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Bird Glossary of Terms |
Bird Dictionary Definition Information |
Alula : Three feathers springing from the base of the primaries.. Alular quill coverts : Feathers overlying the bases of alula. Alular quills : Three feathers springing from the base of the primaries. Auricular : Area around ear opening. Axillary : Ventral area between the body and the wing. Back : Dorsal part of the bird. Belly : Ventral part of the bird. Bill : Beak. Body : Main mass of the bird as distinguished from its appendages. Breast : Front part of the chest. Breast band : Stripe across the breast. Breast spot : Small, differently colored area on the breast. Cap : Top of the crown. Cere : Fleshy area between the beak and face. Cheek : Area bounded by lore, eye, auricular, and lower mandible. Chest : Front part of the body. Chin : Part of the face below the bill. Cloaca : The single opening in birds used for both reproduction and excrement. Cloacal kiss : Term used to describe copulation. Collar : Rear portion of crown. Comb : Colored area over eye found in males. Commissure : Base of the bill where the mandibles join. Crest : Tuft on the head. Crissum : Feathers covering underside of base of tail. Crown : Top of the head. Culmen : Upper ridge on bill. Dihedral : Wings of a flying bird held at an angle appearing to form a "V." Ear patch : Area around ear opening. Ears : Rounded, earlike areas on the face. Eye : Organ of sight. Eye line : Line of feathers in front of and behind the eye. Eye ring : Pale-colored feathers encircling the eye. Eyebrow : Line of feathers above the eye. Eyelid : Skin-fold covering the eye. Face : Front part of the head. Facial discs : Rounded, earlike areas on the face. Feet : Terminal part of the leg. Flank : Area between the belly and the wings, more posterior. Flank stripe : Band on the flanks. Flight feathers : Primaries and secondaries. Forehead : Part of the face above the eyes. Foreneck : Front part of the neck. Frontal shield : Extension of the bill onto the forehead. Gape : Base of the bill where the mandibles join. Gonys : Lowermost ridge on lower mandible. Gorget : Iridescent throat feathers on a hummingbird. Greater secondary coverts : Feathers overlying bases of secondaries. Gular region : Between the chin and the foreneck. Head : Upper part of the body. Head stripes : Bold lines on the head. Hindhead : Rear portion of crown. Hindneck : Back of the neck. Horns : Paired contour feathers arising from head. Inner primaries : Group of primaries closest to the body. Inner secondaries : Group of secondaries closest to the body. Inner wing : Shoulder, secondaries and secondary coverts. Iris : Colored part of eye. Jugulum : Front part of the neck. Knee : Joint in the middle part of the leg. Leading edge of wing : Front edge of the wing in flight. Leg : Limb used for supporting the bird. Lesser secondary coverts : Feathers overlying bases of median secondary coverts. Lore : Area between the eye and the bill. Lower mandible : Lower part of the bill. Lower mandibular tomia : Cutting edges of lower mandible. Malar stripe : Area at the sides of the chin. Mandibular ramus : Prong-like, posterior projection from bill. Mantle : Upper surface of the wings and the back. Marginal coverts : Feathers overlying bases of median secondary coverts. Median line : Stripe through the crown. Median secondary coverts : Feathers overlying bases of greater secondary coverts. Mustache : Area at the sides of the chin. Mouth : Cavity bounded by the bill. Nape : Back of the neck. Nasal canthus : Anterior corner of eye. Nasal fossa : Depression in which nostril is located. Neck : Part connecting the head to the main part of the body. Neck patch : Inflatable sac on neck used by males in courtship display. Nictitating membrane : Translucent, vertical fold under the eye lid. Nostril : External naris. NOcciput : Rear portion of crown. Operculum : Swollen structure in pigeons overarching the nostril. Outer primaries : Group of primaries farthest from the body. Outer secondaries : Group of secondaries farthest from the body. Outer tail feathers : Part of the tail farthest from the center. Outer wing : Alula and primaries. Patagial mark : Dark patch on leading edge of underside of inner wing. Pelagic : Living on the open ocean rather than coastal or inland bodies of water Pinnae : Projecting feathers. Plumes : Large, conspicuous, showy, feathers. Primaries : Flight feathers attached to the "hand." Primary coverts : Feathers protecting and covering the primaries. Primary numbering : System for assigning a number to each primary. Pupil : Contractile aperture in iris. Rectrices : Conspicuous feathers forming posterior margin of tail. Remiges : See primaries and secondaries. Rictal bristles : Stiffened feathers near bill. Rictus : Base of the bill where the mandibles join. Ruffs : Fringe of feathers growing on the neck. Rump : Area between the uppertail coverts and the back. Scapulars : Area of feathers between the back and the wings. Secondaries : Flight feathers attached to the "elbow." Secondary coverts : Feathers protecting and covering the secondaries. Shoulder : Feathers overlying bases of median secondary coverts. Side : Area between the belly and the wing. Side of neck : Area of neck between foreneck and hindneck. Spectacle : Eye ring and supraloral line together. Speculum : Highly colored area on secondaries of several ducks. Subterminal band : Stripe before tip of tail. Superciliary line : Line of feathers above the eye. Supercilium : Line of feathers above the eye. Supraloral line : Line of feathers above the lore. Tail : Feathers extending from the rear of the bird. Tail coverts : Under and uppertail coverts. Tail numbering : System for assigning a number to each tail feather. Tarsus : Part of the leg between the knee and the foot. Temporal canthus : Posterior corner of eye. Terminal band : Stripe at tip of tail. Tertiaries : Feathers adjoining the secondaries. Throatv : Front part of the neck. Throat patch : Front part of the neck. Tibia : Part of the leg above the knee. Toe : Digit attached to the feet. Trailing edge of wing : Rear edge of the wing in flight. Underparts : Belly, undertail coverts, chest, flanks, and foreneck. Undertail coverts : Feathers covering underside of base of tail. Underwing : Underside of wing. Upper mandible : Upper part of the bill. Upper mandibular tomia : Cutting edges of upper mandible. Upperparts : Back, rump, hindneck, wings, and crown. Uppertail coverts : Feathers covering upperside of base of tail. Upperwing : Upperside of wing. Vent : Opening of the cloaca or anus. Whisker : Area at the sides of the chin. Wing : Moveable feathered appendage. Wing bars : Pale tips of greater and median secondary coverts. Wing coverts : Primary and secondary coverts. Wing lining : Median, lesser and marginal coverts on underwing. Wing stripe : Paler area at base of flight feathers. Wingpit : Ventral area between the body and the wing. |
