Birds Facts for Kids
Feathered facts about birds from around the world
Some birds can detect infrasound — very low-frequency sound waves produced by oceans and mountains — which they may use as a navigation map during migration.
The magnificent frigatebird can reach speeds of 95 miles per hour in level flight, making it one of the fastest seabirds over distance.
The male satin bowerbird of Australia collects only blue objects to decorate its bower — blue bottle caps, straws, and flowers — because blue is most attractive to females.
The California condor was extinct in the wild by 1987, with only 27 birds in captivity. A breeding programme has restored the population to over 500 birds.
The Eurasian penduline tit weaves an elaborately insulated hanging nest from plant fibres and animal hair with a false entrance to fool predators.
The Eurasian sparrowhawk is agile enough to chase small birds through dense woodland, twisting between branches at high speed to make a kill.
The anhinga lacks waterproofing oils in its feathers, so it must stand with wings spread in the sun to dry off after diving for fish.
Razorbills mate for life and return to the same cliff ledge each year to breed, recognising their partner among thousands of identical-looking birds by voice.
The northern fulmar defends its nest by spitting a foul-smelling stomach oil at predators — the oil can mat the feathers of other birds and cause them to drown.
King penguins are the second largest penguin species and breed on sub-Antarctic islands — their chicks wear fluffy brown coats that were once mistakenly thought to be a different species.