Field Guides for Kids: Birds

Field Guides for Kids: Birds — page 7 — FLIGHTLESS BIRDS OSTRICH STRUTHIO CAMELUS This flightless species is the largest living bird An ostrich's small head rests on top of a long neck Ostriches have powerful legs and feet with just two toes These help them fight predators and run fast When running to escape lions they can reach speeds of 43 miles per hour 70 kmh HOW TO SPOT Color Pattern Males are mostly black and white while females have more brown coloring Both sexes have heads and necks with pinkish skin covered with downy feathers Size 7 to 9 feet 2.1 to 2.7 m tall 220 to 350 pounds 100 to 160 kg Range Africa Habitat Plains and semidesert savannas Diet Plants fruit from shrubs locusts and grasshoppers Male Female FUN FACT A male ostrich will make a nest by scraping the ground with his feet Multiple females may lay eggs in the nest There can be up to 25 eggs in a single ostrich nest 8

Field Guides for Kids: Birds — page 8 — SOUTHERN CASSOWARY CASUARIUS CASUARIUS Southern cassowaries are large shy birds They scour the rain forest for fruit and are good swimmers If threatened these birds can get aggressive They make a deep booming sound which carries through the forest Scientists believe the helmet on top of their heads helps amplify their booming voices HOW TO SPOT Color Pattern These birds have shaggy black feathers red wattles dark blue and purple necks and bare blue skin on their heads Size Up to 5.5 feet 1.7 m tall males weigh around 121 pounds 55 kg and females weigh around 167 pounds 76 kg Range Australia New Guinea and Indonesia Habitat Dense rain forests Diet Fallen fruit snails fungi and some small mammals and reptiles ANATOMY OF A SOUTHERN CASSOWARY Southern cassowaries have a 5 inch- 12.7 cm long claw on each foot The helmet on their heads are hard on the outside When provoked they kick and sometimes jump on their victims These birds may look fierce but they are peaceful when left alone

Field Guides for Kids: Birds — page 9 — DUCKS GEESE AND SWANS MALLARD ANAS PLATYRHYNCHOS Mallards are the most common duck in North America They have orange feet round heads and flat wide beaks Mallards are dabbling ducks which means their heads go underwater to find food while their back ends remain above water Male Female FUN FACT Female mallards quack while male mallards make a quieter sound that is harsh and scratchy HOW TO SPOT Color Pattern Males have a green head brown chest black back end and yellow bill Females are spotted brown with a dark bill speckled with orange Both males and females have a blue patch on their wings Size 20 to 26 inches 50 to 66 cm long Range North America Habitat Marshes swamps rivers lakes and city parks Diet Seeds plants earthworms and grains DABBLERS VS. DIVERS Ducks are mostly divided into two categories dabblers and divers Dabbling ducks paddle on top of the water and skim the surface for food They often dip their heads underwater Divers swim low in the water They dive for food staying under for 10 to 20 seconds or longer 10

Field Guides for Kids: Birds — page 10 — PINK EARED DUCK MALACORHYNCHUS MEMBRANACEUS Pink eared ducks are also known as zebra ducks because of the white and black stripes on their sides They have pink feathers near their eyes Their large bills have grooves that help strain tiny plants and animals from the water These small ducks feed together circling head to tail in pairs or groups rotating through the water They are sociable and interact with other kinds of ducks Pink eared ducks often perch on logs and branches HOW TO SPOT Color Pattern These ducks have white sections on their faces a dark patch over their eyes and a gray bill Size 14 to 18 inches 35 to 46 cm long Range Australia Habitat Inland swamps freshwater wetlands and sewage ponds Diet Microscopic plants and animals 11

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