Birds Theme Unit
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Name _____________________________
Date ___________________
  Birds
Select the definition that most nearly defines the given word.
1.   pelican
  This bird has wings, but it cannot fly. Most of them live in cold places near Antarctica. Although it looks clumsy on ice, it is an excellent swimmer! This bird feeds on fish.
  This small seabird has black feathers covering its entire body except for its white belly. It has a large, colorful beak. It lives in a cool climate. It spends most of its life living on the open ocean. It returns to land once a year to breed. Most birds use their webbed feet to swim. This bird, however, flaps its wings to push it along under the water, as if it is flying. This bird is Iceland's national bird.
  Found only in New Zealand, this little bird cannot fly. It hides underground during the day and only comes out to look for food at night. The nostrils are on the tip of this bird's long beak. A greenish fruit has the same name as this bird.
  This bird has a long, large beak. The lower part of its beak can be stretched to a pouch. When this bird dives into the water, it uses its beak like a fishnet to scoop up fish.
2.   sparrow
  This is the world's largest bird. It cannot fly. Because it is flightless, it relies on its two long, strong legs to run away from an enemy.
  This bird is possibly the laziest parent in the whole family of birds! The female of this bird lays an egg in another bird's nest. When her baby hatches, it pushes other eggs out of the nest!
  This small brownish bird is everywhere! We often see this bird picking up small bits of food, such as bread discarded by people.
  The male of this bird has long, beautiful tail feathers decorated with "eyes". When it is time to find a mate, the male opens out his tail feathers like a fan.
3.   hummingbird
  This bird is among one of the smallest birds in the world. It has a long, slender bill, and it mainly feeds on nectar. This bird beats its wings really fast - some can flap their wings up to 200 times a second!
  This bird hunts small animals, such as mice, at night. It has a pair of large eyes that can see well in the dark. This bird can turn its head almost all the way around to see what is behind it.
  This bird is often seen gliding gracefully on lakes or rivers. It uses its long neck to reach deep below the surface to get food. It is related to geese and ducks. Most of them have feathers that are only white.
  This small brownish bird is everywhere! We often see this bird picking up small bits of food, such as bread discarded by people.
4.   ostrich
  This bird is among one of the smallest birds in the world. It has a long, slender bill, and it mainly feeds on nectar. This bird beats its wings really fast - some can flap their wings up to 200 times a second!
  This strange-looking bird lives in the tropical forests of Central and South America. It has a huge, colorful beak - its beak can be as long as its body!
  This bird uses its beak to "drill" a hole on tree trunks so it can eat small insects hiding beneath the bark.
  This is the world's largest bird. It cannot fly. Because it is flightless, it relies on its two long, strong legs to run away from an enemy.
5.   owl
  This bird has a long, large beak. The lower part of its beak can be stretched to a pouch. When this bird dives into the water, it uses its beak like a fishnet to scoop up fish.
  This bird is related to pigeons. It has a small head, short neck, plump body, and a pair of short legs. This bird has a unique way of drinking water - they dip their beaks and suck water without raising their heads. This bird's white feathers are a symbol of peace.
  This bird hunts small animals, such as mice, at night. It has a pair of large eyes that can see well in the dark. This bird can turn its head almost all the way around to see what is behind it.
  This tall bird has a long neck and a pair of long legs. It wears a pink overcoat! This bird is best known for its group dance!
6.   oriole
  The male of this bird has golden orange feathers with black markings on his head, throat, shoulders, wings, and tails. This bird is Maryland's state bird.
  This large bird is an excellent hunter! When it spots small animals from high up in the sky, it swoops down, spreads out its large, strong feet with sharp claws, and grabs the prey. This bird has a sharp, hooked bill perfect for tearing up prey. It is related to hawks and vultures.
  This bird lives on lakes or rivers, and it is in the family of waterfowls. Other family members include swans and geese. This bird differs from its other family members by its shorter neck and legs.
