Station 1
classifying birds based on observation of physical structures
Objective
Teams will categorize birds based upon observation of physical appearance and structures.
Materials
•Set of 9 bird images: Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), Bronze-Winged Mannikin (Lonchura cucullata),
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), Domestic Duck (Anas domesticus), Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus),
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata), Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata), Northern
Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Procedure
• Examine images of different bird species and list their physical characteristics.
• Make inferences as to how closely related they are to each other and categorize them based on these inferences.
•Record your rationale for placing the birds into each category. In other words, explain why you thought some
birds were more closely related than others.
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 1 • Page 1
Caribbean Flamingo • Phoenicopterus ruber
© Salvador Manaois Iii | Dreamstime.com
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 1 • Page 2
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
© Joan Egert | Dreamstime.com
Bronze-Winged Mannikin • Lonchura cucullata
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 1 • Page 3
Pileated Woodpecker • Dryocopus pileatus
© Geraldmarella | Dreamstime.com
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 1 • Page 4
© Janet Hastings | Dreamstime.com
Domestic Duck • Anas domesticus
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 1 • Page 5
Peregrine Falcon • Falco peregrinus
© Anthony Aneese Totah Jr | Dreamstime.com
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 1 • Page 6
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
© Brian Kushner | Dreamstime.com
American Crow • Corvus brachyrhynchos
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 1 • Page 7
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
© Fasphotographic | Dreamstime.com
Zebra Finch • Taeniopygia guttata
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 1 • Page 8
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
© Robert Hambley | Dreamstime.com
Blue Jay • Cyanocitta cristata
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 1 • Page 9
Northern Cardinal • Cardinalis cardinalis
© 400ex127 | Dreamstime.com
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 1 • Page 10
Station 2
classifying birds based on beaks
Objective
Teams will categorize birds based upon beak length and depth. Beak length refers to the measurement from the
base to tip of the beak. Beak depth refers to the measurement from top to bottom of the beak, measuring from the
base of the beak.
Materials
•Set of 9 bird skull images: Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), Bronze-Winged Mannikin (Lonchura
cucullata), Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), Domestic Duck (Anas domesticus), Peregrine Falcon
(Falco peregrinus), American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata), Blue Jay (Cyanocitta
cristata), Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
• Metric ruler(s)
• Graph paper
• Colored pencils
Procedure
• Measure the length and depth of beaks of the different species of birds.
• Plot the length and depth measurements on a graph.
•Compare and contrast the beak data as well as the observational data collected in station one. Predict what
types of food each bird would eat.
• If desired, revise your classification of the birds from station one.
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 2 • Page 11
Caribbean Flamingo • Phoenicopterus ruber
© 2012 Ernest J. Ramon
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 2 • Page 12
Bronze-Winged Mannikin • Lonchura cucullata
© 2012 Ernest J. Ramon
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 2 • Page 13
Pileated Woodpecker • Dryocopus pileatus
© 2012 Ernest J. Ramon
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 2 • Page 14
Domestic Duck • Anas domesticus
© 2012 Ernest J. Ramon
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 2 • Page 15
Peregrine Falcon • Falco peregrinus
© 2012 Ernest J. Ramon
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 2 • Page 16
American Crow • Corvus brachyrhynchos
© 2012 Ernest J. Ramon
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 2 • Page 17
Zebra Finch • Taeniopygia guttata
© 2012 Ernest J. Ramon
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 2 • Page 18
Blue Jay • Cyanocitta cristata
© 2012 Ernest J. Ramon
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 2 • Page 19
Northern Cardinal • Cardinalis cardinalis
© 2012 Ernest J. Ramon
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 2 • Page 20
Station 3
classifying birds based on niche
Objective
Teams will classify birds based upon the niche they occupy in their island habitat. The function of the beak (which
corresponds to their niche) will be simulated using common tools and a variety of food items.
Materials
• Common tools (representing different beak shapes)
• Items of various sizes and shapes (representing different foods)
• Stop watch
Procedure
•Assign a “bird” who will use the tools to pick up scattered food during a given time period. Assign a “timekeeper”
to time 20-second foraging periods, noting start/stop. Assign a “recorder” to record the beak type (tool), total
number and variety of food items scattered before foraging, total number and variety of food items collected.
•Have the student assigned as the bird turn away while team members scatter the food on a substrate. Be creative
when setting up the substrate and scattering food. Consider texture, color and then begin foraging!
•After foraging, answer the following questions. If time permits, create charts and/or graphs to organize the data.
1) Which beak picked up the most food items? Why?
2) Which beak picked up the fewest food items? Why?
3) B
ased on the food items present in the habitat, what kind of bird would be most successful living in this
habitat? Please explain your answer.
4) If the food items represented insects, which insects would be at an advantage in this habitat? Please
explain your answer.
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 3 • Page 21
Station 4
classifying birds based on variation in dna sequence data
Objective
Your team will classify birds based on the amount of variation between birds’ DNA. Physical appearance and
structures can be subjective and lead us to make incorrect inferences about relatedness of species.
Materials
•Set of 6 bird images: Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), Galah (Eolophus roseicapill), Great Crested Grebe
(Podiceps cristatus), Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja), Grey Tinamou
(Tinamus tao)
• Set of corresponding DNA sequences (in envelope)
Procedure
• Examine the Flamingo image and record observations of its physical characteristics.
•Compare other bird images with the Flamingo and rank the birds in order from most related to most distantly
related to the Flamingo. Record your rationale for the ranking.
