Classification of Birds 



283 



Finley & Bohlman 



FIG. 169. Young of the cactus wren. The form but not the color of this 

 bird shows that it belongs to the wren family. 



The term " order " denotes a group larger than a 

 family. All the families of song birds belong to one 

 order, the Passeres, or perching birds. The various kinds 

 of ducks, geese, and swans belong to another order, 

 the Anseres, or swimming birds. 



Finally, all birds .belong to one class, Aves, which with 

 the other classes of backboned animals (mammals, rep- 

 tiles, amphibia, and fishes) constitute the great verte- 

 brate branch or subkingdom of the animal kingdom. 



The careful student will make an effort to distinguish 

 between species, genus, family, order, class, and sub- 

 kingdom. These terms are used not only in the classifi- 

 cation of birds, but also throughout the animal and plant 

 kingdoms. The trees as well as the birds are divided into 

 families, genera, and species. 



