What is an adaptation


	What is an adaptation?
It is a physical characteristic or behavior that helps an animal survive in its environment. Let’s look at some bird adaptations.

Adaptation	Bird	Advantage
Beaks
Pouch-like, long thin	pelican	can hold fish, a food source; can probe shallow water and mud for insects, a food source
Pointed	woodpecker	can break and probe bark of trees, for insects, a food source
Curved	hawk	can tear solid tissue, like meat, a food source
Short, stout	finches	can crack seeds and nuts, a food source
Slender, long	hummingbird	can probe flowers for nectar, a food source
Feet
Webbed	duck	aids in walking on mud, transportation
Long toes	crane	aids in walking on mud, transportation
Clawed	hawk	can grasp food when hunting prey
Grasping	chicken	aids in sitting on branches, roosting, protection
Color
Bright plumage	male birds	attraction in courtship, mating rituals
Dull plumage	female birds	aids in camouflage while nesting, protection in shelter
Change of plumage with seasons	owl	provides camouflage, protection (brown in summer, white in winter)
Now create your own species of bird while thinking about the adaptations listed above. You may use any type of materials: pencil, paper, markers, crayons, construction paper, paper mache, clay and paints. It is your new bird species, so create it in whatever way you like. Just remember to think about: where the bird lives, what it will eat, how it transports itself, and it’s sex. After your done creating your bird, write a short story, poem, or song about this new bird species. Look at other animals and think about how they have adapted in their environment.