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What
is a Bird?
Birds
are warm-blooded creatures, like
mammals, but they lay eggs, like
most reptiles. Among most kinds of
birds, the female lays her eggs in a nest built by herself, her mate, or by
both. The majority of birds have one mate at a time, with whom they raise one
or two sets of chicks a year.
All
birds have feathers and wings, and
most birds are able to fly. However, some
birds are flightless (ostriches and penguins, for example). Instead of
flying, ostriches walk or run, using their wings only for balance. Penguins,
who swim, use their wings like flippers.
Birds
are amazingly varied in their shapes, sizes, colors, and behavior patterns.
Feathers
Birds
are the only animals with feathers. Feathers weigh very little but are
crucial to all birds’ survival. Feathers allow flight, provide excellent
insulation, and keep moisture away from the skin. Some birds have striking
coloration and some have neutral-colored feathers that allow them to blend in
with their surroundings (camouflage).
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