Bird Anatomy | ClipArt ETC

The Bird Anatomy ClipArt gallery offers 411 illustrations of skeleton diagrams, arteries, digestive system, eggs, feathers, and both internal and external diagrams.

"Epipleurae.-- Thorax, scapular arch, and part of pelvic arch of a bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). ep, four epipleurae or uncinate processes of as many ribs; pl, pleurapophysial parts of seven ribs; hp, hemapopysial parts of six ribs; v, dorsolumbar vertebrae; st, sternum (the letters are on the carina or keel); m, manubrium sterni; cp, costal process of sternum, bearing f, furcula; ec, epiclidium of furcula; h, hypoclidium of fucula; gl, glenoid fossa, formed by coracoid and scapula; il, ilium; is, ischium; p, pubis; a, acetabulum." -Whitney, 1911

Bobolink Epipleurae

"Epipleurae.-- Thorax, scapular arch, and part of pelvic arch of a bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus).…

In birds the hemispheres are not united as in humans; the cerebellum is proportionately larger than the medulla oblongata, and the comparative weight of the brain to the body is less than in mammals. Labels: 1, Cerebrum. 2, Optic ganglion. 3, Cerebellum. 4, Medulla oblongata.

Brain of a Bird

In birds the hemispheres are not united as in humans; the cerebellum is proportionately larger than…

"Sterna anaisthetikos. Bridled Tern. The foot of a Bridled Tern; Tarsus .85; middle toe the same, with the claw 1.20; outer toe 1.00; inner .75." Elliot Coues, 1884

The Foot of a Bridled Foot

"Sterna anaisthetikos. Bridled Tern. The foot of a Bridled Tern; Tarsus .85; middle toe the same, with…

A footprint of brontozoum giganeum, a now extinct relative of the cassowary. This example is eighteen inches in length, the bird was believed to weigh between four and eight hundred pounds.

Footprint of brontozoum giganteum

A footprint of brontozoum giganeum, a now extinct relative of the cassowary. This example is eighteen…

"In birds of prey the claws are powerful and hooked; in others the foot is flat, claws straight, and adapted for walking."

Foot of Honey-Buzzard

"In birds of prey the claws are powerful and hooked; in others the foot is flat, claws straight, and…

"Fig. 41 shows phalanges of caprimulgines foot, where the ratio is 2, 3, 4, 4." Elliot Coues, 1884

Phalanges of Caprimulgine

"Fig. 41 shows phalanges of caprimulgines foot, where the ratio is 2, 3, 4, 4." Elliot Coues, 1884

"Skeleton of the Limbs and Tail of a Carinate Bird. (The skeleton of the body is indicated by dotted lines.) F, digits; Fi, fibula; HW, carpus; MF, tarsometatarsus; MH, carpometacarpus; OA, humerus; OS, femur; Py, pygostyle; R, coracoid; Ul, ulna; Sch, scapula; St, sternum, with its keel (Cr); T, tibiotarsus; Rd, radius; Z, Z, digits of foot. (From Wiedersheim.)" A. H. Evans, 1900

Skeleton of the Limbs and Tail of a Carinate Bird

"Skeleton of the Limbs and Tail of a Carinate Bird. (The skeleton of the body is indicated by dotted…

Cassowary Feather

"Casuarius (Cassowary). Feather, showing after-shaft and disconnected barbs." -Parker, 1900

"In birds of prey the claws are powerful and hooked; in others the foot is flat, claws straight, and adapted for walking."

Foot of Cassowary

"In birds of prey the claws are powerful and hooked; in others the foot is flat, claws straight, and…

Scutellate Laminiplanter Tarsus of a Cat-bird

"Figure shows Scutellate laminiplanter tarsus of a cat-bird. A tarsus so disposed as to its podotheca…

A genus of kingfishers. Characterized by only having three developed toes.

