| Jan 12 | Introduction: what makes a bird a bird? Origin of birdsÖ | Ch. 1 | |
| Jan 15-17 | Dinosaurs are not extinct: Origin of birds and flight. The fossil record. Evolution of flight and of flightlessness. | pp.22-35 | |
| Jan 22-26 | Speciation and Hybridization: What is a species? Systematics and what the molecules tell us | pp. 36-44;
Ch. 22; Ch. 3 |
Paper topics due 1/22 |
| Jan 29-Feb 2 | Convergent evolution, biogeography, and the origin of North Am. birds; Feathers and flight | Ch.4 | Lit cited due |
| Feb 5-9 | Flight, cont. Bone, muscle and blood; Respiration, energy and thermoregulation | Ch. 5 | |
| Feb 5 | Paper discussion 1 | article | Summary #1 |
| 2/12-16 | Finish respiration etc.; Review for exam. | Ch. 6 | |
| Feb 14 | *********EXAMINATION*********** | Exam 1 | |
| 2/19-23 | Digestion, excretion. Brains and sense organs - what does it mean to be "bird-brained?" | Ch. 7-8 | Papers due 2/21 |
| Feb 26-Mar 2 | Foraging behavior; Territoriality | Ch. 7, 14 | |
| Feb 28 | Paper discussion 2 | article | Summary #2 |
| Mar 5-9 | Nestbuilding, eggs, and clutch size | Ch. 15-16 | rewrites due (optional) 3/9 |
| 3/12-16 | SPRING BREAK | ||
| Mar 19-23 | Mating systems: Sexual selection, monogamy, Extra pair copulations and other wrinkles. | Ch. 17 | |
| Mar 26-30 | Mating systems continued; population biology | Ch. 17, 21 | |
| Mar 30 | PAPER DISCUSSION 3 | article | summary #3 |
| 2 April | TBA; review for exam | ||
| April4 | *********EXAMINATION*********** | Exam II | |
| April 6 | Molt | pp. 80-85 | |
| 4/9-13 | Migration, Navigation and Orientation | Ch. 12-13 | |
| 4/16-20 | Social Behavior and flocking | Ch. 14 | |
| 4/23-27 | Why do birds sing, and How do birds sing? | Ch. 10 | |
| April 26 | Conservation; birds and man | Ch. 24 | |
| 3 May | **FINAL EXAM*** - Friday, 5/4, 11:00 AM | Final exam |