Exhibit Breeding Bird Atlas Ornithology Department Credits Welcome to the Natural History Museum's Bird Site . The material is appropriate for educators and students of all ages. Birds belong to the Class Aves in the Kingdom Animalia.
Birds are the only animals that have feathers and all birds have feathers.
Scientists have divided the Class Aves into around 25 to 30 orders. Scientists group birds together by searching for common structural characteristics of their anatomy and similarities in the genetic material. Because of their ability to fly, birds inhabit nearly every part of the Earth - from the oceans and frozen polar zones to steaming rain forests and barren deserts. Their wide-ranging abilities and occupation of diverse habitats have allowed them to diversify into over 9,000 species. The insects, with over 800,000 species, form the most dominant class in the world.