Has the question whether the chicken is a mammal or a bird become a dilemma for you just like the infamous 'which came first' question.

To answer your query whether chickens are mammals or are they birds, we need to understand the basic difference between the two animal group.

Mammals are a warm blooded vertebrate animal that possesses fur or hair and has glands to secrete milk by which they feed their young ones. They are also warm-blooded, and most of them have teeth. The only exception to the last is anteaters, which doesn’t have teeth.

Birds too are warm blooded vertebrate animals that possess feather, wings, and beaks. However, unlike animals, birds lay eggs instead of giving birth to young ones.

(Image Courtesy: YouTube)

Keeping in mind all the above-given information, it is quite evident that chickens are birds and not a mammal. Chickens like all other birds lay the egg and are covered with feathers.

Not just that, mammals have mammary glands that chickens do not have. The only mammals that do not possess any hair are dolphins and whales.

With this information, it becomes easy to categorize animals such as dogs, cats, apes, cows, and goats as examples of mammals and chicken, pigeon, eagle, and sparrow as examples of birds.





(Image Courtesy: Tes)

Is there any other animal who you have not been able to classify or slot in a group? Do let us know by using the comment box below.

(Featured Image Courtesy: National Geographic)