Introduction
Like mammals, amphibians and reptiles, birds belong to the phylum Chordata. All birds are endothermic ("warm-blooded") and covered with feathers, and most have the ability to fly. Birds evolved from reptiles about 130 million years ago. There are an estimated 9,000 species of birds in the world. Approximately 900 occur in North America and more than 400 have been recorded in Missouri. More than 150 species regularly nest in our state. The variety of color, size, behavior, songs and nests in the bird world, and of course the magic of flight, make birds a wonderful part of outdoor Missouri.
