BIRD IS THE WORD

By: Andrea PhillipsBy Andrea Phillips

MALLARD DUCK

QUICK CHICK FACTS Very recognizable green head and yellow

bill. Thought to be the most abundant and

wide-ranging duck on Earth. Prefer calm, shallow sanctuaries, but can

be found in almost any body of freshwater across Asia, Europe and North America.

The male, or drake, is the most distinctively colored of the mallards.

They grow up to 26 inches and can weigh up to 3 pounds.

WILD TURKEY

QUICK CHICK FACTS The wild turkey was Benjamin Franklin’s

choice for the national bird because he thought it was noble.

Typically forage on forest floors, but can also be found in forests and swamps.

They feed on nuts, seeds, fruits, insects, and salamanders.

They have a distinctive “gobble” that can be heard a mile away.

Only male turkeys display the ruffled feathers, fanlike tail, bare head, and bright beard commonly associated with these birds

MISSISSIPPI KITE

QUICK CHICK FACTS This small, pointed-winged kite looks more

like a falcon than any other of our kites. A buoyant flier, it soars on flat wings, often

high up in the air on thermals, catching and eating insects on the wing.

Back and wings are dark brown with buffy edges, scapulars have white spots.

Under parts are heavily streaked, and the dark tail has multiple thin white bands.

The pointed wings are notable in that the outer primary is much shorter than the next one

BALD EAGLE

QUICK CHICK FACTS The bald eagle, with its snowy-feathered

(not bald) head and white tail, is the proud national bird symbol of the United States.

For many decades, bald eagles were hunted for sport and for the "protection" of fishing grounds.

Though their numbers have grown in much of their range, bald eagles remain most abundant in Alaska and Canada.

These powerful birds of prey use their talons to fish, but they get many of their meals by scavenging carrion or stealing the kills of other animals.

GREATER ROADRUNNER

QUICK CHICK FACTS The roadrunner is about 56 centimeters

(22 in) long and weighs about 300 grams (10.5 oz), and is the largest North American cuckoo.

The adult has a bushy crest and long thick dark bill.

The name roadrunner comes from the bird's habit of racing down roads in front of moving vehicles and then darting to safety in the brush.

They have long, sturdy legs and a slender, pointed bill.

GREAT HORNED OWL

QUICK CHICK FACTS The great horned owl is the most

common owl of the Americas, easily recognizable because of the feather tufts on its head.

Great horned owls are adaptable birds and live from the Arctic to South America.

Northern populations migrate in winter, but most live permanently in more temperate climes.

The birds nest in tree holes, stumps, caves, or in the abandoned nests of other large birds

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD

QUICK CHICK FACTS The male ruby-throated hummingbird does

indeed have a striking red throat, though the female of the species does not.

These speedy little birds can beat their wings 53 times a second and fly in an acrobatic style matched by few other birds.

These hummingbirds have extremely short legs, so they cannot walk or even hop with any efficiency.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds live in woodland areas, but also frequent gardens where flowering plants are plentiful.

They hover to feed on flowers, nectar, and sap

PILEATED WOODPECKER

QUICK CHICK FACTS Pileated woodpeckers are the largest of the

common woodpeckers found in most of North America.

These crow-sized birds present a memorable sight with their zebra-striped heads and necks, long bills, and distinctive red crests.

Pileated woodpeckers forage for their favorite meal, carpenter ants, by digging large, rectangular holes in trees.

The enthusiastic drumming that creates such holes sounds like a loud hammering, and is audible for a great distance.

SCISSOR-TAILED FLY CATCHER

QUICK CHICK FACTS The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher forms large

premigratory roosts in late summer, with up to 1,000 birds in one flock.

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher uses many human products in its nest, such as string, cloth, paper, carpet fuzz, and cigarette filters

A striking bird of the central United States, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is nearly unmistakable with its long forked tail and salmon-pink belly.

The state bird of Oklahoma, it is commonly found in only a handful of other states.

AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN

The American White Pelican is one of North America's largest birds.

It is four to six feet in length and weighs up to 16 pounds. Its wingspan is an impressive 9 feet.

It is a white bird with black wing tips, and a long, wide orange bill. Beneath its bill is a bright, yellow-orange pouch for feeding.

During the breeding season the bill and legs are a bright orange. Its head has white plumes and it has a flattened horn on the upper mandible.

Prefers company to a solitary existence.

QUICK CHICK FACTS

ASSIGNMENT After reviewing and discussing the PowerPoint,

students will be assigned one bird to briefly research.

After researching (1 day max), students will write a 2 paragraph descriptive paper over their assigned bird. However, students may NOT use the bird’s name in the essay.

They may describe their bird through physical characteristics, behavior, habitat, call, etc.

When finished, students must choose a partner to switch papers with. Their partner must then decide which bird is being described solely based on the description given in the paper.

WORKS REFERENCED www.google.com (google images) http://animals.nationalgeographic.com