Vocabulary

__Vocabulary __ __Ornithology __- a branch of zoology that centers around the study of birds

__Sexual Color Dimorphism __ - a phenomenon in which the males and females of a sp ecies have different markings or colorations in order to display gender

__Cere __ - the band above a bird's beak that holds the nostrils; sexually color dimorphic for some species

__Molt __ - to shed the feathers (in a bird's case) in preparation of new, incoming feathers

__Pin Feathers__ - a "pin feather" refers to the keratin casing around a bird's new incoming feather; these are very sensitive until the keratin casing slides off, revealing the new feather   __Wingspan__ - the measurement of the wings from one wingtip to another

__Gizzard__ - an organ found in some birds that is comprised of thick, muscular walls and is used to grind up food in order to aide digestion  <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Invasive Species__ - a species that is non-native that outcompetes native animals for the same resources <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Clutch__ - term for the number of eggs laid by a female bird in one nest attempt

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Carrion__ - decaying flesh <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Preening__ - the process by which birds clean themselves and spread oils throughout their feathers <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Uropygial Gland__ - the gland which secretes the preening oils used for hygiene and protection from water <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Follicle__ - specialized group of cells in the epidermis from which feathers grow <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Endotherm__ - animal that maintains an internal body temperature (NOT affected by the surrounding temperatures) <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Cache__ - to save or store food for a later use; a hidden food storage site

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Flank__ - the area of a bird from the edge of the wing to the hip

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Gleaning__ - a foraging method in which a bird with methodically pick over an area in order to collect food

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Hood__ - a specific marking on field birds that resembles a hood

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Aviary__ - a housing for birds, usually very large

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Brood__ - a group of young birds hatched at the same time

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Georgia,serif;">__Altricial__ - birds that hatch naked (having no feathers or very small amounts of down) and blind