Ceyx

A genus of kingfishers. Characterized by only having three developed toes.

cc. Colic caeca, d. Duodenum. g. Glandular patch, l.l. Meckel's tract, l.i. Hind-gut, p.v. Cut root of portal vein, r.v. Rectal vein, s. Proventriculus, y. Meckel's diverticulum.

Intestinal Tract of Chauna Chavaria

cc. Colic caeca, d. Duodenum. g. Glandular patch, l.l. Meckel's tract, l.i. Hind-gut, p.v. Cut root…

"Origin of lungs, liver, and pancreas in the chick. The mesoderm is shaded; the endoderm dark. lg., One of the lungs; St., stomach; l., liver; p., pancreas." -Thomson, 1916

Chick Development

"Origin of lungs, liver, and pancreas in the chick. The mesoderm is shaded; the endoderm dark. lg.,…

Chick Head

"Fig 66 - Head of a chick, second stage, after five days of incubation, section in profile; x6 diameters.…

"Skull of chick, third stage, viewed from below, x6 & 2/3 diameters. pn, prenasal cartilage, running behind into the septum nasi; on each side of it the premaxillary, px, of which the (inner) palatal and (outer) dentary processes are seen (the upper nasal process hidden); mx, the maxillary, developing inner process, the maxillo-palatine, mxp; pa, the palatal, well-formed, articulating behind with rbs, the sphenoidal rostrum, its thickened under border, the parasphenoid; this will bear the vomer at its end when that bone is developed; j, jugal, joining mx and qj, the quadrato-jugal, joining j and q, the quadrate; mx to q, the jugal bar or zygoma; pg, the pterygoid, making with pa the pterygo-palatine bar, joining q and px; bt, the basitemporal, great mat of bone from ear to ear, underflooring the skull proper, as rbs, a similar formation, does further forward; ic, outer end of carotid canal, to run between the bt plate and true floor of skull, and enter brain cavity at original site of pituitary fossa; ty, tympanic cavity - external opening of ear; as, alisphenoid, bounding much of brain-box anteriorly, and orbital cavity posteriorly; psc, posterior semicircular canal of ear, in opisthotic bone, which will unite with the spreading eo, exoccipital, which will reach the cobdyle shown in the middle line, above the foramen magnum, fm, completed above by so, supra-occipital; 8, foramen lacerum posterius, exit of pneumogastric, glosso-pharyngeal and spinall accessory nerve; 9, exit of hypoglossal nerve, in basi-occipital." Elliot Coues, 1884

The Skull of a Chick Stage Three

"Skull of chick, third stage, viewed from below, x6 & 2/3 diameters. pn, prenasal cartilage, running…

The Skull of a Chick Stage Two

"Skull of chick, second stage, in profile, brain and membranes removed to show cartilaginous formations,…

The sternum of a chick three days old.

Chick Sternum

The sternum of a chick three days old.

A ripe chick's head, 1.25 inches long.

Chick's Head

A ripe chick's head, 1.25 inches long.

"Ripe chick's skull, longitudinal section, vied inside, x 3 diameters; after Parker. px, premaxillary; aln, ali-nasal cartilage; en, septo-nasal; n, nasal bone; l, lacrymal; pe, perpendicular plate of ethmoid, ps, prespeenoidal region; as, alisphenoid; f, frontal; p, parietal; sq, squamosal; so, superoccipital; eo, exoccipital; oc, occipital condyle; st, the cross-like object, the stapes, whose foot fits fenestra ovalis; q, quadrate; pg, pterygoid; qj, quadrato-jugal; jugal; pa, palatine; mx, maxillary. In the mandible: d, dentary; su, surangular; a, angular; ar, atricular; iap, internal angular process; pap, posterior angular process. 2, optic foramen; 5, foramen ovale, for inferior divisions of the 5th nerve." Elliot Coues, 1884

Ripe Chick's Skull Profile

"Ripe chick's skull, longitudinal section, vied inside, x 3 diameters; after Parker. px, premaxillary;…

