Birds

Feathers are unique to birds among living animals, and no other group has them.

A bird's feathers are made of keratin, the same material as human hair.

Penguins cannot fly, but they swim underwater using wings shaped like flippers.

Owls can turn their heads much farther than most other birds can.

Hummingbirds can hover in one place by beating their wings extremely fast.

Hummingbirds are among the few birds able to fly backward with ease.

Many migrating birds travel thousands of kilometres between their breeding and wintering grounds.

Birds navigate during migration using the sun, stars, and Earth's magnetic field.

A bird's beak shape usually reflects the kind of food it eats every day.

Woodpeckers have long tongues that help them reach insects under tree bark.

Owls have large eyes that help them see well in very low light.

An owl's flight is nearly silent because of the soft edges on its feathers.

Birds have hollow bones that keep their skeletons light enough for flying.

A bird's lungs move air in one direction, making their breathing very efficient.

Penguins huddle together in large groups to share warmth during cold winters.

Emperor penguins incubate a single egg balanced on their feet through winter.

Many birds build nests from twigs, grass, mud, and their own soft feathers.

Some birds line their nests with soft materials to keep the eggs warm.

Bird eggs come in many colours, from plain white to speckled pale blue.

The shell of a bird egg is hard yet full of tiny invisible pores.

Cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests belonging to other bird species.

Birdsong is mostly produced by males to defend territory and attract mates.

Many young birds learn their songs by listening to adults singing nearby.

Parrots can mimic human speech and many other sounds they hear around them.

A bird's wing shape affects whether it glides, soars, or flaps constantly.

Albatrosses can glide for hours over the ocean without flapping their wings.

Migration usually happens twice a year, in spring and again in autumn.

Geese often fly in a V shape to save energy during very long journeys.

Birds of prey have sharp talons and hooked beaks suited for tearing meat.

Eagles have excellent eyesight and can spot prey from a great distance.

A peregrine falcon is one of the fastest animals when diving toward prey.

Seabirds such as gulls drink salt water and later excrete the extra salt.

Flamingos get their pink colour from pigments found in the food they eat.

Ostriches are the largest living birds and cannot fly, but they run quickly.

A kiwi lays an egg that is very large compared with its own body.

Birds keep their eggs warm by sitting on them for days or weeks.

Swifts spend most of their lives in the air, even sleeping while flying.

Swallows catch insects in midair with their wide open beaks and agile flight.

A woodpecker's skull has structures that cushion the impact of repeated pecking.

Birds preen their feathers to keep them clean and properly aligned for flight.

Moulting replaces worn feathers, usually once or twice every year for most birds.

Down feathers trap air close to the skin and help keep a bird warm.

Male birds are often more brightly coloured than females of the very same species.

Male peacocks spread their long tail feathers to impress females during courtship.

Some birds store food in hidden places and return to it months later.

Crows and ravens solve puzzles and are often described as highly intelligent birds.

A bird's crop stores food for a while before it reaches the stomach.

Nesting boxes placed in gardens often attract small songbirds during the spring.

Penguins carry a layer of fat under the skin that helps keep them warm.

Herons wade slowly through shallow water to catch fish, frogs, and insects.

Many songbirds migrate at night, navigating by stars and familiar landmarks below.

A group of birds flying together in the sky is commonly called a flock.