The common name of the animal class Aves is birds. Birds are warm-blooded vertebrates distinguished by feathers, beaks, and the ability to lay eggs. With a worldwide distribution, they inhabit diverse ecosystems from forests and deserts to wetlands and urban areas. Birds play vital roles in ecosystems as pollinators, seed dispersers, and as part of the food web. Their songs and behaviors contribute to the natural soundscape, and many species are critically important in controlling insect populations.