birdsoup

What makes a bird a bird?

I love to get children excited about birds.  Recently when talking to a 2^nd grade class, I asked the children “What makes a bird a bird?  What makes them different from all other creatures?”

“They have wings and can fly.” was the first guess.  But insects, bees, butteries and bats all have wings and can fly.  So that is not the answer.

Finally one young girl suggested feathers.  That’s it!  Every bird has feathers and no other creature (except, maybe angels) has feathers.

Feathers are amazingly strong, light-weight skin coverings.  They make birds unique.