Birds at sea : sophisticated aerodynamics take birds onto oceans -- Acknowledgments -- 10. What is a bird? -- 1. The bird beneath the feathers : how adaptations for flight allow a bird to earn a living on the ground -- 2. A bird is an animal with hollow bones : special features of avian bones and their assembly as a skeleton -- 3. A bird is like a dinosaur : features shared by birds and their reptilian ancestors -- 4. A bird is not so like a dinosaur : features that distinguish birds from their reptilian ancestors -- pt. 2. What kind of bird is it? -- 5. The kinds of birds : classification and taxonomy -- 6. That bird is different from the other one : evolutionary relationships among families of birds -- pt. 3. How does a bird fly? -- 7. Feathers and feathered dinosaurs : flight in early birds and birdlike animals -- 8. Birds with a modern shape : birds cease to look like feathered dinosaurs and become skilled fliers -- 9. Birds on land : a robust design helps birds compete with mammals -- 10. Birds at sea : sophisticated aerodynamics take birds onto oceans -- Index. Appendices -- 2. Birds in relation to other vertebrate animals -- 2. Geological time scale -- Glossary of ornithological terms -- Literature cited -- Index.
Summary:
"The Inner Bird introduces readers to the avian skeleton, then moves beyond anatomy to discuss the relationships between birds and dinosaurs and other early ancestors. Gary Kaiser examines the challenges scientists face in understanding avian evolution. Using examples from recently discovered fossils of birds and near-birds, Kaiser describes an avian history based on the gradual abandonment of dinosaur-like characteristics, and the related acquisition of avian characteristics such as sophisticated flight techniques and the production of large eggs. Such developments have enabled modern birds to invade the oceans and to exploit habitats that excluded dinosaurs for millions of years."--BOOK JACKET.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.