WILDLIFE BIOLOGY LAB EXAM #3
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
ANSWERS
Mourning Dove - Answer-Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Zenaida macroura
-Year-round resident
-Open habitats, urban areas (feeder regular)
-Granivorous
-Forms monogamous pair bonds
-Chicks hatch altricial(fed crop milk by parents)
Glandular stomach (proventriculus) - Answer-low pH and enzymes for protein
breakdown
Gizzard - Answer-keratinized plates specialized for mechanical digestion
Cloaca - Answer-common exit for excretory, digestive, and reproductive systems
Diurnal raptors - Answer-Order: Accipitriformes
-~ 250 species worldwide
-Eagles, hawks, vultures, kites
-Most have hooked beak and sharp claws (talons)
-Most are carnivorous, many are predatory while some scavenge
-Low reproductive rates, mostly monogamous
New World Vultures - Answer-Family: Cathartidae
-7 species, North and South America
-Scavengers (carrion eaters)
-Most have a bald, featherless head
-Some have strong senses of smell (rare for birds in general)
-Form symbioses with microbes in their gut that help them break down rotting flesh
Turkey Vulture - Answer-Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Cathartidae Cathartesaura
-Large black and brown bodied, red head and white beak on adults
-Habitat generalist
-Nests in hollow trees
-Feeds on carrion
-Partially migratory
Hawks, Eagles, Kites - Answer-Family: Accipitridae
-Includes many familiar diurnal raptor species
-Most are predators, however Old Worldvultures are part of this family
-Large variation in body size
-Some soar in search of food while others power their flight closer to the ground
, -Wide variety of habitats occupied
Cooper's Hawk - Answer-Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Accipiter cooperii
-Medium-sized raptor, adults slate-blue dorsum, barred red venter
-Forests, forest edges, urban areas
-Fast, maneuverable flier
-Feeds upon birds and small mammals
-Nest in tall trees
Red-tailed Hawk - Answer-Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Buteo jamaicensis
-Medium-large brown raptor, adults have reddish-brown tail
-Habitat generalist, usually found in more open areas than Cooper's hawk
-Uses high perches to scan for prey
-Small mammals, birds, and reptiles
-Partially migratory
Falcons - Answer-Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Falcons-~ 60 species worldwide
-Diurnal raptors
-Not closely related to the Accipitriformes
-Convergent evolution
-Typically fast fliers, aerial predators
American Kestrel - Answer-Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Falco sparverius
-Small raptor, sexually dimorphic(males red and blue, females brown)
-Open habitats (ag fields, grasslands)
-Often perch on wires, can hover in midair
-Feeds upon insects and small mammals
-Cavity nester
True Owls - Answer-Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
-~ 220 species worldwide
-Most are nocturnal raptors
-Mainly solitary
-Large, forward-facing eyes
-Can rotate head up to 270 degrees
-Cryptic plumage and mostly silent flight
Barred Owl - Answer-Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Strix varia
-Large raptor, brown horizontal and vertical bars
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
ANSWERS
Mourning Dove - Answer-Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Zenaida macroura
-Year-round resident
-Open habitats, urban areas (feeder regular)
-Granivorous
-Forms monogamous pair bonds
-Chicks hatch altricial(fed crop milk by parents)
Glandular stomach (proventriculus) - Answer-low pH and enzymes for protein
breakdown
Gizzard - Answer-keratinized plates specialized for mechanical digestion
Cloaca - Answer-common exit for excretory, digestive, and reproductive systems
Diurnal raptors - Answer-Order: Accipitriformes
-~ 250 species worldwide
-Eagles, hawks, vultures, kites
-Most have hooked beak and sharp claws (talons)
-Most are carnivorous, many are predatory while some scavenge
-Low reproductive rates, mostly monogamous
New World Vultures - Answer-Family: Cathartidae
-7 species, North and South America
-Scavengers (carrion eaters)
-Most have a bald, featherless head
-Some have strong senses of smell (rare for birds in general)
-Form symbioses with microbes in their gut that help them break down rotting flesh
Turkey Vulture - Answer-Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Cathartidae Cathartesaura
-Large black and brown bodied, red head and white beak on adults
-Habitat generalist
-Nests in hollow trees
-Feeds on carrion
-Partially migratory
Hawks, Eagles, Kites - Answer-Family: Accipitridae
-Includes many familiar diurnal raptor species
-Most are predators, however Old Worldvultures are part of this family
-Large variation in body size
-Some soar in search of food while others power their flight closer to the ground
, -Wide variety of habitats occupied
Cooper's Hawk - Answer-Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Accipiter cooperii
-Medium-sized raptor, adults slate-blue dorsum, barred red venter
-Forests, forest edges, urban areas
-Fast, maneuverable flier
-Feeds upon birds and small mammals
-Nest in tall trees
Red-tailed Hawk - Answer-Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Buteo jamaicensis
-Medium-large brown raptor, adults have reddish-brown tail
-Habitat generalist, usually found in more open areas than Cooper's hawk
-Uses high perches to scan for prey
-Small mammals, birds, and reptiles
-Partially migratory
Falcons - Answer-Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Falcons-~ 60 species worldwide
-Diurnal raptors
-Not closely related to the Accipitriformes
-Convergent evolution
-Typically fast fliers, aerial predators
American Kestrel - Answer-Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Falco sparverius
-Small raptor, sexually dimorphic(males red and blue, females brown)
-Open habitats (ag fields, grasslands)
-Often perch on wires, can hover in midair
-Feeds upon insects and small mammals
-Cavity nester
True Owls - Answer-Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
-~ 220 species worldwide
-Most are nocturnal raptors
-Mainly solitary
-Large, forward-facing eyes
-Can rotate head up to 270 degrees
-Cryptic plumage and mostly silent flight
Barred Owl - Answer-Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Strix varia
-Large raptor, brown horizontal and vertical bars
