Bird Body Basics
These are what make a bird a bird.
Feathers
Soft, fluffy feathers are called what?
Down feathers
What is the name of the nest that is bowl-shaped and made with twigs, mud and soft materials?
Cup nest
I cling to the side of trees and drum on bark. My beak is strong enough to drill holes, and my feet help me climb.
Woodpecker (Downy)
What is the scientific name for bird groups?
Aves
Birds have a backbones, making them a what?
vertebrate
This is the outermost feather on a bird.
Contour feather
Name one reason birds build nests.
Shelter, Safety or Chick-rearing
I glide across lakes and nibble at food in the water. My beak works like a filter, and my feet help me swim.
Duck (Mallard)
Migration without a fixed route, based on food & water availability is called what?
Nomadic migration
The very top of the bird’s head is called the what?
Crown
What is the term for shedding old feathers and growing new ones?
Molting
Name one of the natural materials birds use to build their nests.
Twigs/Sticks, Moss, Spider Webs, Mud, Feathers, Grasses
I walk through marshes and stand still for long periods waiting to catch fish with my pointed beak.
Heron (Great Blue)
What is the term for two toes facing forward, and two toes facing backward?
Zygodactyl
What is a bird’s beak made of?
Keratin
The name for a route a bird flies during migration.
Flyway
Scrape nest
I soar high and have excellent eyesight. My sharp claws and hooked beak help me catch and eat small animals.
Hawk (Red Tailed)
Who was the man who developed a system of taxonomy (a system of naming and organizing living things based on their traits).
Carl Linneaus
Birds are tetrapods— meaning they have how many limbs?
Four
Birds can sense the earth’s magnetic field through this in their beaks.
Magnetite
This is a large, flat nest places in high, open locations.
Platform nest
I live in backyards and parks. I hop around looking for worms and seeds and perch easily on tree branches.
Robin (American)
This is the large, blade-like bone on the chest of the bird.
Keel