Birds Class 4 Notes Science

Birds

• Birds are animals that mainly live in the air and have feathers and wings.
• Not all birds can fly, even though they all have wings.
• Many years ago, some birds returned to the sea, and their feathers changed to help them swim.
• There are over 9,000 different types of birds today.
• Birds come in various sizes, from the tall African ostrich, which is taller than a person, to the tiny hummingbird, which is only 3 to 4 centimeters long.

Different parts of Bird

Features of Birds

• Birds have lightweight and sturdy bones and skulls.
• Instead of teeth or a mouth, birds have a hard beak or bill.
• Most birds are not very large, except for a few species.
• Their wings are covered with feathers instead of having hands.
• A bird's tail is made up of feathers.
• Birds have a body shaped like a boat to make flying easier.
• They have strong muscles for flying that move their wings up and down.
• Birds are warm-blooded creatures.
• During flight, a bird's tail acts like a boat's rudder, helping to change direction.
• Birds have a well-developed respiratory system to breathe at high altitudes where the air is thinner.
• When a bird's wings move upwards, it's called the upstroke movement; when they move downwards, it's called the downstroke movement.
• There are more than 9,000 species of birds.
  
  Question for Detailed Notes: Birds

  Try yourself:

  Which feature helps birds change direction during flight?

  • A.

    Feathers
  • B.

    Wings
  • C.

    Tail
  • D.

    Beak

  Explanation

  - A bird's tail acts like a boat's rudder during flight.
  - It helps the bird change direction while flying.
  - The movement of the tail feathers helps in maneuvering through the air.
  - This feature is essential for birds to navigate effectively during flight.

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Types of Birds 

Distinct features of few birds 

Feeding in Birds

• Birds eat different things like nuts, fruits, grains, and more.
• Some birds like eagles, vultures, hawks, and owls eat other animals.
• Owls are often seen in farmland and have light faces with black eyes.
• Owls have large front eyes and excellent hearing.
  
  Owl
• They hunt mainly in the dark and prey on birds, including eagle and hawk babies.
• Vultures are scavengers and eat animals that are already dead.
  
  Question for Detailed Notes: Birds

  Try yourself:

  What is the purpose of migration in birds?

  • A.

    To find a suitable breeding ground.
  • B.

    To escape from predators.
  • C.

    To search for warmer places during winter.
  • D.

    To build nests in different locations.

  Explanation

  - Migration in birds is a natural phenomenon where they travel to different locations in search of suitable conditions.
  - The main purpose of migration is to find warmer places during the winter season.
  - By migrating to warmer areas, birds ensure that they have access to food sources and suitable breeding grounds.
  - This helps them survive harsh weather conditions and increase their chances of successful reproduction.
  - The example of the arctic tern, which travels from the Arctic to the Antarctic, highlights the significant distances birds can cover during migration.
  - Therefore, option C, which states that migration allows birds to search for warmer places during winter, is the correct answer.

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Migration in Birds (Adaptation to Weather)

• Some birds travel to warmer places during winter to find food, a journey called migration.
• The arctic tern, for example, breeds in summer and flies about 17,000 km to the Antarctic for winter, then returns to breed again.
  
  Arctic Tern
• Siberian cranes also migrate to places like India (like Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) for winter and go back to Siberia for summer.
  
  Siberian Cranes
• Birds lay eggs in nests, which can be found in trees, on rooftops, in holes in the ground, and along river banks.
• Weaver birds create complex nests by weaving strips of leaves together.
• Pigeons build nests using small twigs and branches.
  
  Pigeon
• Hoopoes make holes in trees to keep their eggs safe from predators.