Bird Parts

Descriptions of the parts of the bird drawing.

belly - the central abdomen, between the flanks on the sides, and the breast and the crissum front and back (respectively).

bill - the usually hard structure surrounding the mouth. Acts as the major manipulative structure of most birds, allowing the preparation of food for swallowing.

breast - the upper front of the bird. The flight muscles are located underneath the breast.

cheek - the side of the head below the eye and eye stripe.

chin - The area on the front of the neck, under the bill which includes the the gular area, directly under the bill, and the throat, below the gular area.

crissum - the area around the vent (cloacal opening), in front of the undertail coverts.

crown - the top of the head, in many species may have a crest of feathers or a spot of bright color.

eye - allows sight.

eye stripe - not present in all species, a stripe of usually contrasting color (often white) above the eye. Very variable in size and length.

feet - the appendages that allow grasping of branches when perched or food when feeding. The walking appendages.

flank - the area of the side usually visible when the bird is perched or sitting on the ground.

nape - the lower back of the neck.

primaries - the longer outer feathers of the wing. Provide some lift and much of the maneuvering ability of the bird, attached to the hand bones.

secondaries - the major lifting feathers, between the primaries and the body, attached to the ulna.

side - the area of the side usually covered by the folded wing when sitting.

tail - the feathers attached to the pygostyle (a bone which is attached to the last vertebra in the spinal column), used for stabilization in flight, display in courtship, etc. undertail coverts - cover the base of the tail feathers.

wing bar - a stripe of color on the folded wing. Often white or yellow when present, may be either the tips of the wing coverts or near the bases of the secondaries.

wing coverts - the feathers at the leading edge of the wing, covering the bases of the secondaries and primaries.

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