Bird species are organized in such a fashion that similar birds are grouped together. Here’s everything you need to know about bird species.

The history of bird species

Bird species have been classified in such a way that we can scientifically tell the more than 10,000 bird species that are hanging around this world apart. The largest number of bird species that have been found are concentrated in South America. Then we move on to Asia and Africa. North America as a whole has roughly 2,000 bird species.

How are bird species divvied up?

Each bird has two different names, scientifically speaking. Before they get those names, they’re divided into several subcategories. In fact, you don’t get to the bird species names until the very end of the classification system.

When you see a bird name listed scientifically, it has two names. The first is the Genus and the second is the species. The Genus bird name is a larger group and birds are placed in this group based on some common characteristics. The second name is the bird species and is very frequently named after the person who discovered the bird. Both of these names are Latin, but if you familiarize yourself with the bird kingdom, you’ll start recognizing some of the names.

Since scientists have been naming bird species, there’s been some serious debate about how birds are named and if they should be put into certain categories. When a new bird is found, there’s frequently debate as to whether it should be a new species. It takes a lot of discovery and examination of the bird and it’s characteristics before this determination is made. Even after it’s made, some scientists will argue the outcome.

Sometimes this discussion will end in splitting, which is diving a few birds into their own category of bird species. It can also end in lumping, which is putting a few bird species together instead of separating them into their own category of bird species.

Science is constantly undergoing change and scientists who are working on classifying birds are looking at a way to change the classification system that could end in changes to the way bird species are categorized.

Why separates birds from the rest of us?

Lots of things. Birds, or most birds, fly. Not all bird species can fly, but most of them do. You have your penguins and ostriches, which are both birds that can’t get off the ground. Birds also have feathers and lay eggs, two unique traits that are shared by birds species, but not (at least not wholly) with other animals.