[view ITIS report]

Birds are vertebrates of the taxonomic class Aves including animals such as waterfowl (order Anseriformes), hummingbirds (order Apodiformes), Herons and Storks (order Ciconiiformes), Doves and Pigeons (order Columbiformes), Kingfishers (order Coraciiformes), Cranes and Rails (order Gruiformes), Perching Birds, (order Passeriformes), woodpeckers (order Piciformes), parrots (order Psittaciformes), and Owls (order Strigiformes). Thought of as "warm-blooded," birds are endotherms, meaning they are able to regulate their own body temperature independently of the temperature of their surroundings. Bird characteristics include feathers, wings, and a reproduction strategy of laying and incubating eggs. In Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee, birds are represented by numerous taxonomic orders [source: USGS.gov, ITIS.gov].

Ecological Importance of Birds

Birds play several important roles in ecosystems. As consumers, they help regulate populations of smaller animals they prey upon, disperse plant seeds, and pollinate flowering plants. As prey items, birds and bird eggs are consumed by a variety of larger predators.

Birds in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee

Bird populations in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee vary seasonally because some birds are permanent residents while others are merely passing through during their seasonal migrations. Within Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Tennessee, bird inhabitants, both seasonal and year-round, number as follows: in Alabama, there are 345 species; in Mississippi, there are 303 species; in Tennessee, there are 292 species; in Kentucky, there are 287 species (Stein et al., 2000).

For additional Web resources about birds in Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Tennessee, refer to the NBII catalog query for birds on our "Bird Web Resources" page listed on the navigation menu at left.