The inability of some birds to fly
Flightless birds have wings, but they are generally smaller and less developed than other flying birds, and they have different forms of feathers, they can be fine or fluffy like fur, or small and compact for form insulating material while swimming, and the wing bones of birds do not fly lower than other birds.[١]
They can be fused with each other, making the wings less able to move in order to fly, in addition to the fact that most of these birds do not have a crossbar of the sternum, which is the part of the bones that is associated with the muscles of flight.[١]
These birds adapt to the environment to compensate for their inability to fly, using strong legs, swimming feet, and other adaptations that help them survive.[١]
Certain Types of Flightless Birds
There are many types of flightless birds, and here are some examples:
penguin
Not all types of penguins can fly, but they can swim and dive, as they have short legs and a stocky build which makes their gaits distinctive, and most types of penguins live in high latitudes, but a few live in temperate climates. , in addition to this, the Galapagos penguin lives in the regions of the equator.[٢]
ostrich
The ostrich is the largest bird in the world and the fastest flightless bird, as it can run at speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour and often uses running as a means of defence. These birds also lay the largest eggs of any bird. the world.[٣]
wiccan
This bird is located in New Zealand, it is the size of a chicken and it has four subspecies.These birds feed on plant parts and invertebrates, and they are among the birds at risk, because they are the prey of dogs and cats.[٣]
kiwi bird
There are five types of kiwi birds that live in New Zealand, and they are brown, chicken-sized birds, and they have soft, hairy feathers, hidden wings, and nostrils at the end of their beaks. .[٢]
cassowary
This bird is found in Papua New Guinea, northeast Australia, and some other Australian islands. It is a ferocious bird, which has a violent nature and strong claws. Human and animal deaths have been recorded because of this. This bird feeds on fruits, mushrooms, insects, etc… Of the three species of cassowary, the southern cassowary is the third longest bird in the world.[٣]
river ducks
There are 4 varieties of river ducks; Three of these species cannot fly, and even the flying type is heavy and the male cannot take off, and it is stated that this type of bird lives in South America, and it is very aggressive, because these birds engage in bloody disputes with each other for the lands they live in. It is also famous for its ability to kill waterfowl many times its size.[٤]
River ducks are adept at swimming, as they use their wings to beat the water, while their feet help them swim, so these birds do not need to fly. where the ducks feed crustaceans, small fish, molluscs and insect larvae.[٥]
Kakapo bird
It is known as the owl parrot; Because his face is the face of an owl, and his stance is like that of a penguin, and his gait is like the gait of a duck, while his feathers are greenish-brown and shiny, and he is regarded as the heaviest parrot in the world, and is said to live in New Zealand.[٤]
It is to highlight that The Kakapo is completely vegetarian, with its diet including leaves, buds, flowers, fern fronds, bark, roots, fruits, and seeds; Therefore, he can get his food without stealing.[٦]
takahi bird
The takahi bird lives in New Zealand, and it is a colorful bird, its feathers are blue and green, and its beak is red, and it lives for twenty years, and it is considered a long life for birds, and it also has a great ability to hide, and for this reason it was believed to be extinct, until it was reported about it in 1948.[٤]
The takahi bird feeds mainly on the base of the leaves of the tusuk plant species and its seeds, but in winter when the snow becomes heavy, it moves to the forest and feeds mainly on the roots of the green fern d ‘summer.[٧]
Takahi has a hard, pointed beak. Its beak is able to cut the base of tosuchus and the roots of ferns. This is why it can live on the ground without needing to fly. It is often found around damp areas where grass and weeds abound.[٨]
the critic
- ^ a B J MELISSA MAYNTZ (November 24, 2017), “Flightless Birds – Why Don’t Birds Fly?” www.thespruce.com, retrieved 2018-02-28. Edited.
- ^ a B Alison Eldridge, “8 Birds That Can’t Fly”, www.britannica.com, retrieved 2018-02-28. Edited.
- ^ a B J Oishimaya Sen Nag (2018-1-26), “Flightless Birds Around the World”, www.worldatlas.com, retrieved 2018-02-28. Edited.
- ^ a B J Alison Eldridge (2021), “8 Birds That Can’t Fly”, British, retrieved 2021-10-11. Edited.
- ↑ Kidadl Team (08/06/2021), “17 Amazing Facts About Steam Duck For Kids”, kidadl, retrieved 2021-01-11. Edited.
- ↑ nzbirds team (2013), “Kakapo”, nz birds, retrieved 2021-10-11. Edited.
- ↑ doc govt team (2020), “The flightless takahē is a unique bird, a conservation icon and a survivor.”, govt doc, retrieved 2021-10-11. Edited.
- ↑ zealandia team, “TAKAHĒ ZEALANDIA’s rarest bird species”, zealand, retrieved 2021-01-11. Edited.
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