Question

Study of birds is called as
(a) Avionics
(b) Ornithology
(c) Anthropology
(d) Herpetology

Answer 1

This is a latin derived word which means bird science. Allan octavian Hume is considered as the father of the study of birds. Salim Moziuddin Abdul Ali is known as a father in the study of birds and naturalists.

Complete step by step answer:
Ornithology is the study of a science pertaining to birds. Bird is a taxonomic group (class) of vertebrates, also known commonly as birds, whose distinguishing characteristics include feathers, endothermic and the production of amniotic eggs.

Additional Information:
Characteristics of Bird:
- Birds are warm- blooded vertebrates with an exoskeleton of feathers.
- Most birds have short necks but some such as the crane is long.
- Some birds are stout while others are slender- bodied.
- Many birds have distinctive calls and songs. They can help to identify birds not visible.
- Ear tufts are the projections near ear regions as horned owls and birds do not have visible ears.
- Throat is the area between the bill and the breast. It may be highly brightly coloured as the ruby- throated hummingbirds.
- Plumage is the colour pattern of the feathers along the body. It is often unique for a species. It is usually brighter in males than females with young of both sexes resembling the female. It is usually brightest during the mating season.
- The tail can be used for steering and braking during flight. It can also be used in courting displays.
- The shape and colour pattern is useful in identification. The tail can be long or short in size and its shape can be square, rounded, pointed, elongated, forked or notched.
- Wings are used for true flight also in gliding, balance during hovering and perching, and during courtship. Many have distinctive white or coloured patches. Wings can be long or short in size, pointed or rounded.
- The length and thickness of the legs as well as the shape of the foot gives the idea of the way the bird lives.
- Their feet are modified for perching, clinging, walking or swimming.
So, the correct answer is, ‘(b) Ornithology.’

Note:
- Evidence found from fossils and from studies of comparative anatomy indicates that birds evolved from reptiles.
- The fossil of genus Archaeopteryx possessed characters of both reptiles and birds.
- Birds evolved from reptiles during the Mesozoic Era about 150 million years ago.