Birds Glossary - Letter P

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Pair Bond
Refers to the association of two birds for the purpose of reproduction and may be either short-term or lifelong.

Palaearctic Migration
Migration to Eurasia.

Passerine
Describes birds which fall into the order of Passeriformes. These are song birds and perching birds and numbers over half of all bird species.

Pecking Order
see hierarchy

Pelagic
Describes birds which reside on the open ocean or sea.

Pinnae
Elongated projecting feathers typically located around the head or neck.

Piscivorous
Feeding on fish.

Plumage
The feathers which cover a bird.

Plumes
These are large, easily spotted feathers used to demonstrate the good health and virility of a mate.

Polygamy
A mating system where a bird has more than one mate.

Polygyny
A mating system where one male bird mates with more than one female.

Population
All the birds of one species which reside in a particular area.

Precocial
Young birds which are well developed and are able to fend for themselves from the time that they hatch. The opposite of altricial.

Preening
The act of cleaning, arranging and caring for feathers, undertaken by the bird itself, usually using its bill.

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