Syllabus
(1) Origin and evolution of birds; evolution of avian flight; (2) Feathers; feather coloration; (3) Anatomy and morphology, morphological characters and phylogeny of avian taxa; (4) Flight, and other modes of locomotion; (5) Circadian an circannual rhythms; thermoregulation; (6) Acoustic communication of birds; (7) Avian sensory systems; (8) Behaviour and cognition; (8) Migration and navigation; (9) Reproduction and social behaviour of birds; (10) Parental care and development; (11) Food and foraging; (12) Antipredatory behaviour; (13) Historical survey of avian taxonomy; (14) Current phylogenetic hypotheses and elementary taxa; (15) Avian biogeography;
Annotation
Course of General Ornithology; the lectures cover general and comparative aspects of avian morphology, physiology, ecology, and behaviour. Descent of Birds; Genesis of Avian Flight; Cretaceous Birds; Avian Morphology: Feathers, Skeleton, Muscles, and Others; Flight Aerodynamics; Mechanics of Terrestrial and Aquatic Locomotion; Avian Chronobiology; Temperature Regulation; Water Economy; Song and Vocal Communication; Avian Vision, Hearing, and Other Senses; Avian Cognition; Migrations and Navigation; Social Behaviour and Mating Systems; Reproduction, Parental Care, and Development; Foraging and Diets; History of Avian Taxonomy; Contemporary Phylogenetic Hypotheses and Elementary Bird Taxa; Biogeography; Biology of Higher Bird Taxa.
Please note, the lectures are given in Czech language. English version of the course can be requested in advance if there are at least 5 students.