"Ripe chick's skull, longitudinal section, vied inside, x 3 diameters; after parker. In the mandible are seen: mk, remarks of meckelian rod; d, dentary bone; sp, splenial; a, angular; su, surangular; ar, articular; iap, internal articular process; pap, posterior articular process. In the skull: pn, the original prenasal cartilage, upon which is moulded the premaxillary, px, with its nasal process, npx, and dentary process, dpx; sn, septo-nasal cartilage, in which is seen nn, nasal nerve; ntb, nasal turbinal; the reference line crosses the cranio-facial suture, the face parts and cranial parts being nealry separated here by the nick seen in the original cartilaginous plate; eth, ethmoid; pe, perpendicular plate of ethmoid, which will spread nearly throughout the dotted cartilaginous tract in which it lies, to form nearly all the interorbital septum; transverse thickening (in some birds) below the reference line eth will form the pre-frontal, or orbito-nasal septum; iof, inter-orbital foramen; ps, pre sphenoidal region, just above which is the orbito-sphenoidal region; 2, optic foramen; as, alisphenoid, with 5 foramen for division of the 5th (trifacial) nerve; f, frontal; sq, squamosal; p, parietal; so, superoccipital; asc, anterior semicircular canal; sc, a sinus (venous canal); ep, epiotic; eo, exoccipital; op, opisthotic; po, prootic, with 7 meatus auditorius internus, for entrance of 7th nerve; 8, foramen nfor vagus nerve; bo, basioccipital; bt, basitemporal; ic, canal (in original pituitary space; ) by which carotid artery enters brain activity; ap; basipterygoid process; ap to rbs, rostrum ofhte skull, being the parasphenoid bone underflooring the basisphenoid and future perpendicular plate of ethmoid." Elliot Coues, 1884

Ripe Chick's Skull

"Ripe chick's skull, longitudinal section, vied inside, x 3 diameters; after parker. In the mandible…

Diagram showing vascular area in the chick. A, area pellucida; b, area vasculosa; c, area vitellina.

Vascular Area in the Chick

Diagram showing vascular area in the chick. A, area pellucida; b, area vasculosa; c, area vitellina.

The end view of the skull of a chicken three weeks old.

Chicken Skull

The end view of the skull of a chicken three weeks old.

The claws of a bird.

Claw

The claws of a bird.

Side view of the Barn Swallow's claw. "Hirundo horreorum. Barn Swallow. Tarsi shorter than middle toe and claw, above feathered for a little distance; basal joint of middle toe partly adherent to both lateral toes." Elliot Coues, 1884

Barn Swallow Claw

Side view of the Barn Swallow's claw. "Hirundo horreorum. Barn Swallow. Tarsi shorter than middle toe…

An illustration of an eagle's claw.

Eagle Claw

An illustration of an eagle's claw.

1, Epyornis; 2, Ostrich; 3, Cassoway; 4, Wild Goose; 5, hen; 6, Pigeon; 7, Humming-bird; 8, Eagle; 9, Vulture; 10, Penguin; 11, Crocodile; 12, Python; 13, Fresh-water Tortoise; 14, Boa of St. Lucia; 15, Tortoise; 16, Ophidan; 17, Dog-fish; 18, Ray-fish. The figure in the background without a number represents the egg of the Moa (extinct).

Comparative view of the size of the eggs of different animals

1, Epyornis; 2, Ostrich; 3, Cassoway; 4, Wild Goose; 5, hen; 6, Pigeon; 7, Humming-bird; 8, Eagle; 9,…

"Entire skeleton of condor, showing the relative positions of the chief bones." -Thomson, 1916

Condor Skeleton

"Entire skeleton of condor, showing the relative positions of the chief bones." -Thomson, 1916

"The great toe is generally the strongest, but this is not an absolute law; a projection which is found on the leg of some species is designated a spur, and is a formidable weapon."

