Birds Facts for Kids
Feathered facts about birds from around the world
Young pelican chicks stick their head — and sometimes entire body — inside the parent's pouch to reach regurgitated fish.
The Hadada ibis of Africa has a long, sensitive, curved bill perfect for probing soft mud and soil for earthworms and insects.
Common terns return to the same breeding colony each year and will attempt to nest in the exact same spot they used before.
The male Anna's hummingbird produces a chirping song not just with its syrinx but also by vibrating special tail feathers during a steep diving display.
Research suggests homing pigeons build an 'olfactory map' of their surroundings using smells carried on the wind to help navigate home.
Wild cockatiels of Australia form large nomadic flocks that follow rainfall across the outback, moving to wherever food and water are available.
In red-necked phalaropes, the females are more brightly coloured and compete for males — the males incubate eggs and raise chicks alone.
Common swift pairs return to the same nest hole in the eaves of buildings year after year, often using the same site for more than a decade.
Many birds can sleep with one half of the brain at a time — the other half stays alert for predators. This is called unihemispheric sleep.
The wandering albatross has the longest breeding cycle of any bird — it takes 11 months for the chick to fledge, so pairs can only breed every other year.