Chullin 62: Identifying Birds, Eight Types that are Uncertain

The rabbis teach that if we know one bird well in a species, we can tell if they are kosher with only one sign.  They go on to describe identifying features on a number of different birds, naming them as well.  The rabbis consider what the birds eat and how that might affect their status.  They tell us that there are eight types of birds that are uncertain.  Each of these has a gizzard that can be softened but still peeled only with the help of a knife.

One minor comment teaches us that an Ammonite man cannot enter the assembly but an Ammonite woman is permitted to do so.  This is said in the context of one category being permitted and another not being permitted.  Steinsaltz teaches that this commentary is related to the laws regarding conversion and marriage which is strict for Ammonite men but not for Ammonite women.

The detail regarding characteristics of different bird species suggests that the rabbis spend many, many hours learning about the behaviours and appearances of these creatures.