Mikado Pheasant

What are birds?

Birds are vertebrates that evolved from reptiles, and are the only member of the animal kingdom that has feathers. They are endothermic, meaning their body temperature does not fluctuate with changes of the environmental temperature. Most birds can fly, exceptions that have lost this ability are penguins, domestic fowl, ostriches and a few others. Birds have excellent vision and some are able to see small prey when flying at great height above the ground. Birds eyes are relatively large when compared to the body, the structure of which is very different from that of other vertebrates. Birds have no teeth and have evolved a gizzard in which sand and grit is used to grind their food.