Foot of Coot

"The great toe is generally the strongest, but this is not an absolute law; a projection which is found…

"Phalacrocorax bicristatus. Cormorant. The knee-joint of a Cormorants. F, femur; P, patella; T, tibia; Fb, fibula

The Knee-joint of a Cormorant

"Phalacrocorax bicristatus. Cormorant. The knee-joint of a Cormorants. F, femur; P, patella; T, tibia;…

Cormorant Skull

"Phalacrocorax bicristatus. Red-Faced Cormorant. Skull showing sto, occipital style or nuchal bone;…

"Phalacrocorax bicristatus. Red-Faced Cormorant. Sternum and the shoulder from the skeleton of a Cormorant." Elliot Coues, 1884

Cormorant Sternum and Shoulder

"Phalacrocorax bicristatus. Red-Faced Cormorant. Sternum and the shoulder from the skeleton of a Cormorant."…

Bill of Cormorant

"The beak or bill of birds is composed of two bony pieces, called mandibles, surrounded by a horny substance,…

Neck-Covert

"From the head, backward to the tail, the body feathers increase in strength and size, also alter in…

"From the head, backward to the tail, the body feathers increase in strength and size, also alter in form; those on the face, or around the base of the bill, being the smallest, the tail coverts longest."

Tail-Covert

"From the head, backward to the tail, the body feathers increase in strength and size, also alter in…

The head and leg of the crane, a bird in the Gruidae family of cranes.

Crane Head and Leg

The head and leg of the crane, a bird in the Gruidae family of cranes.

"Coiling of the windpipe in the sternum of Grus canadensis. Sandhill Crane." Elliot Coues, 1884

Sandhill Crane Windpipe

"Coiling of the windpipe in the sternum of Grus canadensis. Sandhill Crane." Elliot Coues, 1884

"Very generally, in cranes and swans, the trachea enters the keel of the sternum, which is excavated to receive it, and where it forms one or more coils before emerging to pass to the lungs. This curious winding is carried to the extreme in our Grus americanus, the whoopong crane, in which the wind-pipe is about as long as the whole bird, and about half of it - over two feet of it! - is coiled away in the breast-bone." Elliot Coues

Whooping Crane Windpipe

"Very generally, in cranes and swans, the trachea enters the keel of the sternum, which is excavated…

Bill of Crane

"The beak or bill of birds is composed of two bony pieces, called mandibles, surrounded by a horny substance,…

Crop and Digestive Organs

The swelling under the throat is called the crop, or first stomach. It is largely developed in some…

"The beak or bill of birds is composed of two bony pieces, called mandibles, surrounded by a horny substance, differing both in form and thickness, according to the habits of the species."

Bill of Cuckoo

"The beak or bill of birds is composed of two bony pieces, called mandibles, surrounded by a horny substance,…

The foot of a Cuckoo, a bird belonging to the Scansores order. Scansores is an order of birds, popularly known as climbing birds. The most important of the families are the cuckoos, the woodpeckers and wry-necks, the parrots, the toucans, the trogons, the barbets, and the plantain-eaters.

Foot of a Cuckoo

The foot of a Cuckoo, a bird belonging to the Scansores order. Scansores is an order of birds, popularly…

"Schizorhinal skull of curlew (top view), showing the long cleft, a, between upper and lower forks of each nasal bone." -Whitney, 1911

Curlew Skull

"Schizorhinal skull of curlew (top view), showing the long cleft, a, between upper and lower forks of…

"Fig. 40 Phalanges of Cypseline foot, where the ratio is 2, 3, 3, 3 of Caprimulginae." Elliot Coues, 1884

Phalanges of Cypseline Foot

"Fig. 40 Phalanges of Cypseline foot, where the ratio is 2, 3, 3, 3 of Caprimulginae." Elliot Coues,…

"Fig. 24. - Pterylosis of Cyoselus apus, drawn by Coues after Nitzsch; right hand upper, left hand lower, surface. 1 spinal tract; 2. humeral; 3. femoral; 4. capital; 5. alar; 6. caudal; 7. crural; 8. ventral." Elliot Coues, 1884

Pterylosis of Cypselus Apus

"Fig. 24. - Pterylosis of Cyoselus apus, drawn by Coues after Nitzsch; right hand upper, left hand lower,…

The digestive system of a fowl. 1 is the tongue, 3 is the crop, 6 is the gizzard, 10 is the small intestine, 1 is the pancreas, 16 is the liver, 17 is the gall bladder, and 18 is the spleen. All other organs are analogous to organs of humans

Fowl Digestion

The digestive system of a fowl. 1 is the tongue, 3 is the crop, 6 is the gizzard, 10 is the small intestine,…

Diagram of part of digestive tract of a chick (4th day). The black line represents hypoblast , the outer shading mesoblast; lg, lung diverticulum with expanded end forming primary lung vesicles; St, stomach; l, two hepatic diverticulum, with their terminations united by solid rows of hypoblast cells; p, diverticulum of the pancreas with the vesicular diverticula coming from it.

Digestive Tract of a Chick

Diagram of part of digestive tract of a chick (4th day). The black line represents hypoblast , the outer…

"A. Pelvis and bones of the leg of the Leon or Diver; i, Innominate bone; f, Thighbone (femur); r, Tibia; r, Fibula, together forming the shank; m, Tarso-metatarsus; p Phalanges of the toes. B, Tail of the Golden Eagle; s, Ploughshare-shaped bone, carrying the great tail-feathers." — Winston's Encyclopedia, 1919

Diver Bones

"A. Pelvis and bones of the leg of the Leon or Diver; i, Innominate bone; f, Thighbone (femur); r, Tibia;…

Illustration of a dodo bird skeleton. The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) was a flightless bird endemic to the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. Related to pigeons and doves, it stood about a meter tall, weighing about 20 kilograms (44 lb), living on fruit and nesting on the ground.

Dodo Skeleton

Illustration of a dodo bird skeleton. The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) was a flightless bird endemic to…

"Alle. Sea Dove. Size small. Bill very short, stout, and obtuse, as well as high at base, the sides of both mandibles turgid, the edge of the upper much infected; culmen very convex; rictus ample, decurved at end; gonys straight, very short, the mandibular rami correspondingly long, and widely divaricated; nasal fossae short, wide, deep, partly, patly feathered. Nostrils sub basal, more nearly circular than in any other genus excepting the next." Elliot Coues, 1884

Sea Dove Bill

"Alle. Sea Dove. Size small. Bill very short, stout, and obtuse, as well as high at base, the sides…

"Details of Engyptila albifrons (White-fronted Dove); head and foot natural size; wing and tail reduced.

White-fronted Dove Details

"Details of Engyptila albifrons (White-fronted Dove); head and foot natural size; wing and tail reduced.

"Wing of dove. h., Humerus; s.f., secondary feathers; r., radius; u., ulna; c., carpals; mc., carpo-metacarpus; p.f., primary feathers." -Thomson, 1916

Dove Wing

"Wing of dove. h., Humerus; s.f., secondary feathers; r., radius; u., ulna; c., carpals; mc., carpo-metacarpus;…

Feet of a duck

Duck Feet

Feet of a duck

The webbed foot of a duck.

Duck Foot

The webbed foot of a duck.

