Despite the fact that the level of organization of birds are much lower than mammals, the central nervous system of these animals compares favorably with amphibians and reptiles. In particular, the brain of birds is much more complex, which allows them to master new activities and behaviors. The mass of the brain of a bird is from 0.2 to 5% of its total body weight.
Bird cerebral cortex
The first thing you should pay attention to when studying the brain of birds is a peculiarly developed cerebral cortex. Despite the fact that it is not very complicated, this does not prevent birds from demonstrating rather complex forms of behavior. This is what gives us the opportunity to draw conclusions that the degree of development of the cerebral cortex is not always directly proportional to the development of a particular species. Moreover, studies have shown that this part of the brain in birds is responsible to a greater extent not for intellectual development, but for smell. This is explained, first of all, by the fact that in the course of the evolutionary process it lost its original purpose and significantly decreased insizes. The behavior of birds is coordinated by a slightly different part of the brain, which will be discussed a little later.
Divisions of the bird's brain
Let's consider the main parts of the bird's brain. The forebrain of birds was inherited from related reptiles. However, the functions and structure of this part of the brain in animals are different. The forebrain cortex of birds covers it mainly in the region of the lateral and upper parts. Separately, it is worth noting the lower part of the forebrain of a bird called the striatum. The upper region of the striatum - the hyperstriatum - is responsible for the intellectual development of the bird, and it has been noted that the more developed this brain region is in a bird, the more perfect forms of behavior it is able to demonstrate (it is easy to guess that budgerigars, canaries, crows differ in the most developed hyperstriatum). Removal of this part of the brain provokes a deterioration in the ability of birds to learn, as well as remember and recognize. Another fairly developed part of the brain of birds is the cerebellum, which provides birds with the ability to perform the most complex movements during flight. At the same time, the diencephalon is rather poorly developed; a small epiphysis is located on its surface. The visual lobes of the brain are quite well developed, which provides the birds with well-developed vision, allowing them to navigate the terrain well. Another developed sense organ of any bird is hearing. Touch, taste and smell are developed mainly in nocturnal predators, in other birds they are representedmedium. Also, the brain of birds has 12 pairs of cranial nerves extending from it. It is connected to the spinal cord with the help of the medulla oblongata.
Meaning of the parts of the brain of birds
The similar structure of the brain of birds provides them with the development of such complex and diverse behavioral forms as the ability to migrate, care for offspring, rational activity, good learning ability, building nests.
