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What is a bird? |
Birds
The easiest-to-recognize feature of birds is that they feathers! No other animals besides birds have this special characteristic. Since not all birds can fly (like ostriches and penguins), it’s the feathers (and not the wings) that separate birds from other kinds of animals; there are also some animals (like bats) who are not birds but still have wings.
Birds also have a number of other neat qualities: For example, they lay eggs, are warm-blooded, and have beaks. But watch out – just like with wings, not all animals with beaks are birds! Some beaked-creatures (like the duckbilled platypus) are mammals and not birds!
Bird Watch!
There are more than 9,000 species of birds in the world! How many kinds of birds can you name, and how many have you seen?
Some good examples might be robins, sparrows, seagulls, pigeons, peacocks, ostriches, penguins, geese, falcons, chickens, eagles, and more! What other birds can you name??
What are some behaviors common in birds that you’ve noticed? Building a nest is one good example, and so is “flying south” for the winter! And what about collecting worms??
Can you name any other birdy-behaviors??
