Class Aves

          This class include a big number of species belongs to the following groups :

 

1.       Order : Passeriformes

as Red-whiskered bulbul, Kanari birds and singing birds. Their peaks differ according to the type of food, the legs are thin to catch tree branches. Their color and size are different according to the environment they live in. The females lay eggs either on trees or on earth, some of them migrate and others do not.

 

2.       Order : Gruiformes :

Birds of this order are wild ones with big size and long neck and tail. They feed on seeds, grains, green plants, insects and some reptiles. They are considered the best hunting birds due to their nice meat taste. The Arabic Houbara are an example of this order.

 

3.       Order : Falconiformes :

          This order includes eagles, hawks. Eagles are characterized by huge bodies, long wings, short tails, strong feets and peals. They lay eggs at the top mountains (e.g. Golden eagle). Spotted eagles Aquila elanga are more stronger and fly higher. They are predators for rabbits, young lambs and birds. Hawks are medium-sized birds could be used in hunting (e.g. Sparrowhawk, Pale chanting goshawk, Meliera canorus).

 

4.       Order : Strgiformes (Family : Strigidae) :

 

          This family includes nocturnal birds which recognize their pry by sound, so they have highly developed ears (e. g. Barn owl, Tyts alba and Eagle owl, Bubo bubo).

 

5.       Family : Caprimulgidae :

 

          Members of this family are nocturnal feed on insects, their color simulate the environment color in which they live They look for food after sunset (e. g. European nightjar, Caprimulgus europeabo).

 

6.       Order : Cicolliiformes :

          This order includes birds with different sizes, the large ones have long legs, they have a rapid  movement in water, they lay eggs at the tops of trees, some of them migrate but others do not, they feed on fishes, reptiles and frogs (e. g. the grey heron, Ardea cimeria). The smaller ones live in groups, have small peaks, they migrate (e. g., Gry plover, Pluvialss squatarola).

 

7.       Family : Podicipedidae

          They are water birds with relatively large size, they spend a lot of time in water searching for food as fishes, insects and worms by their sharp peaks (e. g. Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis).

 

8.       Order : Anseriformes :

          They are water birds including geese and ducks- Geese have large body sizes with relatively short peaks, they swim perfectly as well as walking easily on earth, and can fly for long distances. They can feed on both plants and worms or insects (e. g. Mute swan, Gygnus olor). Ducks are smaller in size than geese, have broad peaks, they can swim easily, males are more beautifully colored than females (e. g. Domestic duck, Gairina sp.).

 

9.       Order : Columbiformes :

 

          This order includes pigeons, they are medium sized birds with abundant feathers, small heads, short necks, weak peaks and strong wings. They feed on grains and fruits, they are appearing in all types of environments. Males and females alternate on egg incubation and feeding of youngsters (e. g. Feral pigeon, Columba palumbus and turtle dove, Skreptopelia turtur).

 

10.     Order : Galliformes :

          This order includes hens, turkeys and quails, they run rapidly on earth and feed on grains and fresh green plants. Most of them were domesticated by humans due to the fine and better taste of their meat (e. g., Domesticated hen, Gallus domesticus).