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Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular birds in the family Caprimulgidae / ˌ k æ p r ɪ ˈ m ʌ l dʒ ɪ d iː / and order Caprimulgiformes, characterised by long wings, short legs, and very short bills. They are sometimes called bugeaters, [1] their primary source of food being insects. Some New World species are called nighthawks.
Over 1.5 million living animal species have been described—of which around 1 million are insects—but it has been estimated there are over 7 million in total. Animals range in size from 8.5 millionths of a metre to 33.6 metres (110 ft) long and have complex interactions with each other and their environments, forming intricate food webs.
Galliformes / ˌ ɡ æ l ɪ ˈ f ɔːr m iː z / is an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding birds that includes turkeys, chickens, quail, and other landfowl.Gallinaceous birds, as they are called, are important in their ecosystems as seed dispersers and predators, and are often reared by humans for their meat and eggs, or hunted as game birds.
Birds have wings whose development varies according to species; the only known groups without wings are the extinct moa and elephant birds. Wings, which are modified forelimbs , gave birds the ability to fly, although further evolution has led to the loss of flight in some birds , including ratites , penguins , and diverse endemic island species.
Passerines, the "song birds". This is the largest order of birds and contains more than half of all birds. Family Acanthisittidae. Genus Acanthisitta - rifleman; Genus Xenicus - New Zealand wrens; Family Acanthizidae - scrubwrens, thornbills, and gerygones Genus Acanthiza – thornbill; Genus Acanthornis – scrubtit; Genus Aethomyias ...
In this list of birds by common name 11,278 extant and recently extinct (since 1500) bird species are recognised. [1] Species marked with a "†" are extinct. Contents
A large white species similar to Eurasian spoonbill, from which it can be distinguished by its pink face and usually paler bill. Its food includes insects and other small creatures, and it nests in trees, marshes or rocks. Africa and Madagascar: Royal spoonbill (Platalea regia) A large white spoonbill with a black face.
The role of some species of birds as pests has been well known, particularly in agriculture. Granivorous birds such as the queleas in Africa are among the most numerous birds in the world, and foraging flocks can cause devastation. [107] [108] Many insectivorous birds are also noted as beneficial in agriculture.