BIRDS

1. BIRDS CHARASTERISTICS OF BIRDS: • ENDOTHERMIC • TWO WINGS, TWO LEGS • BILL OR BEAK • COVERED MOSTLY WITH FEATHERS • LAY HARD-SHELLED EGGS & SIT ON THEM TO KEEP THEM WARM UNTIL THEY HATCH

2. ADAPTATIONS FOR FLIGHT: • LIGHT, YET STRONG SKELETONS • THE INSIDE OF ITS BONES IS ALMOST HOLLOW • ITS TAIL ISHOLLOW & FUSED TOGETHER TO PROVIDE NEEDED RIGIDITY, STRENGTH, AND STABILITY • USE TAIL TO STEER • LARGE, EFFICIENT HEART • LIFT IS WHAT ALLOWS BIRDS, AS WELL AS PLANES, TO STAY IN FLIGHT

3. 2 MAIN TYPES OF FEATHERS: • CONTOUR FEATHERS: * GIVE THEM THEIR STREAMLINE SHAPE AND COLORING * OUTER FEATHERS HELP A BIRD MOVE THROUGH AIR OR WATER * PROTECT BIRDS FROM PREDATORS BECAUSE THEY CAN BE A FORM OF CAMOUFLAGE

4. DOWN FEATHERS: * TRAP AND KEEP AIR NEXT TO THEIR BODIES * PROVIDE INSULATION

5. CARE OF FEATHERS: • WELL-MAINTAINED FEATHERS KEEP BIRDS DRY, WARM, AND ABLE TO FLY • THEY PREEN TO CLEAN AND REORGANIZE THEIR FEATHERS AND TO SPREAD OIL OVER THEIR BODIES AND FEATHERS • THIS OIL KEEPS THE SKIN SOFT, AND THE FEATHERS AND SCALES FROM BECOMING BRITTLE