ADAPT A BIRD REFERENCE SHEET
Birds have a variety of adaptations, including characteristics of beaks, feet, legs, wings, and coloration. These adaptations have evolved so that the bird is better suited to its environment and lifestyle. A variety of major adaptations are listed below.
ADAPTATIONADVANTAGE
BEAKS:
curvedto tear meat
long and thinto catch insects
short and stoutto crack seeds
long and wide with strainers on the sideto eat algae
slender, longget nectar
FEET
Graspingto grab onto things
Perchingrest on branches
Webbedswimming &
walking on mud
long toeswading in water
LEGS
flexor tendons (chicken)perching, grasping (no picture)
long, slender (heron, crane)wading, walking
powerful muscles (hawk)carry prey
long, powerful (ostrich)running
WINGS
Large (eagle)flying with prey, soaring
V shaped (swallow)maneuver, fly fast
COLORATION
bright plumage (male)attraction to females
dull plumage (female)camouflage while on the nest
change of plumage (snowy owl, ptarmigan)brown in summer, white in winter to blend in
Name______
Hour______
ADAPT A BIRD
You will choose a bird and research it.
1. Where does your bird live? (Circle one or more)
Pine Tree ForestRainforestArcticDesert
GrasslandsMountainsRiverOcean
IslandDeciduous ForestWetlandsOther
2. What does your bird eat?______
3. How does your bird move?(walk, run, fly, swim, etc.)______
4. What sex is your bird?______
5. Using the reference sheet and other resources, choose what type of adaptive body parts your bird has. You may add other adaptations that are not on the chart.
Type (Adaptation)Advantage
a. Beak:______
b. Feet:______
c. Legs:______
d. Wings:______
e. Coloration:______
6. Draw your bird in color on a plain sheet of paper. Label the five adaptations listed above and their advantages on your picture.
7. Write a description or story of your bird in complete sentences. It needs to include the following:
a. the name of the bird
b. where the bird will live
c. its food sources
- how big your bird is (in cm, not inches or feet. Multiply inches by 2.5 to get cm)
e. how your bird will move
f. the sex of your bird
g. description of its habitat (where it lives) and at least five adaptations and their advantages that help it live in this area (You may include the adaptive body parts above as a part of this.)
h. Anything else that you would like such as breeding and nesting habits, migration, type of song, and strange habits. (You need 4 of these.)
Name______
Hour______
Adapt A Bird Rubric
I. Drawing of bird (needs to be in color)8______
Adaptations and Advantage listed on picture
a. Beak2______
b. Feet2______
c. Legs2______
d. Wings2______
e. Coloration2______
II. Story about your bird
a. Name of the bird1______
b. Where your bird will live1______
c. Food source1______
d. How big your bird is (in cm)1______
e. How your bird will move1______
f. The sex of your bird1______
g. Description of its habitat and at least 5
adaptations and their advantages that help it live
in this area5______
h. Anything else
1.) At least four other things4
2.) At least three other things3
3.) At least two other things2
4.) At least one other thing1______
III. Spelling and Grammar
a. Grammar & Spelling Correct4
b. Minor Grammar & Spelling Mistakes3
c. Some Grammar and Spelling Mistakes2
d. Major Grammar and Spelling Mistakes1______
TOTAL37______
Grade______