Birds of a Feather

Our Bird Research

Summary: These questions were developed and asked of bird experts and hobbyists all over the United States from October 1994 to June of 1995 by the students in Jessica Morton's first-second grade class at Mendocino Grammar School.

	Eyes, Teeth, Beaks & Bills Do birds have different colored eyes like we do? Do birds have teeth? What's a bill? What's a beak? Do toucans have bills or beaks? How do beaks work?
	Nests How do birds make nests?
	Feet and Feathers Do baby blackbirds have different colored feet than adults? How do birds get their feathers? Are bright-colored birds poisonous? How do hummingbirds change their colors in the fog?
	Flight How do birds fly? How many birds can't fly and why?

Eggs Do birds eat eggs? How long do birds sit on their eggs? Why do birds lay eggs instead of having babies like we do?	Precocial and Altricial: two big bird words! How long do birds sit on their eggs? Why are some birds altricial and others precocial? Are Great Blue Herons precocial or altricial?
Behavior Do bald eagles fly in herds? Do birds go to North America from somewhere else? Do birds go around people? Do birds eat other birds? Can birds turn their heads all the way in back of them?	Blue Jays How do blue jays get their crowns? Why do blue jays scare away pretty birds?
Hearing and Making Sounds Do birds have ears? How do birds make their sounds?	Miscellaneous Questions Why do cardinals look like blue jays? Can birds get sick? (two answers)

Send your comments and suggestions to Jessica Morton, the author of this unit

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