THIS PAGE HAS BEEN MODIFIED FOR OUR CLASS FROM ONE OF GARY RITCHISON'S WEB PAGES AT EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY!
[Birds
seen during field labs 2004]
[HOME PAGE][Lab
Information]
Characters
of the Bill | Characters
of the Feet | Characters
of the Feet - Toes | Characters
of the Feet - Nails | Glossary
of terms
Characters
of the Tail | Feathers
- Shape & Structure | Nostrils
| Modified
feathers
In all birds, the front toes are inserted
on the metatarsus at the same level, but the position of the hind toe (hallux)
varies.
| Incumbent: the hallux is inserted on the metatarsus at the level of the other toes. |
|
| Elevated: the hallux is higher on the metatarsus so that its tip does not reach the ground, as in a rail. |
|