Dichotomous Key/Aves

Key to Aves

• Neognathae: Has the ability to fly.
• 2: Does not have the ability to fly.

2

• 5: Feet are webbed or lobate.
• 6: Feet are not webbed or lobate.

5

• Spheniscidae: Wings modified into flippers
• 7: Wings not modified into flippers

6

• 8: Height is over 70 centimeters
• 9: Height is less than 70 centimeters

7

• 10: Head is solid black or brown
• 11: Head is at least half white

8

• Struthio camelus: Two toes present on each foot.
• 14: Three toes present on each foot

9

• 16: Horn-like spongy crest present on forehead
• 17: No crest present on forehead

10

• 12: Dark brown to tan coloration clearly present in plumage.
• 13: Dark brown to tan coloration not clearly present in plumage.

11

• Podiceps taczanowskii: Plumage a mix of black and white only; Eyes are red.
• Rollandia microptera: Plumage a mix of black, brown, and white; Eyes are black.

12

• Anas aucklandica: Plumage color change from head to body gradual; Birds of the Auckland Islands.
• Anas nesiotis: Plumage color change from head to body abrupt; Birds of the Campbell Islands.

13

unfinished

• Nannopterum harrisi, Flightless Cormorant
• Tachyeres pteneres, Fuegian Steamer Duck
• Tachyeres brachypterus, Falkland Steamer Duck
• Tachyeres leucocephalus, Chubut Steamer Duck

14

• Dromaius novaehollandiae: Flaps wings when running; Small claw present at tip of wing.
• 15: Wings spread while running, acting as sails; Small claw absent at tip of wing.

15: Rheas

• Rhea americana: Adult is over 120 centimeters tall; Weight is 45-60 pounds; Bill measures 8-11 centimeters long; Birds of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
• Rhea pennata: Adult is less than 120 centimeters tall; Weight is 33-60 pounds; Bill measures 6-9 centimeters; Birds of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.

16: Cassowaries

unfinished

• Casuarius casuarius, Southern Cassowary
• Casuarius unappendiculatus, Northern Cassowary
• Casuarius bennetti, Dwarf Cassowary

17

unfinished

• 18: Kiwis
• 19: everything else

18: Kiwis

unfinished

• Apteryx australis, Southern Brown Kiwi
• Apteryx haastii, Great Spotted Kiwi
• Apteryx mantelli, North Island Brown Kiwi
• Apteryx owenii, Little Spotted Kiwi
• Apteryx rowi, Okarito Brown Kiwi

19

• Strigops habroptilus: Two forward facing toes and two backward facing toes
• 20: Feet not arranged with two facing forward and two facing back.

20

• 21: Chest plumage appearing to have zebra-like black and white stripes.
• 22: Chest plumage with a solid color or if not, then plumage not appearing to have zebra stripes.

21

unfinished

• Aramidopsis plateni, Snoring Rail;
• Gallirallus rovianae, Roviana Rail;
• Gallirallus owstoni, Guam Rail;
• Gallirallus okinawae, Okinawa Rail;
• Gallirallus insignis, New Britain Rail also Pink Leg Rail

22

unfinished

Tasmanian Nativehen, Gough Island Moorhen, Makira Wood Rail, Samoan Wood Rail, Takahe (bright blue/green plumage), New Guinea Flightless Rail, invisible rail, Red-eyed Crake, Inaccessible Rail, Calayan Rail, Lord Howe Woodhen, New Caledonian Rail, Weka, Woodford's Rail, Giant Coot