Birds and Beaks
Science Four
Birds and Their Body
Bird is one of the most beautiful creatures of the world. We see different types of birds around us. They are different in colours, shapes and sizes. Parrot, sparrow, pigeon, swallow, eagle, vulture, crow, etc. are the most common birds. Some birds are very big in size like ostrich. Some birds like humming bird are very small in size.
Most of the birds can fly while some cannot. For example ostrich, penguin, kiwi, etc. cannot fly.
Common Features of Birds
Wings
All birds have wings. Birds fly with the help of wings.
Boat shaped Body
All birds have a boat-shaped body. Boat shaped body helps a bird while flying. Boat shaped body reduce the air pressure and reduce the drag of air while flying. Boat shaped body makes flying easy.
Boat shaped body means body has similar shape to a boat. Boat can easily get rowed in river because of its special shape.
You should know that fish also have boat shaped body, which help them in swimming.
Hollow bones
Birds have light hollow bones. Hollow bones make a bird light weight. Because of light weight birds can easily lift their body in air while flying. This means hollow bones help birds in flying.
Strong Muscles
Birds have strong muscles. Because of strong muscles, birds can move their wings upwards and downwards to fly for long time.
Beaks
All birds have one beak to take food. Birds do not have teeth. Their beaks act like teeth.
Legs
All birds have two legs. Most of the birds only whop using their legs. Some birds can run; such as ostrich, with help of their legs. As ostrich cannot fly, so ostrich have strong legs which help them in movement as well as in running.
Claws
All birds have claws. Birds’ each foot is jointed with claws. Claws help bird in catching prey, holding the branches of trees.
Feathers
Birds have feather on their body. These feathers are of two types –
- Down feathers and
- Flight feathers
Down feather
Down feathers are light and fluffy. Down feathers cover the body of birds. It protects birds from harsh climate and keep them worm.
Flight feathers
Flight feathers are long and strong. Flight feathers are present on wings and tail of a bird. Flight feathers present on wings, help birds to fly. And flight feathers present on the tail of birds help them to change the direction while flying.
Tail of an aeroplane has structure similar to a bird. It is the structure of tail which enables an aeroplane to change its direction while flying.
Aeroplane is made after watching the structure of birds.
Ships, boat and fish also change their direction in water with the help of structure present on their tail.
Reference: