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Birds – A creature with feathers and wings which can (usually) fly is called birds.
Birds are the wonderful animals.
They are found in different colours, shapes and sizes.
They make our world beautiful and colourful.
We all love twittering and chattering of birds.
The most important thing about the birds is that they can fly.
Their ability of flying always fascinates us.
Types of birds
Flying bird Flightless bird
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Those bird flying easily with the help of wings
Ex. Parrot, Crow, Eagle etc.
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Those bird cannot flying easily due to heavy weight
Ex. Ostrich, Kiwi, Penguin etc.
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Flightless bird – Those bird cannot flying easily due to heavy weight are called flightless birds.
Ostrich (largest birds called desert birds or camel birds)
Kiwi (smallest flightless bird)
Penguin
Emu
Flying birds – Those bird flying easily with the help of wings are called flying birds.
Humming birds (smallest birds) in India some birds are smallest
Swift – fastest flying birds
Arctic tern (largest migrating birds)
Albatross (largest flying birds)
Characteristics of Birds:
Birds have Wings and Feathers
Birds have Light Body and Hollow Bones
Birds Migrate from One Place to Another
How do Birds Fly?
Birds can fly because of their body designs, wings, tail feathers, lightweight, etc.
Bird flaps its wings to push air downward. Pushing of air downward lifts the bird into the air.
Types of bird feathers
Body feather Down feather Tail feather Flight feather
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These feathers cover the birds whole body
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Small and fluffy feathers that keep the body warm
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These feathers help the bird to maintain balance and change the direction
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The long and stiff feathers present on their wings and tails
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Birds and their beautiful feathers –
Bird’s body is covered with feathers. Feathers of different birds are of different colours and designs. Feathers keep them warm and help them to fly bird. Feathers of the birds are classified into three types:
(i) Down feathers: The small, light and fluffy feathers which cover their body and keep them warm, are called down feathers.
(ii) Tail feathers: Those feathers help the bird to maintain balance and change the direction of flight are called tail feathers.
(iii) Flight feathers: The long and stiff feathers present on their wings and tails are called flight feathers.
NOTE – Birds shed their feathers from time to time and new feathers grow in their place.
They have two types of movements that help them fly:
Upstroke movement – The wings move upwards and then backwards are called upstroke movement.
Down stroke movement – The wings move downwards and then forward are called down stroke movement.
Birds and their beaks –
An external anatomical structure of birds that is used for eating, killing prey, fighting and feeding young ones is called beak.
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The hard, pointed structure sticking out from a bird’s face are called beak.
All birds have differently shaped beaks.
The most important function of a bird beak is feeding.
The beaks form one of the characteristics to identify birds.
Beaks are multi-functional.
They are used to fight, protect, assemble food and eat, and groom and build nests for birds.
Types of beaks –
Short and hard beak – Birds like Sparrow and pigeon have short, hard and strong beaks to crack their food.
Long and thin beak -Birds like Hummingbird and sunbird has a long, thin and straw like beak to suck nectar from flowers.
Curved beak -Parrots have a curved and strong beak to crack nuts and hard fruits.
Strong and chisel shaped beak -The Woodpecker is strong and chisel shaped beak to make holes into the trees and pull out insects.
Sharp and hooked beak -Flesh eating Birds like Eagles, owls and vultures have strong sharp and hooked beaks for tearing flesh.
Broad and short beak -Swallows have a broad and short beak which is sticky inside.
Broad and Flat beak -Water Birds like Ducks and geese have flat and broad beaks, with holes on both the sides’.
Birds – Their feets and claws:
Feet – The lowest part of a body at the end of two legs on which a person, animals, birds stand are called feet.
Claws – A curved, pointed appendage, found at the end of a toe or finger in most mammals, reptiles, birds are called claws.
Birds have feet of many different shapes and sizes depending upon their habitat.
Claws help in catching, holding and eating the food.
They also help in walking, swimming, climbing and perching.
They help protect the birds from their enemies.
Types of feet and claws –
Climbing Birds – Two toes that point upward and two toes that point downward to climb and hold on to the trees. Ex. Parrot, Woodpecker etc.
Perching Birds – Three toes in front and one at the back to hold on to the branch of the tree without falling. Ex. Mynahs, Crows, Night angle etc.
Flesh eating Birds (Birds of prey) – Sharp claws & flesh eating birds called talons to capture kill and carry their prey with their feet. Ex. Eagles, Vultures and Kites.
Swimming Birds – Webbed feet to help them Swim in water. Ex. Duck, Geese etc.
Wading Birds – Long legs with spread out toes to walk in water and muddy surface. Ex. Herons and Cranes
Scratching Birds – Sharp claws to scratch, dig the ground and look out for insects and worms. Ex. Hen, Peacock etc.
Birds and their home – Nests –
Nest – A Structure or place made or chosen by a bird for laying eggs and sheltering its young are called nest.
Birds build nest to lay eggs.
They always build nest at safer places so that they can protect eggs and their young ones from enemies.
They use their beaks for making nests.
Not all birds make their nest. Some birds instead lay their eggs in other bird’s nests. For example Cuckoos.
Birds make their nests using branches, twigs and leaves etc.
Types of nests –
Sparrows and crows build nest which are shaped like cups or bowls made from twigs.
Tailor birds make nest by sewing leaves together with their needle-like beaks.
A weaver birds uses its beak to weave together pieces of leaves, grass and twigs to build a nest.
The Woodpecker uses its beak to peck the trees trunk to make holes as its nest.
The penguin collects stones and pebbles to make a nest on the ground
The Eagle builds its nest high up on tree tops, cliffs or mountains.
Bird’s sounds –
Birds make different types of sounds.
In the morning, it is nice to hear the chirping of birds.
Birds make sounds to call out to their mates or to warn other of dangers around.
Some birds are called songbirds as they sing beautifully.
Nightingale, Cuckoo, lark and Robin are some of the song Birds.
Birds such as the parrot and Mynah are good mimics.
