Birding/Do birds urinate ?

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Expert: - 5/31/2004


Question
In general, do birds urinate ?  

Answer
No.Unlike mammals, which excrete waste fluid as urine and solid waste as feces, birds mix both liquid waste and solid waste into the white paste you see as bird droppings. The only exception is the ostrich, which has a urinary bladder. For more information on wild birds, see www.ornithology.com. Roger Lederer

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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