  This large bird lives in the north during the summer months and flies south in the fall. It returns to its summer home in the spring. This bird travels in a large group, forming a shape that looks like the letter V.
7.   vulture
  This bird rests on leaf-less tree braches until the sun has warmed up the ground. It circles in the sky looking for dead or decaying animals. This bird is related to eagles and hawks.
  This large bird is found only in America. It does not have feathers covering its head and neck. The male of this bird has a long wattle at the base of his bill and additional wattles on his neck. People in the United States cook this bird on Thanksgiving.
  The male of this bird has golden orange feathers with black markings on his head, throat, shoulders, wings, and tails. This bird is Maryland's state bird.
  The male of this bird is called a rooster. The female of this bird is called a hen. Most farms have this bird.
8.   flamingo
  This is the world's largest bird. It cannot fly. Because it is flightless, it relies on its two long, strong legs to run away from an enemy.
  This large bird lives in the north during the summer months and flies south in the fall. It returns to its summer home in the spring. This bird travels in a large group, forming a shape that looks like the letter V.
  This small seabird has black feathers covering its entire body except for its white belly. It has a large, colorful beak. It lives in a cool climate. It spends most of its life living on the open ocean. It returns to land once a year to breed. Most birds use their webbed feet to swim. This bird, however, flaps its wings to push it along under the water, as if it is flying. This bird is Iceland's national bird.
  This tall bird has a long neck and a pair of long legs. It wears a pink overcoat! This bird is best known for its group dance!
9.   woodpecker
  This bird has wings, but it cannot fly. Most of them live in cold places near Antarctica. Although it looks clumsy on ice, it is an excellent swimmer! This bird feeds on fish.
  The male of this bird has golden orange feathers with black markings on his head, throat, shoulders, wings, and tails. This bird is Maryland's state bird.
  This bird uses its beak to "drill" a hole on tree trunks so it can eat small insects hiding beneath the bark.
  This tall bird has a long neck and a pair of long legs. It wears a pink overcoat! This bird is best known for its group dance!
10.   eagle
  This large bird is found only in America. It does not have feathers covering its head and neck. The male of this bird has a long wattle at the base of his bill and additional wattles on his neck. People in the United States cook this bird on Thanksgiving.
  This bird hunts small animals, such as mice, at night. It has a pair of large eyes that can see well in the dark. This bird can turn its head almost all the way around to see what is behind it.
  This bird is among one of the smallest birds in the world. It has a long, slender bill, and it mainly feeds on nectar. This bird beats its wings really fast - some can flap their wings up to 200 times a second!
  This large bird is an excellent hunter! When it spots small animals from high up in the sky, it swoops down, spreads out its large, strong feet with sharp claws, and grabs the prey. This bird has a sharp, hooked bill perfect for tearing up prey. It is related to hawks and vultures.
11.   goose
  This large bird lives in the north during the summer months and flies south in the fall. It returns to its summer home in the spring. This bird travels in a large group, forming a shape that looks like the letter V.
  This bird rests on leaf-less tree braches until the sun has warmed up the ground. It circles in the sky looking for dead or decaying animals. This bird is related to eagles and hawks.
  Found only in New Zealand, this little bird cannot fly. It hides underground during the day and only comes out to look for food at night. The nostrils are on the tip of this bird's long beak. A greenish fruit has the same name as this bird.
  This strange-looking bird lives in the tropical forests of Central and South America. It has a huge, colorful beak - its beak can be as long as its body!
12.   toucan
  This bird uses its beak to "drill" a hole on tree trunks so it can eat small insects hiding beneath the bark.
  The male of this bird is called a rooster. The female of this bird is called a hen. Most farms have this bird.
  This strange-looking bird lives in the tropical forests of Central and South America. It has a huge, colorful beak - its beak can be as long as its body!
  The male of this bird has long, beautiful tail feathers decorated with "eyes". When it is time to find a mate, the male opens out his tail feathers like a fan.