What makes a bird a bird? A kids’ guide to feathers, flight and funky beaks

This children’s article, What makes a bird a bird?, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children build vocabulary, learn about different animal groups, and explore the weird and wonderful world of birds. Written by Mark Pulley, a teacher and writer who creates fun and informative news articles for English learners.

What makes a bird a bird?

You probably see one every day, but what exactly is a bird? Feathers? Beaks? Flying? Well, some birds can’t even fly! So let’s flap into the facts and discover what really puts birds in their own special group of animals.

Feathers are the key

The number one thing that all birds have in common is feathers. No other animals on Earth have them. Feathers help birds fly, stay warm, and show off to other birds. Some are fluffy and soft for insulation, while others are strong and stiff for flying.

Birds also have beaks instead of teeth, and they lay hard-shelled eggs. They have similarities to reptiles in that they are vertebrates, which means they have a backbone, and they hatch from eggs laid outside their body. But differently, birds are warm-blooded, which means they keep their body temperature steady, even when it’s cold outside.

More than just flying machines

Most birds can fly, but not all of them. Penguins, ostriches, emus, and kiwis are flightless birds. Instead of wings for flying, they’ve adapted to swim, run fast, or sneak through forests. 

Birds come in all shapes and sizes. The tiny bee hummingbird is the smallest bird in the world. It weighs less than a penny, and it flaps its wings 80 times a second to stay in the air. The wandering albatross, on the other hand, can glide across the ocean with wings as wide as a car.

Did birds come from dinosaurs?

Believe it or not, birds evolved from dinosaurs. In fact, most scientists say that birds are dinosaurs, just smaller, fluffier, and with better table manners! Fossils show that some dinosaurs had feathers long before birds appeared. Over millions of years, these creatures changed into what we now call birds.

Today, there are over 10,000 species of birds in the world, living everywhere from icy Antarctica to hot deserts. Some are tiny insect-eaters. Others are huge hunters with powerful claws.

Singing, soaring and saving the planet

Birds aren’t just beautiful, they’re useful to the environment too. They spread seeds, pollinate plants, and eat pests like mosquitoes. They’ve inspired artists, poets, and inventors, and their songs fill forests with sound.

Sadly, many bird species are in danger due to pollution, hunting, and loss of habitats. But people around the world are working hard to protect them. Birdwatchers, scientists, and even schoolkids are helping track bird numbers and build safe spaces for nesting.

Article vocabulary list

• Feathers – The soft or stiff covering on a bird’s body
• Vertebrates – Animals with a backbone or spine
• Warm-blooded – Can control body temperature inside their body
• Flightless – Not able to fly
• Species – A group of similar animals that can have babies together
• Hollow bones – Light bones with air inside, found in most birds
• Evolved – Changed slowly over time into something new
• Pollinate – To help plants make seeds by moving pollen
• Habitat – The natural home of an animal or plant
• Fossils – Remains of ancient animals or plants turned to stone

Comprehension questions

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