Birds, like most animals, don’t actually have degrees. However, people sometimes use the term “degree” informally when referring to a group or classification of birds. There are a few common ways “degree” is used in relation to birds:
Scientific classification
In scientific classification, birds are part of the class Aves. Within this class, there are many orders, families, genera, and species of birds. So a “degree” may informally refer to these scientific groupings.
For example, all bird species belong to the class Aves. Within Aves, there are orders like Passeriformes (perching birds) and Galliformes (gamebirds). Orders are then divided into families like Corvidae (crows and ravens) and Fringillidae (finches) within Passeriformes. Families contain genera like Corvus (crows) within Corvidae, which contain specific species like the American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos).
Bird families
When people refer to a “degree” of birds, they often mean families of birds that are closely related and share similar traits. Some common bird families include:
- Corvidae – crows, ravens, jays, magpies, nutcrackers
- Paridae – chickadees, titmice
- Turdidae – thrushes, robins, bluebirds
- Laridae – gulls, terns, skimmers
- Scolopacidae – sandpipers, phalaropes, snipes, woodcocks
- Trochilidae – hummingbirds
- Passeridae – sparrows
- Icteridae – blackbirds, orioles, cowbirds
- Fringillidae – finches
- Sittidae – nuthatches
There are over 200 bird families recognized today. Ornithologists and birders often group birds by family based on anatomy, behavior, habitat, diet, and other factors.
Taxonomic rank
“Degree” can also refer generally to the taxonomic rank of a group of birds. There are different levels of taxonomic rank for classifying all living things, including:
Taxonomic Rank | Example |
---|---|
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Class | Aves |
Order | Passeriformes |
Family | Corvidae |
Genus | Corvus |
Species | Corvus brachyrhynchos (American crow) |
So a bird “degree” may refer to their order, family, genus, or species categorization depending on the context.
Specific bird groups
“Degree” can also loosely refer to certain groups of birds that are defined by shared traits, behaviors, or habitats. Some examples include:
- Seabirds – birds that live most of their lives at sea, like gulls, albatrosses, pelicans
- Raptors – birds of prey that hunt and feed on other animals, like eagles, hawks, owls, falcons
- Wading birds – long-legged birds that feed in shallow water, like herons, egrets, cranes
- Aerial insectivores – birds that catch and eat insects while in flight, like swifts, nighthawks, flycatchers
- Ground birds – birds that dwell and forage primarily on the ground, like quail, grouse, pheasants
These groups can share similarities in anatomy like beak shape, leg length, and foot type. They also share behaviors, habitats, movement patterns, and food sources.
Formal bird qualifications
While informal, there are no actual “degrees” conferred to birds. However, there are some formal qualifications and titles that can be earned by professional ornithologists and bird experts:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Ornithology – Academic degree programs in the study of birds offered by colleges and universities. They teach avian biology, ecology, behavior, evolution, and conservation.
- Elective Membership (EMA) in the American Ornithological Society – Title earned by amateur or professional ornithologists with 5+ peer-reviewed publications about birds.
- Certified Bird Biologist – Credential conferred by the Wildlife Society to professionals with experience/education in avian biology and management.
- Qualified Bird Bander – Master bird banders certified by the federal government to safely capture and tag wild birds for research.
- World Series of Birding Champion – Title for the winning team that identifies the most bird species in 24 hours during this birding competition.
While birders would never actually say a Merlin “has a degree” or an Osprey “graduated”, these qualifications demonstrate extensive avian expertise and achievement in ornithology fields.
Conclusion
In summary, a “degree” is not a literal academic qualification held by birds. The term is used informally to refer to:
- Scientific classifications like order, family, genus
- Closely related bird groups that share traits and behaviors
- General taxonomic rank or categorization
Ornithology degrees and credentials can be earned by human bird experts, but birds themselves do not have degrees. So next time you hear someone say “check out the degree of Sandhill Cranes over there,” they simply mean paying attention to the scientific family, common traits, or type of birds perching, flocking, or flying by.