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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.
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 | | | | | |  | | | Suborder: Caniformia | | | | | | | Family: Accipitridae (hawks, eagles, & relatives) | | | | | Sub: Accipitrinae | | | | | Genus: | Haliaeetus | (fish eagles) | | | | | | | Species: leucocephalus | |
| | | Genus: | Buteo | (basic hawks) | | | | | | | Species: jamaicensis | | | | | Genus: | Accipiter | (bird hawks) |
| | | | | | Species: cooperii | | | | | | | | | | | Family: Falconidae (falcons) | | | | | | | Sub: Falconinae | | | | | | Genus: | Falco | (falcons and kestrels) | | | | | | | Species: peregrinus | Peregrine Falcon | | | | | | Species: sparverius | American Kestrel | | | | | | | | | | Family: Cathartidae (new world vultures) | | | | | | Genus: | Cathartes | Species: aura | Turkey Vulture |
| | | | |  | Order: | Strigiformes | | | | | Family: Strigidae (typical owls) | | | | | | | | Genus: Bubo | Species: virginianus | |
Order: | Gruiformes | | | | |  | | | Family: Gruidae (cranes) | | | | | | Genus: Grus | Species: canadensis | |
Order: | Anseriformes (waterfowl) | | |  | | | Family: Anatidae (ducks, geese, swans) | | | | Sub: Anserinae | | (geese & swans) | | | | Genus: Branta | | Species: canadensis | |
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