Birds Glossary - Letter C

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Caching
Storing of food, such as nuts and insect larvae, in safe places for later use.

Cap
The top of the crown.

Carnivorous
Feeding on other animals' tissue.

Caruncle
A fleshy outgrowth of bare skin such as a turkey's wattle.

Cere
A fleshy, sometimes waxy area just above the bird's beak.

Clutch
Refers to all the eggs or number of eggs laid by a bird during one breeding attempt.

Colony
A group of the same bird species living together.

Comb
A fleshy outgrowth on the top of the head of a bird such as that seen on a chicken. Also refers to a colored section found above the eye of a male bird.

Contour Feathers
These cover the body of the bird and give the bird its overall appearance.

Courtship
The beginning stages of breeding whereby a male bird sings, struts, dances, flies and postures so as to attract a mate. Different species have different courtship displays.

Coverts
Short feathers which cover ear openings as well as the bases of wing and tail feathers.

Crepuscular
Describes birds which are active during twilight which is during dawn and dusk.

Crest
Tuft of feathers on the top of a bird's head which can be raised and lowered at will.

Crop
A sac-like organ below the bird's esophagus where food is stored and softened for later digestion.

Crown
The top of a bird's head.

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