Feathers, beaks and wings
What makes a bird a bird? Look closely at a feather, find out why birds have different beaks, and meet birds that cannot fly.
Read
Birds are the only animals with feathers.[3]
Feathers keep a bird warm and dry. They are light but strong, and they help birds fly.[2]
All birds have wings, but not all birds can fly. An ostrich runs, and a penguin uses its wings to swim.[2][3]
Birds have no teeth. They have a beak, and its shape fits their food: a short, strong beak cracks seeds, and a long, thin beak sips nectar from flowers.[2][3]
All birds lay eggs. The egg must be kept warm, and the chick pecks its way out.[2]
Try it: Feather detective
You need
- One clean craft feather per child (from a shop, not found outside)
- Hand lenses
- A sheet of dark paper
Safety
Use clean feathers from a craft shop, not feathers found outside. Keep feathers away from mouths and wash hands afterwards.
What to do
- Look at your feather. Find the stiff line down the middle: the shaft.
- Look with the hand lens at the sides. Can you see lots of thin branches?
- Gently pull two branches apart. Now there is a gap.
- Stroke the feather gently from the bottom to the tip between your finger and thumb. Is the gap gone?
- Wave the feather in the air. Then wave the dark paper. Which is lighter?
Play: Bird or not a bird?
Does it have feathers? Then it is a bird! Tap the right group.
Your best score is kept only on this device. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Quiz
Other ages: Ages 10–11 · Ages 15–16