

Storer, Tracy I.; Usinger, R. L.; Stebbins, Robert C.; Nybakken, James W. (1997). General Zoology (sixth ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. pp. 752–753. ISBN 0-07-061780-5.

Romer, Alfred Sherwood (1970). The Vertebrate body (Fourth ed.). Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders. pp. 323–324. ISBN 0-7216-7667-7.

Scott, Graham R. (2011). "Commentary: Elevated performance: the unique physiology of birds that fly at high altitudes". Journal of Experimental Biology. 214 (Pt 15): 2455–2462. doi:10.1242/jeb.052548. PMID 21753038.

Maina, John N. (2005). The lung air sac system of birds development, structure, and function; with 6 tables. Berlin: Springer. pp. 3.2–3.3 "Lung", "Airway (Bronchiol) System" 66–82. ISBN 978-3-540-25595-6.

Krautwald-Junghanns, Maria-Elisabeth; et al. (2010). Diagnostic Imaging of Exotic Pets: Birds, Small Mammals, Reptiles. Germany: Manson Publishing. ISBN 978-3-89993-049-8.

Sturkie, P.D. (1976). Sturkie, P. D (ed.). Avian Physiology. New York: Springer Verlag. p. 201. doi:10.1007/978-1-4612-4862-0. ISBN 978-1-4612-9335-4. S2CID 36415426.

Ritchison, Gary. "Ornithology (Bio 554/754):Bird Respiratory System". Eastern Kentucky University. Retrieved 2007-06-27.

Intralexical (talk) 23:02, 1 February 2021 (UTC)

GK
Birds are the only animal with light thin growth on their bodies called 2409:4066:196:C478:E10E:D00B:650B:CE0C (talk) 09:39, 3 April 2022 (UTC)

How fragile are bird bones?
Birds are generally perceived to have hollow bones, and a lot of people I have talked to seem to assume that makes them fragile. I hoped Wikipedia would clarify this but I can't find an answer to the question anywhere. Please address this question somewhere on the Wiki, here or in the article on skeletal pneumatization. 2601:441:4900:A6E0:7DC6:1468:3C2A:A6E6 (talk) 18:13, 7 February 2023 (UTC)