"Fig 27. - Bones of the right wing of a duck, Clangula islandica, A, shoulder, omos; B, elbow, ancon; C, wrist, carpus; D, end of principal finger; E, end of hand proper, metacarpus. AB, upper arm, brachium; BC, fore-arm, antibrachium; CD, whole hand or pinion, manus; composed of CE, hand proper or metacarpus, excepting d2; ED, or d2, d3, d4, fingers, digits, digiti, h, humerus; rd, radius; ul, ulna; sc, outer carpal, scapholunare or radiale; cu, inner carpal, cuneiforme or ulnare; these two composing wrist or carpus. mc, the compound hand-bone or metcarpus, composed of three metacarpal bones, bearing as many digits - the outer digit seated upon a protuberance at the head of the metacarpal, the other two situated at the end of the bone. d2, the outer or radial digit, commonly called the thumb or pollex, composed or two phalanges; d3, the middle digit, of two phalanges; d4, the inner or ulnar digit, of one phalanx d2 is the seat of the feathers of the bastard wing or alula. D to C (whole pinion), seat of the flight feathers called primaries; C to B (fore-arm), seat of the secondaries; at B and above it in direction of A, seat of tertiaries proper; below A, in direction of B, seat of scapularies (upon pteryla humeralis), often called tertiaries. The wing shown half-spread: complete extension would bring A B C D into a right line; in complete folding C goes to A, and D to B; all these motions nearly in the plane of the paper. The elbow-joint and wrist are such perfect hinges, that, in opening or closing the wing, C cannot sink below the paper, nor D fly up above the paper, as would otherwise be the effect of the pressure of the air upon the flight-feathers. Observe also rd and ul are two rods connecting B and C; the construction of their joining at B and C, and with each other, is such, that they can slide lengthwise a little upon each other. Now when the point C, revolving about B, approaches A in the arc of a circle, rd pushes on sc, while ul pulls back cu; the motion is transmitted to D, and makes this point approach B. conversely, in opening the wing, rd pulls back sc, and ul pushes on cu, making D recede from B. In other words, the angle A B C cannot be increased or diminished without similarly increasing or diminishing the angle B C D; so that no part of the wing can be opened or shut without automatically opening or shutting the rest..." Elliot Coues, 1884

The Bones of the Right Wing of a Duck

"Fig 27. - Bones of the right wing of a duck, Clangula islandica, A, shoulder, omos; B, elbow, ancon;…

The foot of a duck.

Duck's Foot

The foot of a duck.

"Cochlea, X3. a, external, b, internal, cartilaginous prism; c, membranous zone; d, saccular extremity of the cochlea, or lagena; e, vascular membrane; f, auditory nerve, its middle fascicle penetrating the internal cartilaginous prism, to reach the membranous zone by its terminal filaments; g, auditory nerve, its posterior fascicle, running to the most posterior part of the lagena; h, filament to ampulla of posterior or inferior vertical semicircular canal." Elliot Coues, 1884

Eagle Cochlea

"Cochlea, X3. a, external, b, internal, cartilaginous prism; c, membranous zone; d, saccular extremity…

"Section of the cochlea, X3. a, vestibular surface of external cartilaginous prism, extending into d, the lagena; c, section of the membranous zone; e, Huschke's process of the fenestra, which, with the margins of the cartilaginous prisms, affords attachment Treviranus; i, canals in posterior wall of the lagena, by which the nervous filaments enter its cavity." Elliot Coues, 1884

A Section of an Eagle's Cochlea

"Section of the cochlea, X3. a, vestibular surface of external cartilaginous prism, extending into d,…

"Sclerotals of eye of bald eagle (Haliaetus leucocephalus)." -Whitney, 1911

Eagle Eye Sclerotal

"Sclerotals of eye of bald eagle (Haliaetus leucocephalus)." -Whitney, 1911

Eagle Hind-Limb

"Bones of hind-limb of eagle. f., Femur; t.t., tibio-tarsus; fb., fibula; a., ankle-joint; m.t., tarso-metatarsus;…

"Membranous labyrinth of Haliaetus albicilla (White-tailed Eagle), X2. a,b, cochlea; b, its saccular extremity (or lagena); c, vestibule; g, its utricle; d, anterior of superior vertical semicircular canal; e, external or horizontal semicircular canal; f, posterior of inferior vertical semicircular canal; h, membranous canal leading into aqueduct of the vestibule; k, vascular membrane covering the scala vestibuli; opposite this, at i, are seen the edges of the cartilaginous prisms in the fenestra rotunda; from the edges of these cartilages proceeds the delicate membrane closing the opening of the cochlea (not shown in the fi.)" Elliot Coues, 1884

The Inner Ear of a White-tailed Eagle

"Membranous labyrinth of Haliaetus albicilla (White-tailed Eagle), X2. a,b, cochlea; b, its saccular…