Many birds have attention-grabbing constructions on prime of their heads. These are categorized into three important varieties: crests, casques, and combs. Read on to search out out what every is manufactured from, what birds have them, and what they use them for. Then discover out what chicken has a novel head decoration that doesn’t match into any of those classes!
What Are Bird Crests?
A crest, typically additionally referred to as a crown, is a bunch of semiplume feathers. These feathers sit on prime of the pinnacle and will lengthen down the neck and higher again. Some birds can elevate and decrease these crests at will. Depending on the species, birds could use their crests for show, mate attraction, communication, and protection.
There are many alternative sorts of birds with crests. Some well-known examples embody:
Cockatoos (Family Cacatuidae)
Cockatoos are largely present in Australasia, together with components of Indonesia and the Philippines.
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Crowned Cranes (Balearica spp.)
Both species of topped cranes are native to
Africa
.
Crowned Pigeons (Goura spp.)
All 4 species of topped pigeons are endemic to New Guinea and surrounding islands.
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Royal Flycatchers (Onychorhynchus spp.)
Royal flycatchers are native to the Neotropical Americas.
©Tiny Turkey/Shutterstock.com
Turacos (Family Musophagidae)
Turacos are a household of frugivorous birds native to Africa.
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What Are Bird Casques?
A casque, typically additionally referred to as a helmet or horn, is a bony projection of the cranium or higher mandible lined with a layer of cornified pores and skin. In cassowaries (see beneath), the casque covers a foamy collagen layer over the bone. Depending on the species, casques could serve quite a lot of functions, together with as a visible image of intercourse, age, and/or social standing; beak reinforcement; thermoregulation; a resonance chamber to reinforce calls; and fight.
Casques are present in six completely different sorts of birds:
Cassowaries (Casuarius spp.)
All three species of cassowaries are flightless and endemic to tropical forests of Australasia.
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Helmeted Curassows (Pauxi spp.)
All three species of helmeted curassows are native to South America.
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Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris)
The helmeted guineafowl is native to Africa however has been extensively launched as a domesticated species to different components of the world.
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Hornbills (Family Bucerotidae)
Hornbills are a big household of birds that vary throughout components of Sub-Sahara Africa, Arabia, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.
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Horned Guan (Oreophasis derbianus)
The horned guan is native to montane forests in southeastern Mexico and Guatemala.
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Maleo (Macrocephalon maleo)
The maleo is endemic to the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi and Buton.
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What Are Bird Combs?
A comb, typically additionally referred to as a cockscomb, is a fleshy development on prime of the pinnacle. Only gallinaceous birds have combs, and the function is normally bigger in males (cocks or roosters) than in females (hens). Similar fleshy growths corresponding to wattles, snoods, beards, and earlobes are collectively referred to as caruncles. These brightly coloured components will be indicators of well being and vigor and used to draw mates.
Combs are present in:
Wild Junglefowl (Gallus spp.)
Junglefowl are native to components of South and Southeast Asia.
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Domestic Chickens (Gallus domesticus breeds)
Domesticated hen breeds derive from wild junglefowl.
©Wizard Goodvin/Shutterstock.com
What Is on the Head of a Horned Screamer?
Horned screamers are native to wetlands of northern South America and are typically referred to as the unicorns of the chicken world.
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Both female and male horned screamers (Anhima cornuta) have a head decoration that’s neither a crest, casque, or comb. It can be not derived from a feather. Rather, the “horn” on its head is definitely a cornified backbone. This construction is exclusive within the chicken world! This backbone grows constantly however normally doesn’t develop longer than 6 in (15 cm) earlier than breaking off on the tip. Since it’s not firmly hooked up to the cranium, it additionally sways at any time when the chicken shakes its head. Scientists nonetheless aren’t certain what goal it serves!
Summary of Crests, Casques, and Combs: Differences and Examples
| Head Structure Type | Composition | Possible Uses | Birds With This Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| crest (aka crown) | group of semiplume feathers | show, mate attraction, communication, protection | discovered in lots of birds; examples embody cockatoos, topped pigeons, topped cranes, royal flycatchers, turacos |
| casque (aka helmet or horn) | bony projection over higher mandible or cranium lined with cornified pores and skin | visible image of intercourse, age, and/or social standing; beak reinforcement; thermoregulation; resonance chamber to reinforce calls; fight | cassowaries, hornbills, helmeted curassows, helmeted guineafowl, horned guan, maleo |
| comb (aka cockscomb) | fleshy development | indicator of well being & vigor; mate attraction | wild junglefowl and home chickens |
| backbone (aka horn) | cornified spinelike construction | unknown | distinctive to the horned screamer |
The photograph featured on the prime of this publish is © Kuttelvaserova Stuchelova/Shutterstock.com
