S A RA H M I TC H E L L

BIRDS

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TEACHER’S PAGE

Objectives:• Given a beak type, students will be able to identify what

food the bird eats with complete accuracy.• Given a foot type, the student will be able to identify what

habitat in which the bird lives.• Given a habitat, students will be able to identify the correct

possible food sources for the bird.Audience: • 4th grade, mainstream students

Learning Environment:Must have: a computer lab, paper, and pencil

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

They are important to learn about for a few reasons:

• Birds are a great example of diversity.• Birds can help kids learn about geography.• Birds help kids learn about food chains.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Beak Types

Foot Types

Birds’ Homes

Review

Quiz

References

BEAK TYPES

A bird’s beak determines it’s function. There are 8 different beak types, but we will focus on 5: cracking, spear, hooked, chisel, and tubular.

Image found at: http://idahoptv.org/dialogue4kids/season5/boprey/images/beak.gif

BEAK TYPES

Cracking Type:Eats small seeds.

Finches, like in the picture, have a cracking beak type.

http://i2.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens2820452module154401172photo_1346852216a___a_00.jpg

BEAK TYPES

Spear Type:Used to spear fish.

http://www.birdingisfun.com/2012/09/a-peek-at-beaks.html

Herons, like in the picture, have this beak type.

BEAK TYPES

Hooked Type:Used to catch prey,

such as mice and rats.

Owls, like the picture, have this beak type.

http://www.facebook.com/macbrideraptorproject

BEAK TYPES

Chisel Type:Used for drilling for

insects.

Woodpeckers, like in the picture, have this beak type.

http://originalskinfood.blogspot.com/2010/12/mohawks-and-head-banging-mother-natures.html

BEAK TYPES

Tubular Type:Used to suck nectar.

Hummingbirds, like in the picture, have this beak type.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/2081304/fastclosing_beaks_key_to_hummingbird_feeding/

FOOT TYPES

Foot type helps birds climb, walk, catch prey,

grasp branches, etc.

What type of feet they have can help us

determine where they might live.

http://wwwirritant.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-to-identify-different-types-of.html

FOOT TYPES

Some birds have 2 toes in back and 2 toes in front for

climbing.

An example of a bird with this type of foot are Woodpeckers.

http://www.hiltonpond.org/thisweek070215.html

FOOT TYPES

Some birds have 3 toes in front and 1 in back. They

have long, curved claws for catching their prey.

An example of a bird with this type of foot is a Bald Eagle.

http://wildobs.com/species/Bald-Eagle/photos

FOOT TYPES

Some birds have 3 toes in front and 1 in back to

grasp branches.

An example of a bird with this type of foot is a

Sparrow.

http://www.sialis.org/hospphotos.htm

FOOT TYPES

Some birds have 3 toes in front and 1 in back. They are webbed and

used for swimming and walking.

An example of this type of bird is a Duck.

http://like-a-block.blogspot.com/

BIRDS’ HOMES

BIRDS’ HOMES

Think about it:Birds living near your home could have what food source?

A) SeedsB) InsectsC) Fish

http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/Ohio/bird_cardinal.html

BIRDS’ HOMES

Think about it:Birds living near your home could have what food source?

A) SeedsB) InsectsC) Fish

Correct Answer: Near homes, birds tend to eat seeds. That is why homes usually use seed to attract the birds.

REMEMBER:

• There are different kinds of beak shapes that help them to eat their specific food source.

• They have different feet that help them to move around in their specific environment.

• Their environment can help us to figure out their food source.

Press next for the practice quiz!

PRACTICE QUIZ:QUESTION 1

What does a cracking type beak do?

A) Scoops fish

B) Sucks nectar

C) Opens seeds

D) Drills for insects

A)

D)

B)

C)

PRACTICE QUIZ:QUESTION 1

What does a cracking type beak do?

The answer you have chosen is incorrect. Please try again.

Try the question again

PRACTICE QUIZ:QUESTION 1

What does a cracking type beak do?

Correct! A cracking type beak is used to open seeds.

Next Question

PRACTICE QUIZ:QUESTION 2

How do webbed feet help birds?It helps them to:

A) Hold on to branches

B) Catch their prey

C) Swim

D) Climb

A)

B)

C)

D)

PRACTICE QUIZ:QUESTION 2

How do webbed feet help birds?

The answer you have chosen is incorrect.Please try again.

Try the question again

PRACTICE QUIZ:QUESTION 2

How do webbed feet help birds?

Correct! Webbed feet help birds to be able to swim.

Next Question

PRACTICE QUIZ:QUESTION 3

Birds living near a forest would most likely eat what?

A) Small rodents

B) Seeds

C) Fish

B)

C)

A)

PRACTICE QUIZ:QUESTION 3

Birds living near a forest most likely what?

The answer you have chosen is incorrect.

Try the question again

PRACTICE QUIZ:QUESTION 3

Birds living near a forest most likely eat what?

Correct! Birds living near a forest would have more access to food sources like small rodents than they would

to fish or seeds.

Next Question

QUIZ:QUESTION 1

What does a chisel shaped beak help the bird do?

A) Scoop fish

B) Spear fish

C) Drill for insects

D) Suck nectar

A)

B)

C)

D)

QUIZ: QUESTION 1

The answer you have chosen is incorrect. Please try again.

Try the question again

QUIZ:QUESTION 1

Correct!A chisel shaped beak type is used to drill for

insects.

Next Question

QUIZ:QUESTION 2

How do long talons help birds?They help them to:

A) Walk in water

B) Catch prey

C) Climb

A)

B)

C)

QUIZ:QUESTION 2

The answer you have chosen is incorrect.Please try again.

Try the question again

QUIZ:QUESTION 2

Correct!Long talons help birds to catch their prey.

Next Question

QUIZ:QUESTION 3

Watch a short clip of the following video and choose which beak shape applies to this bird:

QUIZ:QUESTION 3

The bird from the video has which type of beak type?

A) Cracking

B) Spear

C) Tubular

D) Hooked

A)

B)

D)

C)

QUIZ:QUESTION 3

The answer you have chosen is incorrect.Please try again.

Try the question again

QUIZ:QUESTION 3

Correct!The bird in the video, a Hummingbird, has a tubular beak, which is used to suck nectar.

Next Question

QUIZ:QUESTION 4

Birds living near ponds are most likely to eat which of the following:

A) Algae, fish

B) Seeds

C) Insects

D) Small rodents

C)

B)

D)

A)

QUIZ:QUESTION 4

The answer you have chosen is incorrect.Please try again.

Try the question again

QUIZ:QUESTION 4

Correct!Birds living near ponds would have easiest access

to a food source of algae or fish.

Next Question

QUIZ:QUESTION 5

Look at the picture and determine what the feet type is made to do.

http://www.birdtricks.com/eclectus-roratus.html

QUIZ:QUESTION 5

As seen in the picture, a parrot’s feet has 3 toes in front and 1 in back. What does their feet most

likely help them do?

A) Swim

B) Grasp branches

C) Catch prey

A)

C)

B)

QUIZ:QUESTION 5

The answer you have chosen is incorrect.Please try again.

Try the question again

QUIZ:QUESTION 5

Correct!A parrot’s feet helps them be able to grasp

branches with ease.

Back to the beginning

REFERENCES

Utah Education Network. “Birds will be birds.”

Video:“Hummingbird feeder action.” <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b31CAYF2fIA>.