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Bird Anatomy

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Learning about how your pet bird's body works is a fundamental part of being a responsible bird owner. Birds are physiologically unique and many parts of their bodies drastically differ from our own. This article will explore the unique aspects of your pet birds anatomy.

External Bird Anatomy

Beak: The beak is an extension of the jaw bone and is covered in keratin.

Eye: Birds have extremely accurate vision. Their eyes can contain five times as many receptor cells than humans.

Wings: A birds wings are composed of a series of small thin bones. The wings are home to several different kinds of feathers. These include: The Primary Flight Feathers, the Secondary Flight Feathers, the Main Coverts, the Lesser Coverts, the Tertials and the Alula.

Foot: Birds feet and legs are generally structured for flight, climbing and grasping. The feet and legs are covered in tougher skin than the rest of the body since birds spend most of the time perching.

Anus: The bird passes waste through this external opening.

Tail: A birds tail helps the bird steer during flight. The muscles of the tail also help with lung expansion for extra air when in flight.

Internal Anatomy

Brain: Birds are very intelligent creatures with a high capacity for learning.

Spinal Column: The spinal column runs the length of their bodies and encases the spinal chord. The spinal chord is a part of the central nervous system and acts as a relay system between the brain and the muscles.

Trachea: The trachea is a long tube that transports air from the throat to the lungs.

Lung: Lungs diffuse air through the bird's bloodstream. Avian lungs only allow air to flow one direction ensuring a constant oxygen supply.

Esophagus: The esophagus is a tube that transports food from the mouth to the crop.

Crop: The crop is where birds hold their food before digestion. It is composed of layers of muscle tissue that hold and soften the food.

Gizzard: A gizzard is used to grind the bird's food into a pulp and is composed of tough muscle tissue which contains roughage.

Kidneys: Kidneys filter out any waste found in the liquids that the bird ingest.

Heart: The heart is composed of four chambers. It pumps oxygen rich blood throughout the birds body. A bird's heart beats incredibly fast some species have a resting rate of over 500 beats per minute.

Liver: The Liver eliminates any toxins in the bird's body.

Ureter: The ureter is a tube that allows liquid waste to be expelled from the birds body.

Intestines: Intestines digest food pumped into them from the gizzard. They absorb the nutrients and then push the waste to the rectum.

Rectum: The rectum is where waste gathers before being expelled through the anus.

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