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The Birds of the Park
What bird is the classic hoot owl? It depends on who(ot) you talk to. Because it says "whoo-hoo-ho-o-o," many people call the great horned owl the hoot owl. However, the barred owl says "who who who who, who who who who-ll" and is also refered to by some as, you guessed it, the hoot owl.Â
The hoot owl is one prime example of why there is a need for a classification system of naming animals. Using this system tells everyone, no matter where they’re from, that a Bubo virginianus is what some call the hoot owl, the largest tufted eared owl in North America, the great-horned owl and even, the 'tiger of the night'.
The classification system is divided into seven major groups: Kingdom, Phylum (a.k.a. division), Class, Order, Family, Genus and lastly, Species. Occasionally, when more separation is needed, there is a sub group within a major group.
Group |
Name |
Definition |
Kingdom: |
Animalia |
- all animals |
Phylum: |
Chordata |
- all animals that have a nerve cord running most of the length of their bodies |
Subphylum: |
Vertebrata |
- all chordate animals with a backbone |
Class: |
Aves |
- the birds |
Order: |
Strigiformes |
-the owl order |
Family: |
Strigidae |
-the typical owl family |
Genus: |
Bubo |
- general or generic name |
Species: |
virginianus |
- the specific name (Of Virginia, first defined in Virginia) |
Notice that each step down in the system is a more defined group.
- For instance, all owls are members of the Kingdom-Animalia, Phylum-Chordata, Subphylum-Vertebrata, Class-Aves, and the Order-Strigidae.
All of the Park’s birds share the same Kingdom, Phylum and Class
Kingdom: |
Animalia |
Phylum: |
Chordata |
Subphylum: |
Vertebrata |
Class: |
Aves |
| Order: |
Falconiformes |
Family: |
Accipitridae (hawks, eagles & relatives) |
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Sub: |
Accipitrinae |
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Genus: |
Haliaeetus (fish eagles) |
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Species: |
Leucocephalus |
Bald Eagles |
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Genus: |
Buteo (basic hawks) |
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Species: |
jamaicensis |
Red-Tailed Hawk |
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Genus: |
Accipiter (bird hawks) |
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Species: |
cooperii |
Cooper's Hawk |
Family: |
Falconidae (falcons) |
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Sub: |
Falconidae |
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Genus: |
Falco (falcons and kestrels) |
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Species: |
peregrinus |
Peregrine Falcon |
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Species: |
sparverius |
American Kestrel |
Family: |
Cathartidae |
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Sub: |
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Genus: |
Cathartes |
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Species: |
aura |
Turkey Vulture |
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