Glossary

Cloaca The external opening of a bird’s gut, urinary system and reproductive system.

Covert Small feathers that cover the bases of the main wing feathers and tail feathers (upper wing-coverts, upper tail-coverts etc) and the ear openings (ear-coverts).

Crustaceans A group of invertebrates that includes crabs, lobsters, crayfish and woodlice.

Fledgling A fledged bird that has grown its first set of ‘proper’ feathers.

Genus The first part of a plant or animal’s scientific name. Birds that are in the same genus are closely related. The Common Kingfisher is in the Alcedo genus.

Home range The area a bird normally occupies. Unlike a territory, home ranges are not defended.

Juvenile A bird is a juvenile from the time it fledges until its first moult.

Mandible The upper and lower parts of a bird’s beak.

Molluscs A group of invertebrates that includes snails, slugs and octopuses.

Monogamy/monogamous Simplistically, having only one mate at one point in time – being part of a pair. However, some ‘monogamous’ birds also mate with birds other than their main partner.

Taxonomic order The animal kingdom is divided into phyla, the phyla into classes, the classes into orders, the orders into families, the families into genera (singular = genus), and genera are divided into species.

Pectoral fins The pair of fins attached to the sides of a fish at the front.

Polygamy Having more than one mate at any one point in time. A male with more than one female is polygynous. A female with more than one male is polyandrous.

Preening Using the bill to help keep the plumage in good condition.

Primary feathers The large flight feathers attached to the outermost part of the wing.

Red List A list of threatened species.

Ringing Putting a ring on a bird’s leg. Individually numbered rings enable bird movements and lifespans to be studied if a ringed bird is caught again or found dead. Coloured rings enable individual birds to be identified without recatching them.

Syndactyl Where two toes are joined along part of their length.

Territory An area that a bird defends.

Tyndall effect The scattering of light by particles in its path.