Birds are a vertebrate group with which we are all familiar. This beautiful and colorful video explores the major characteristics, adaptations, and life cycles of this group of animals. Special emphasis is paid to the features that enable birds to fly. Vivid footage from throughout the world also illustrates some of the major groups of birds. Concepts and terminology include: flight, wings, contour feathers, down feathers, endothermic, crop, gizzard, four-chambered heart, amniotic egg, albumin, yolk, incubation, Archaeopteryx, Passeriformes, Piciformes, Charadriiformes, Falconiformes, and Anseriformes.

Originally released by Visual Learning, 2010. Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on April 18, 2015.

Key Bird Characteristics (4:53); --Bird Structures and Processes (3:02); -- Bird Life Cycles (1:47); -- Bird Evolution and Diversity (2:02); -- Bird Behavior and Importance (2:55); -- Video Review (1:04); -- Video Assessment (2:58); -- Credits: The Life of Birds (0:44); .