Question

Which of the following is not a bird?
a) Pavo
b) Struthio
c) Columba
d) Testudo

Answer 1

Hint: Birds are characterised as egg laying animals. They have wings or feathers which help them to fly.

Complete answer:
To answer this question, we must know about the characteristic features of birds.
Birds fall under the Kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata and class Aves.
The characteristic features of Aves are they are warm blooded vertebrates. Presence of feathers to cover the body. Aves are egg laying or oviparous. They produce offspring by laying eggs which are fertilised by sexual reproduction. They lay eggs which are covered with a hard shell. They have high metabolic rates. The light skeleton enables them to fly. They also have tooth less beaked jaws. The digestive and respiratory system of the birds are adapted in accordance with flight. The heart is four chambered.
Pavo genus birds for example peacocks have bright coloured feathers which they use for flying small distances. But as they lay eggs to produce offspring, it comes under the category of birds.
Struthio genus birds for example ostrich are known as flightless birds. They do not have wings to fly. But they are oviparous, hence fall under the class Aves.
Columba genus birds for example pigeons can both fly and lay eggs.
Testudo genus for example tortoise does not come under Aves. Rather it comes under class Reptilia.

Thus, the correct answer is (D) Testudo is not a bird.

Note: Some birds are flightless, for example penguins. They have adapted as per the environmental conditions. Some birds are adapted for swimming, for example sea birds and waterbirds.