•Open the envelope containing the DNA sequences. Find the Flamingo DNA sequence and then compare the
other birds’ DNA to the Flamingo’s. Rank order the other birds as most closely related to most distantly related
to the Flamingo based on DNA. Record your ranking.
•Record responses to the following questions: Was your ranking of relatedness based on physical characteristics
different from your ranking based on DNA? Which method do you believe is more valid? Why?
• Return the DNA sequences to the envelope for the next group.
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 4 • Page 22
Caribbean Flamingo • Phoenicopterus ruber
© Salvador Manaois Iii | Dreamstime.com
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 4 • Page 23
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
© Jordan Tan | Dreamstime.com
Galah • Eolophus roseicapill
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 4 • Page 24
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
© Wkruck | Dreamstime.com
Great Crested Grebe • Podiceps cristatus
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 4 • Page 25
Northern Cardinal • Cardinalis cardinalis
© 400ex127 | Dreamstime.com
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 4 • Page 26
Roseate Spoonbill • Platalea ajaja
© Lukas Blazek | Dreamstime.com
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 4 • Page 27
© J. Dunning/VIREO
Grey Tinamou • Tinamus tao
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 4 • Page 28
C GGCAAGTTCGTAATCCTCG
Caribbean Flamingo • Phoenicopterus ruber
C GGCAAGCTCGTGATCCTCG
Great Crested Grebe • Podiceps cristatus
T GC TGGCCCGC T TGCGT C T T
Grey Tinamou • Tinamus tao
T GCCGCGC T CC TACCACGT A
Roseate Spoonbill • Platalea ajaja
T AAAATAGT TATCTCTAAAC
Northern Cardinal • Cardinalis cardinalis
T AATATAGT TATCTCTGAGT
Galah • Eolophus roseicapilla
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 4 • Page 29
Station 5
answering the research question
Objective
Using DNA sequence data from 15 bird species, your team will form a conclusion as to whether Darwin’s finches are
actually finches.
Materials
•Set of 15 bird images and corresponding DNA sequences: Darwin’s Finches (5 species), True Finches (5 species),
and Tanagers (5 species)
Procedure
•Examine Darwin’s Finches carefully.
•Then examine True Finches and Tanagers against Darwin’s Finches. Which group of birds is more closely
related to Darwin’s Finches? Why? Consider various lines of evidence: 1) physical characteristics, 2) structural
morphology, and 3) behavior/niche.
• Now look at the DNA.
•As a team, develop an evidence-based conclusion answering the question, are Darwin’s Finches really finches?
Record your team’s conclusion and rationale.
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 5 • Page 30
© T. Vezo/VIREO
Darwin’s Finches
© G. Lasley/VIREO
Warbler Finch • Certhidea olivacea
Small Tree Finch • Camarhynchus parvulus
© A. Morris/VIREO
Large Ground Finch • Geospiza magnirostris
© A. Morris/VIREO
© Dr. F.B. Gill/VIREO
Vegetarian Finch • Platyspiza crassirostris
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
Medium Ground Finch • Geospiza fortis
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 5 • Page 31
© Steve Byland | Dreamstime.com
© Scattoselvaggio | Dreamstime.com
True Finches
© Steve Byland | Dreamstime.com
Common Crossbill • Loxia curvirostra
© Brian E. Small/VIREO
American Gold Finch • Carduelis tristis
© Steve Byland | Dreamstime.com
House Finch • Carpodacus mexicanus
Pine Siskin • Carduelis pinus
Cassin’s Finch • Carpodacus cassinii
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 5 • Page 32
© John Anderson | Dreamstime.com
© Michael Woodruff | Dreamstime.com
Tanagers
© A. & J. Binns/VIREO
Bananaquit • Coereba flaveola
Puerto Rican Bullfinch • Loxigilla portoricensis
© C.H. Greenewalt/VIREO
Grass-Green Tanager • Chloronis riefferii
© Doug Wechsler/VIREO
Blue and Yellow Tanager •
Thraupis bonariensis
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
Cuban Bullfinch • Melopyrrha nigra
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 5 • Page 33
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
Warbler Finch • Certhidea olivacea
A CAAATGCATGG
Vegetarian Finch • Platyspiza crassirostris
A CAAA TGC T T C G
Large Ground Finch • Geospiza magnirostris
A CAAATGCAT C T
Small Tree Finch • Camarhynchus parvulus
A CAAATGCACCG
Medium Ground Finch • Geospiza fortis
A CAAATGCAT CG
Darwin’s Finches
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 5 • Page 34
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
Cassin’s Finch • Carpodacus cassinii
A C T T AGCGA T T G C
Pine Siskin • Carduelis pinus
A C T TAGCGAT CGT
Common Crossbill • Loxia curvirostra
A C T TAGCGAT CGC
American Gold Finch • Carduelis tristis
A C T GAGCGA T AG C
House Finch • Carpodacus mexicanus
A C T TAGCGAT CGC
True Finches
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 5 • Page 35
The Field Museum • Chicago Center for Systems Biology
Grass-Green Tanager • Chloronis riefferii
A CAAAGCCAT C C
Bananaquit • Coereba flaveola
A CAAAGT CAT CG
Puerto Rican Bullfinch • Loxigilla portoricensis
A CAAAGCCAT C T
Cuban Bullfinch • Melopyrrha nigra
A CAATGCCAT CG
Blue and Yellow Tanager • Thraupis bonariensis
A CAAAGCCAT CG
Tanagers
The Case of Darwin’s Finches • Student Pages • Station 5 • Page 36